Not Focusing

[chelsearae88]

This is my first post and I'll admit right off the bat that my GR is new and I'm not a pro with it yet. However, I am currently on vacation and it's been working great for me so far. All my pictures have been clear and lovely. Then, this morning, nothing is in focus! If the subject is extremely close to the lens it's fine, but even one meter away is blurred. I have no idea what happened between great pictures last night and nothing good today. I've cleaned the lens and restored the camera to factory settings, but nothing helps. I'm just trying to use the auto focus. Even if the focus box locks and turns green, the shot is completely blurry. Any ideas? How can I extend the focus depth? I'd appreciate anyone who may be able to help. Thanks!

 

[Spode]

You have probably
a) pressed macro by mistake
b) switched to spot focus and focused on something too dark

 

[odklizec]

Hi chelsearae88 and welcome here! I agree with Spode's suggestions (Hi Spode and welcome here too!). Another thing you can try is to cover the external AF window with your finger (or piece of something) to force the camera to use CCD-based AF. This way you can rule-out a problem with external AF sensor.

And one last thing, make sure you did not use the "full press snap" option! In other words, make sure you understand the concept of "full press snap" option. Or simply turn it OFF (I believe it's by default ON)?

Hope something of these suggestions will work for you?

 

[Blow-in]

You have probably
a) pressed macro by mistake
b) switched to spot focus and focused on something too dark

I'd go with the 'macro' button too. The safest way to avoid this happenning all the time is to use a MY setting - at least then if you've pressed it by mistake the camera will reset to macro off when you switch it off...if you are using 'A' it will remember you had macro set and will switch on again with it enabled. The macro button is on the disc in the 6 O'clock position (ie below menu OK) with the flower symbol which will also appear in yellow on the screen near the top left when selected.

Please let us know if this sorts the problem - you won't be the first to have done this (nor the last)!

Richard

 

[Athena]

But if chelsearae88 restored to factory settings, then how could the macro button still be set to 'on'? Unless something has knocked against it again after restoring to factory state....

 

[Blow-in]

But if chelsearae88 restored to factory settings, then how could the macro button still be set to 'on'? Unless something has knocked against it....

I'm fairly certain that restoring to factory settings does not cancel macro if you've selected in A mode it as it is not actually a setting (you can't save macro in MY for example because it does not appear in a menu). Hopefully we should know soon whether this was the issue.

Richard

 

[Athena]

:? All I know is that if you have macro set to 'on' whilst in 'MY' settings and then you go and save the settings, the macro will be on every time you come back to the MY setting, and you have to press the macro button to turn it off again. But this is for the GXR...the GR might be different. Also, as far as I know, macro is not defaulted to 'on', so if chelsearae88 restored to factory settings, then macro should be off. So if, in the first place, the problem was caused by accidental pressing of the macro button to turn it on, then the problem should no longer be there after restoring to factory state. However, if the macro button was accidentally pressed again immediately after factory restore took place, then it may be the reason for the same problem happening again....I really don't know any more than that so I would be tempted to say it was a dud lens, but that's due to my lack of technical knowledge :mrgreen:.

 

[Blow-in]

:? All I know is that if you have macro set to 'on' whilst in 'MY' settings and then you go and save the settings, the macro will be on every time you come back to the MY setting, and you have to press the macro button to turn it off again. But this is for the GXR...the GR might be different. Also, as far as I know, macro is not defaulted to 'on', so if chelsearae88 restored to factory settings, then macro should be off. So if, in the first place, the problem was caused by accidental pressing of the macro button to turn it on, then the problem should no longer be there after restoring to factory state. However, if the macro button was accidentally pressed again immediately after factory restore took place, then it may be the reason for the same problem happening again....I really don't know any more than that so I would be tempted to say it was a dud lens, but that's due to my lack of technical knowledge :mrgreen:.

Athena, you are right about the MY & register button - it's the same on the GRD4 as you have described so I've learnt at least one thing today - thank you! I do hope chelsearae88's issue with the focus is simply the macro button...we shall have to wait and find out.

Richard

 

[Athena]

Athena, you are right about the MY & register button - it's the same on the GRD4 as you have described so I've learnt at least one thing today - thank you!

No problem, and thank you . I wasn't sure if I was understanding things correctly, or if I was saying the right thing, so it's nice to get your feedback .

I do hope chelsearae88's issue with the focus is simply the macro button...we shall have to wait and find out.

Yes, I also hope chelsearae88's problem is something as simple as that, and that it can be solved soon. Anyone else have any ideas? Have you been able to solve the problem yet, chelsearae88?

 

[chelsearae88]

Thank you all so much for your time, suggestions, and comments. Unfortunately, the macro is off and the problem persists. It's also not a lighting issue because I've tried in all sorts of settings (both indoor and outdoor) and with flash. And full press snap is off. When I hold the shutter button half way down to focus, I can hear the camera working, but after the lens adjusts and the pictures is snapped, it is still blurry. Any other ideas?

If this is a serious repair issue, are there any suggestions about what course of action I should take? Do I send it back to the manufacturer or is there a place in the US that I can get it looked at? I'd greatly appreciate any and all information!

Thanks!

 

[chelsearae88]

Another thing you can try is to cover the external AF window with your finger (or piece of something) to force the camera to use CCD-based AF. This way you can rule-out a problem with external AF sensor.

I'm afraid that my skills fall a bit short here. Can you explain to me how to do this and where the external AF window is on my device?

 

[thelps]

Another thing you can try is to cover the external AF window with your finger (or piece of something) to force the camera to use CCD-based AF. This way you can rule-out a problem with external AF sensor.

I'm afraid that my skills fall a bit short here. Can you explain to me how to do this and where the external AF window is on my device?

I think Pavel is referring to this little window? This is the "AF auxiliary light", it sends a beam of light so the camera has more to lock onto.
Its about the only forward window anyhow?

 

[odklizec]

What I mean is the little window above the AF auxiliary lamp:

This window is responsible for faster GRD focusing. But it may also be a source of problems, because in certain cases, it could be less precise than the "see through lens" and "CCD based" focus, which is a bit slower, but much more precise. In any case, your problem sounds like a HW issue.

In the US, the authorized service of Ricoh cameras is Criscam. Simply contact them via their registration form. Since the GRDIV is still a relatively new camera, your problem should be covered by the warranty (1 year in the US). Of course, only if you did not drop or drown your camera

Good luck with repair!

 

[thelps]

Whups, my mistake, I for some reason thought the issue was with a GXR? :?: :lol: