I need help fast!!

[gail]

I don't know what has happen to my camera. I have the Drebel and tonight at the church for rehearsal I went to use it and it want focus on nothing. it just keeps searching for focus, in and out and you can put it on m/f and it will show 2 of everything and the photos are really blurry. What can I do to fix this?

Any one had this problem? I got a wedding, to do Saturday and now my only camera is broken. Help Help!! Please. What happen to my camera I've never had this happen before. We had rehearsal tonight and I use it to take a few practice shot in the church to check the lighting and I notice this.

It didn't want to focus on anything. And I put it on m/f and it would show like 2 of what ever I had it focus on. Sorry if I'm not making good sense out of this. But I don't know what to do. Is there something I can do to fixed this my self or do I need to put it in shop for repair? Please tell me it is.

I was counting on it this Saturday.... :-( :-(

[Wazza]

I would start looking around for places to rent a body for the day. And then worry about the problem camera. At least shops are open on Friday to sort that out.

As for two images.. I'm not sure what that is doing
:(

Good luck

[tim]

Try a different lens - if you "I put it on m/f and it would show like 2 of what ever I had it focus on". Also, go into a camera store in your area and see if they can work it out.

[soupdragon]

Have you tried using autofocus in bright light just to check the camera?
In low light levels my will just hunt from max to min focus distance.
Double images could be camera movement through really long exposures.
The other thing to do is switch on the AF assist light and the flash AF assist emits.
These thing are in the menu somewhere.

[Bodog]

Gail, if you can't manual focus, it sounds more like lens problem than a camera problem. Do you have another lens to try?

[gail]

yes, I have tried all them and it still the same. I thank you all for helping me though.
I will have to take it in in the morning and have it checked out.
It's weird, never seen one do this before. It's went nuts on me. thats how I feel right now with the wedding, and all. Have been stress over getting all that ready.

So maybe it 's better if I let someone else do the photographs. Maybe it happen for a reason who knows. I can put it on manual focus and it will work but when I roll the lens to focus it will bring what ever is be side where I'm focusing up half way in my view. But when I look back at them on computer they look fine.

Don't know if I'm making any sense of this. But like on my desk I have a lamp and right beside it my printer and as I focus on the lamp it brings the printer up as I roll the lens to focus, and when I roll back down which I'm out of focus it takes it away.

Make sense? Sorry yall. I'm trying to explain this the best I can.
But, I thank you all for the help.

[robertwgross]

There are some possibilities.

If you take your camera rig to a camera shop, and they try it out, either they find something wrong, or else they don't.

A. If they find something wrong, then you have to decide what you want to do about that. There won't be any time to have it repaired. If it is a replaceable item that is broken, you can buy a new one or rent one (such as a lens). Generally, there is nothing that needs adjustment that can be done quickly.
B. If they do not find anything wrong, then it may be a user error. That means you may have been trying to use it in difficult conditions and not using the right settings to handle that. To a large extent, we here in the forum cannot help you with this UNLESS you can lay out the facts. We can't guess everything. If we look at an example shot of yours, then we can begin to guess the problem. But somehow the facts have to be understood.

Questions:
1. Are you using a tripod?
2. Are you using an external flash unit?
3. Are you using the built-in flash?
4. What is the approximate distance to the subject that worries you the most?
5. Can you describe the lighting situation in the room? For instance, dim incandescent bulbs, bright fluorescent lights, candles only, etc.
6. Tell us your camera settings, as much as you know...
---Exposure mode, like P, Tv, etc.
---ISO setting, like 100, 200, 400 etc.

---Bob Gross---

[pierrot]

Many wise answers here, but Gail seems to have tried her best to solve the problem. As far as many lenses have been tested and do the same, it should not be related to the lens itself.

So either it is a flaw in the body, or a REALLY big, trivial, stupid mistake you may have done. Sometimes an error we do is so enormous and evident that we simply cannot see it at all. Double check your settings and parameters, and let them be checked again by someone really external who will have a fresh look about the problem.

Good luck! ;)

[RockOne]

Just wondering if it's showing two of everything that something may be out of alignment (ie the mirror, or the sensor), Don't think it could be a lens element out of alignment if its doning it with all lenses.
Just a thought ?

