Focus issues with PowerShot S3 IS

A friend recently purchased a PowerShot S3 IS from Dell.
When using the camera under indoor lighting conditions, no flash, the autofocus does not work, i.e., it appears not to focus properly on the subject (the effect is more pronounced with increased zoom). The green autofocus beam appears to be on, but the pics are out of focus (he used a clock face as a test target). Dell sent him a PowerShot S2 IS as a replacement (he currently has both cameras in his possession), and it exhibits the same problem. This leads me to believe that the fault is not with the camera, but with some setting that is or is not being properly activated. This happens in all focus modes (spot, averaging, etc.) I have not seen the pics, this is just his verbal description of the problem.
Perhaps someone can tell me whether this is a real problem, or what needs to be done to get the autofocus to operate properly.
Thanks for any help you can provide.

If the autofocus works ok in good light then the camera isn't faulty. In poor light with little contrasting detail, especially at the full telephoto end, you may need more than one attempt to lock focus.

Thank you for the response.
Wouldn't it be possible for the autofocus to function properly in bright light, but fail to focus in dim light if the autofocus assist has failed?

I have taken about 5000+ pictures with this camera (S3 IS) in almost every lighting In low light I have had very few times were the autofocus could not focus on the subject, if your just pointing the camera at the subject then pressing the shutter button the autofocus may not have time to focus itself.

Next time try pointing the camera at the subject and press the shutter button halfway down and wait until the autofocus focuses on the subject (this has worked for me several times day or night). Out of all my pics I would say less than 10 times the camera was not able to focus, so just switch to Manual focus.

Are you sure the camera is not focusing, instead of the camera not be held perfectly still, low light equals longer shutter speed.

In spite of all the stories I hear about how auful the S2 is in low light, it's been very rare that I have had trouble achieving auto focus in any light. Of course it may be a bit slower doing so if the light is extreamly low. And it goes without saying, you will get a slow shutter speed, and need a tripod to get a non blurry picture. An like agaupt says, be sure to give the camera time to do it's thing. Don't just push the button!

Since all of my information has been relayed to me, I am not sure of anything at this point. However, my son assures me that the camera owner is technically competent, and has actually read the manual. However, my son has borrowed the camera for more comprehensive and definitive testing, so I should sooon be able to either add to or confirm this information.
Thank you for your response.
In any event, I would still appreciate an answer to my previous question: "Wouldn't it be possible for the autofocus to function properly in bright light, but fail to focus in dim light if the autofocus assist has failed?"
Thanks again.

LesF wrote in post #2940247
In any event, I would still appreciate an answer to my previous question: "Wouldn't it be possible for the autofocus to function properly in bright light, but fail to focus in dim light if the autofocus assist has failed?"
Thanks again.

Yes...

Sorry, Gary, my previous reply and your post must have crossed in the mail.
I understand, of course, that slow shutter speeds require a more steady camera. But I would expect the image stabilization to compensate within reason (my son's camera IS permits very sharp pictures at 1/6 second exposures). So it's also a possibility that this camera's IS is not functioning properly.
Well, my son (an accomplished digital photographer) will test it with and without a tripod, so we can at least bound the problem.

I've found with my S2 that in very dim conditions if subject is more than 3-4 meters away, autofocus assist beam will not be able to light it enough for correct AF.

Weird to read this.
We just came back from an event at my daughter's High School. It was an awards ceremony. I was above the stage by about 13 feet, and back away from stage mabe another 35-40 feet tops. Lighting was not VERY bright, nor was it dim. In auto and P, needed flash. I had the brass rail at edge of balcony the stabalize from. I had the same thing happen to me. It would seem as I zoomed in to the podium for a quick moment it looked like we were gonna get a good focus, then it starts "dialing in" and bam! Terrible focus every shot. I Just replaced an S1 with this S3, was gonna wait on the S5, maybe I should have?
. The S1 never let me down like that in the same school , same occasion, same lighting. Very new to this camera . Less than a week. I will mess with it and try to find what is up. Any one else find what is going on please post here
Thanks
John

Just joined in here... I have been playing with my new S3 and I can say a major focus issue for an amateur like me is realizing that you simply can't focus on something 2 feet away at full tele zoom. In dark conditions it is especially noticeable that it seems to focus but basically fails, but that's because the tele DOF simply doesn't include something that close. To focus in dark conditions, the subject needs to be within a good DOF too. That, along with IS, AF-assist, and good exposure settings, and things work out. Perhaps this is the issue... like me, he was trying to get shots that are basically impossible, nothing to do with the camera.

To summarize, sometimes macro mode is needed where one might think zoom could do it. Reason is that, because of focus and DOF, zoom is good for distance, but not good for close-ups.

I have significant problems getting my S3 to focus in dimmer light. I'm sitting in my small living room lit by one 100 watt lamp bulb. I've tried focusing on walls, the TV, this computer, the cat, a dresser...doesn't matter. It fails to lock focus 8 out of 10 times. It doesn't matter what zoom setting I'm at either; the camera will cycle through its focusing range but never lock onto the green autofocus assist reflection. I just end up with the yellow focusing square in the viewfinder. I've tried multiple surfaces and distances with no luck. I am certainly not impressed with the lower light focusing abilities of this camera and wonder if I have a lemon or if this is an innate problem with the S3.

Is this a common problem with this camera?

I personally think the S3 is horrible in low light situations. For those I grab my OLD 3.2mp Kodak P&S and get better results. Sad but true and I don't have to use a tripod with that.