A640 ?'s

[aramsdell]

I seem to be having a couple problems withthe A640 and focus even at high shutter speeds.
I'm using a wide angle lens and a UV filter. Is this ok or should I ditch one or the other?

[SeismicCWave]

Why do you need to focus in aerial photo? Set the focus to infinity and AF lock it. Your wide angle addon lens and/or your UV filter could be degrading the sharpness of your image.

[aramsdell]

I'm starting to think it's the wide-angle. Many shots seem fairly sharp near the center but fuzz out towards the edges.
I had tried setting to infinity but not the AF lock way. I had set to man. focus then moved with the right arrow 'til at infinity focus then started shooting. I don't know if it stays at Infin. when using the blip switch though. It stays when using the cam manually.

[SeismicCWave]

Yes it should stay in manual focus with the Blip switch. Blurring on the edge is a good indication that your wide angle addon is the culprit.

[AZ ChopperCam]

the "fuzzing" at the edges as you put it is due to a low quality wide angle converter and not your focus.

What brand and model of wide angle converter are you using?

[Tonystott]

DJ is on the money I reckon. I learnt my lesson buying a cheap wide converter for an Olympus SP350, so when buying one for the A640 I went straight for the Canon 0.7 one. Its a beaut!

[aramsdell]

Digital Concepts lens. There isn't blur all around just at the closer in on some shots when I was at (I think) infinity. The closer subjects were less than 150 feet away and near the lower edge of the picture.Camera pointed down 25 to 30 degrees. Everything at infinity in those shots was focused. I really only am having the most problem with the camera overexposing. I've tried 'Safety mode' various ways and still overexpose white objects that have some gray and darker details in them. Anything fairly bright white gets washed out or overpowered. I've done safety off and underexposed to various degrees
What's the proper way to set infin. focus and enable a Blip switch? If I shut off the camera I seem to lose that setting.

DJ could you give a list of all the settings in your menu so I can try that?

Thanks
Al Ramsdell.

[furyphoto]

You can set the camera to remember your settings using the Custom Setting function on the A640, "C" on the top dial. I have set mine to my most used settings, including manual focus at infinity. I can't remember off the top of my head how to save the settings, but it is in your camera manual. Then next time you want to shoot, you just turn the dial to "C" and you are pretty much ready to go.

I would also suggest using manual camera settings for your exposure. Take a few test shots from the ground of your subject, and check the playback to make sure you exposure is correct. once you have done that, every shot will be well exposed.

Alternatively, if you find that all of your shots are overexposed, and you want to use an automatic setting (maybe you are going to be shooting a building from different angles in one sortie) set your exposure compensation to -1, (again, you will have to check the manual to do this)

It is possible that infinity is not the best focal length with a wide angle adapter, but my best guess is that you soft images are a result of the quality of your wide lens, I have seen it 100 times with lenses that are not made my a major, quality lens manufacturer. I also have the canon .7 wide, and it is worth the money

-A

[aramsdell]

I'm using the Blip switch from Blip.co.au I'll have to see if it works for 'C' on the selector switch. It isn't shown in the instructions only Auto,P,Tv,Av,and M.


Off to the cellar.....

[aramsdell]

OK, the Blip Switch is working my A640 shutter and zoom while (the camera dial is) set to 'C' mode. The Blip is setup for Tv in its setup menu. The Blip manual doesn't mention using the 'C' mode but hey it's working. I've flown with the focus set to infin. withou the wide angle and the pictures are spectacularly average. Obviously not everything is going to be perfectly focused depending on how close.
I'm obviously not a great photog. but I've had some full/near fully manual cams that were much easier to work with and had better exposure/metering. My Fuji E900 9MP was quite nice, my only complaint was it had purple chr. abberation that I had to edit out fairly often.
I guess the Blip switch is the thing I like most about this one......

If anyone knows how to test the focus of this cam please let me know.

[aramsdell]

I'm starting to believe that when I turn on the Blip the focus is goin from infinity back to something else.
Today I(camera in hand) zoomed fully then maually focused to infinity. Backed off one quick click on focus then backed the zoom out nearly all the way. Took a picture of my favorite bright white lighthouse.Surprise, The picket fence was very well focused. I don't seem to be able to get the Canon to stay focused (at infinity) with the Blip switch.
I think it might if I didn't have to move the zoom after turning on the Blip. I have to zoom in a couple of clicks because the barrel adapter shows in the pictures If I don't.
What is the process for using Tv mode(that's what I have it((newest ROM)) programmed for) and getting the camto stay in manual focus. Can I stay in manual focus with Tv mode and use the zoom?
I have been able to operate the cam in 'C'ustom mode but I don't think the focus stays the same.

I need the advice of an expert with the Blip and Canon cams. Someone please help.......______