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I need some info
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Dec 31, 2011 10:41:11   #
vickilaney Loc: Eastern Kentucky
 
I got a Canon PowerShot SX40HS for Christmas.
When I start to take a picture, I zoom it in and then my zoom goes "nuts" on me. It will go all the way out, and then zoom back in. It does this several times . I can't get a clear picture of what I'm trying to take. They are all blurry due to not being focused. But I can't get it to focus because of the zoom running back and forth.
Is this camera defective, do you think?
I'm quite upset with it, I thought my old Kodak was junk, but I wished that I had taken it with me when I went to my daughter's for Christmas because I messed up some good shots of my grand babies.

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Dec 31, 2011 10:50:17   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
Sounds like the autofocus is having a hard time getting a fix.

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Dec 31, 2011 10:53:39   #
MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy
 
I agree with rpavich, make sure your focus point is pointed at something with high contrast (corner of the eye for example). You need to give it something to lock on to.

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Dec 31, 2011 10:58:26   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
And make sure you are far enough back from the subject.

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Dec 31, 2011 11:43:26   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
My neighbor got his wife the same camera for Christmas and he asked me about the same thing. It focuses good on high contrast objects, but does search a lot looking for something to lock onto in lower contrast situations, like when a flash is needed. Irritating when you want to take a quick shot, I can only guess its due to the long range of the zoom. It does take some nice pics though.

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Dec 31, 2011 12:13:33   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
that's just the nature of autofocus...the longer the lens, the lower the contrast, the more likely you are to just manual focus...

Zoom's are inherently low light...and that coupled with low contrast...kiss of death.

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Jan 1, 2012 11:14:24   #
FOTOSTAN Loc: Ca..NYC..Fla.
 
How about... just returning the camera to the store where purchased, for possible defective or a lession on how to use it... WHY GUESS?

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Jan 1, 2012 11:37:50   #
birdie
 
I keep mine in manual focus, only using the autofocus for things that are sitting still. That is sitting there long enough for me to remember " I might get a for sure focus on that rose if i use autofocus" for a butterfly visiting the rose, no way! it drives the autofocus crazy. I have tried it for hummingbirds, and it might work for one shot, then it gets lost. So, I learn to adjust the focus fast.

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Jan 1, 2012 17:02:50   #
CanonJC
 
Vicki, I have Canon SX30is for a year. I am using it as back up. I have no problem with it. It works an excellent condition. This model is the same zoom 35x as yours. First setup in the menu be sure setting autofocus, find the manualbook. If it continues a problem, take it to the camera store for checking if it might is the malfunction.

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Jan 1, 2012 17:14:59   #
Scubie Loc: Brunswick Georgia
 
Something is set wrong...try manual focus...it seems that the image is confusing the camera, maybe not.....If it does this on any shot, then you need to take it to a dealer or try to return it...It could be defective...

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Jan 1, 2012 18:47:52   #
gessman Loc: Colorado
 
Look in your manual and find out how to put it on "spot." There have been several folks in UHH with this problem and "spot" seems to fix it for them.

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Jan 1, 2012 23:56:40   #
Dryart38 Loc: Carlsbad, NM
 
Set it on spot and single focus - I've got a Fuji megazoom, and it does the same thing - continuous focus sounds like the culprit, here! You simply put the spot on what you want to have sharp, push the shutter button half way down (until it focuses on the subject), then compose your picture while holding it half-way down, push the button the rest of the way, and make the picture. The single focus should stop the focus from wandering. Hope this helps!

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Jan 2, 2012 02:28:31   #
Scubie Loc: Brunswick Georgia
 
gessman is absolutely right...I forgot about that....

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Jan 2, 2012 02:56:11   #
ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona
 
/Why would the zoom go flaky in low light? That sounds like possibly low batteries or it's just a defective unit.

Everyone started to give advise on auto focus but wasn't she asking about the zoom operation?

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Jan 2, 2012 11:48:18   #
gessman Loc: Colorado
 
[quote=vickilaney]I got a Canon PowerShot SX40HS for Christmas.

Please let us know if taking the steps that have been recommended solve your focusing issues. It will help us to know what to advise the next person who gets one of these cameras and has this problem. Thank you.

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