[mkh]

Remove both batteries and wait 60 seconds. Put them bac in and retest to see if that fixed it.

[Pekka]

I can put it on manual focus and it will work but when I roll the lens to focus it will bring what ever is be side where I'm focusing up half way in my view. But when I look back at them on computer they look fine.

Don't know if I'm making any sense of this. But like on my desk I have a lamp and right beside it my printer and as I focus on the lamp it brings the printer up as I roll the lens to focus, and when I roll back down which I'm out of focus it takes it away.

Make sense? Sorry yall. I'm trying to explain this the best I can.

Gail,

I may not understand the problem, but is it that what you see in viewfinder does not match what you actually have in focus when open the photo in computer? In other words other side of the photo seems to be out of focus when seen through viewfinder?

If that is the case then it means the focusing screen is loose and higher on other side. This does not affect focusing, only what you see in viewfinder.

[Edgar in ATL]

Gail, I would suggest the "reset all settings" option (see page 31 of the manual) and then if that does not work, try removing all batteries. If you know anyone else in your vicinity with a DReb, perhaps they would let you "borrow" their body for a day to have as a backup just in case this problem is not solved or occurs again. Even better, "borrow" the person with a DReb to be a backup photographer in case the excitement of the moment renders you "out of focus" to do the job. The last thing you want to do is leave your handsome son and his lovely bride (not to mention their parents) without keepsake photos of this special occasion in their lives. On the bright side, it is a blessing this problem arose at the rehearsal instead of the day of the wedding!
I hope it all comes together in a great way for everybody. I'll say a prayer for you and them.

[Pekka seems to have the first plausible explanation, and if so, your camera store in Tupelo (like Shoot to Finish) may have someone able to fix this on the spot.]

[gail]

Thanks, again to all that has tried to help me slove this problem. I'm on my way out now to take to shop to have it looked at I got a busy day, getting all things ready for the big day tomorrow.

I'm so behind now being I got to do this with the camera take to shop and all. But like you said glad that it happen then and not the wedding day,

Edgar thanks for the prayer I need lots, of them right now to get through this day.

[vwpilot]

I agree with Pekka, if what you are getting on the computer is different than what you are seeing in the viewfinder and its happening with all the lenses it sounds like your focusing screen has been knocked out of alignment. Was the camera dropped or banged around at all?

Also, I know I'll sound like a jerk, but how do you take a job shooting a wedding without backup gear? C'mon, the most important thing you can have if you are going to act like a pro and shoot things that you dont have a second chance to photo is have backup equipment.

I hope you get this fixed in time, but like you said, what would you have done if it happened tomorrow at the wedding? I suggest the first thing you do after getting the camera fixed is go out and buy another so that you will always be prepared for such an ocassion again.

[Edgar in ATL]

VWPilot, she is the mother of the groom, not a hiree.

[lostdoggy]

Oops, I hope Pilot has a small foot!!! lol.

[lostdoggy]

oH WOW. It's Friday the 13!!! Maybe thats why???

[BlueTit]

Gail I hope you get sorted. Let's knwo how you get on. And whatever happens enjoy tomorrow and do not let the camera spoil it for you and your family.

[Wazza]

I wonder how you're getting on Gail.

I hope the local camera store is working wonders on it, or maybe they've got a loaner you can have. :)

[vwpilot]

My apologies to Gail. From her first post she said "she had a wedding to do and this was her only camera," that made it sound like she was hired/asked to do the wedding and so many people are out there doing just that, so I jumped to a conclusion.

I did offer advice there in my post though and did hope she got it squared away. :)

I wish you the best of luck. My apologies again for jumping to a conclusion.

[Gustave]

Hve you tried reloading the firmware? Perhaps a software glitch. I have witnessed something very similar in aother product line.

[Tom W]

Maybe its in another post, but check the diopter adjustment on the side of the viewfinder. If it's been turned, it will show an out-of-focus image in the viewfinder.

[Mark_48]

On an off chance you may be looking at your computer this hectic morning...

Could it possibly be a low or defective battery ?

Good luck and enjoy the day !!
Mark........