This time it’s my camera. I’m not entirely sure what’s up with it, except that for some reason (out of the blue) the auto focus won’t work. :(
I’d hoped initially (we were in oxford killing the day while pudge was being poked, prodded, blood tested and fructosimizined) at the botanical gardens and I was trying to get some photos taken. It worked for about 1/2 an hour after I had it out and shooting using autofocus (unless I’m going for something specific or am in the home and can duplicate the set up because my crappy eyes don’t focus really well even with glasses or contacts). So I wasn’t too happy. Yea, I know this is why I have a 2nd camera, but still. I don’t like it when things stop working. :?
What’s it doing? (C’mon, pretend you care! ;) )
When I try to take a photo with it on auto focus the lens just goes in and out without finding focus. It doesn’t make a whit of differnce that I’ve selected the point of focus, or the lighting or the settings the camera is on. I tried it on all settings including automatic and it’s a no go.
I thought at first that it might be a problem with the lens. (Ok, I say, well that’s still pretty new and it’s still under warranty) But I thought, huh, it still works fine on Manual Focus. Maybe I ought to try it with another lens?
So I tried it with my Sigma, again no dice with the auto focus. But of course the camera still works fine with manual focus. I tried the other canon lens and again the same. So it doesn’t seem to be the lens.
From what I’ve read online (based on the descriptions of other peoples problems) it sounds like it could be a sensor problem. Maybe they/it needs cleaning. Problem with that is that I don’t know how to do it. Or what I need to do it. The owner manual isn’t overly instructive and I don’t know how I’d manage to keep the dust in this place from drifing into it (the insturctions seem to imply I have it sitting open, lens-less while I’m trying to clean it)
Anyway, if anyone’s got any suggestions or ideas I’m happy to hear them.
One Response to “Technical Difficulties :(”
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Hi, I bookmarked your site some time ago, I think the work you do is amazing!
I’m offering this advice: First I get the impression your using a Canon camera, since you mentioned a Canon lens. Second, when your autofocus isn’t working, have you noticed if the aperture value in the display is showing 00?
The camera has sensors for autofocus, but it’s not the same as the sensor to record the image. You shouldn’t have to clean that sensor unless your getting fuzzy grey spots in your images. That is a sign of dust on the imaging sensor.
If you get the 00 display for your aperture when the autofocus isn’t working, its a problem of the camera communicating with the lens. The fix is simple, when you take the lens off the camera, you will notice a row of pins on the camera mount, and small squares on the lens mount. These are the contacts where the camera and lens communicate. Both should be gold in color. Use a pencil eraser, and clean the contacts. Just be careful not to get the “shavings” from the eraser into the camera or lens. After “erasing” the contacts, blow the shavings away. The put the lens back on the camera to see if the autofocus works, and to make sure the aperture value is showing a number other than 00.
Dirty contacts can keep the camera and lens from communicating, causing these problems. I hope this solution helps.
Also, if your not using Canon, the solution should be the same. Since I use Canon I’m more familiar with them.
Daryl