OM-1 S-AF intermittently hitting target

[Greytop]

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this (see title)?

More testing this evening suggests my OM-1 has intermittent difficultly acquiring a focus lock in S-AF mode where my E-M1 MkII locks perfectly without fail.
I get the focus acquisition beep in mechanical shutter mode but through the viewfinder and in the resultant image the camera has clearly missed focus.
I've only tried my trusty 12-40 Pro and 25 f/1.2 Pro lenses so far. The OM-1 exhibits the same difficulty with both and all firmware is up to date - I've checked.

Just to add I'm using single and small target areas.

[wornish]

The focus recalculates very quickly when using single small target perhaps its locked on to something else. Have you tried using the small group of targets.
OM Workspace actually shows where the focus target was if viewing a raw file.

Its the button marked AF on the bottom bar of the window.

[pdk42]

Yes! Playing with mine yesterday I found a number of times when I had VERY blurred shots even when I was 100% certain that the AF has indicated lock. In fact, I found I had to cycle power to get it working again.

[Ian]

With so many AF points now and the use of the quad pixel system, maybe a single AF point is not the best strategy any more? As has been suggested elsewhere - how does a small grouping compare. Alas, I can't help by replicating as I have no OM-1.

Ian

[Greytop]

The focus recalculates very quickly when using single small target perhaps its locked on to something else. Have you tried using the small group of targets.
OM Workspace actually shows where the focus target was if viewing a raw file.

Its the button marked AF on the bottom bar of the window.

Thanks for the suggestion

I used both single and small group targets areas. I tried several times on the same target but it simply wont acquire focus, then power off the camera and back on and it will acquire! Then after a while again then same issue.

With my MkII I've never had an issue with the single focus point (or at least extremely rarely).

I've been trying again this morning and it continues to perform intermittently.

[pdk42]

This is exactly what I'm seeing. Sounds like a bug in the firmware to me.

[Greytop]

Sorry to hear you are having the same issue Paul. But in one way it's slightly encouraging in that I'm not going mad seeing what I'm seeing with this new camera

[Greytop]

Yes! Playing with mine yesterday I found a number of times when I had VERY blurred shots even when I was 100% certain that the AF has indicated lock. In fact, I found I had to cycle power to get it working again.

Sounds very similar to my experience Paul.
I've had the same results with single and the small group of target points.

[Greytop]

Just to add that I have now tried my 40-150 f/2.8 Pro and the same pattern of results occur. Although on brief testing it seems less confident to acquire at the shorter end of the focal range of this lens.

[pdk42]

It seems that Huw and I have experienced exactly the same problem. It's sounding like a firmware bug to me. Ian - what is the best way to report this to OM?

[Ross the fiddler]

This is why bonuses are given to early adopters.

[Ian]

It seems that Huw and I have experienced exactly the same problem. It's sounding like a firmware bug to me. Ian - what is the best way to report this to OM?

You probably have a choice. Huw's camera has a hardware fault (very stuck pixel/s) so his camera probably needs to be replaced. He bought his from OMDS so he needs to go through their customer support process and I think they will replace the camera as it's new.

For you, if you suspect a firmware issue, then you might be content to wait for a firmware update - but have many others also experienced the same problem? If, not, it's not likely to be firmware (unless there are several versions already).

If you think the camera is faulty and, again, as it's so new, as I believe under UK retail sales regulations, you need to go back to your dealer.

In the mean time, I have already relayed Huw's issues - I can let you know when I get a technical person to respond?

Ian

[Miketoll]

I have just tried mine with single point and using both electronic shutter and mechanical with anti shock - no problems with either.

[pdk42]

The problem I've seen is very intermittent. It's perfectly possible that you just haven't encountered it yet.

[Greytop]

Paul is quite right, a few attempts will not necessarily reveal the issue. In my experience repeated attempts will suddenly result in a missed focus acquisition (and many there after) until the camera is reset - a focal length change sometimes works or a power cycle.

[Miketoll]

True but how many times do I try it before coming to any conclusion? I nearly always use C-AF in continuous burst mode anyway trying to photograph moving subjects. I hope it is a firmware glitch then it can be easily fixed via an update.

[Greytop]

I have just tried mine with single point and using both electronic shutter and mechanical with anti shock - no problems with either.

Good to know that you don't have the problem Mike. Which lens were you testing with?

[Miketoll]

The 45mm f1.8 as I was sitting at the computer in a fairly dim light and the lens was at hand. The subject was an exciting one - a power socket no less - but as I was at an angle I could take note of what I put the focus point on and if the camera focussed on precisely the same spot.

[pdk42]

This is becoming a pretty common issue now. Here's a video of the problem:

It keeps doing this until the power is cycled:

[Greytop]

Yes that's exactly as I see it Paul.

[Ross the fiddler]

You're using BB-AF. What happens if it is shutter AF, all in one press?

[Greytop]

For me it's the same result Ross whether BB or 'all in one' focus and shutter release.

[pdk42]

It seems to be a time/number of shots issue. The more shots you take, the more likely it will happen. Only a power cycle gets it back to working again.

[pdk42]

I suspect it's probably not a focus issue now. For two reasons:

1) The focus looks good on the screen before I press the shutter
2) Reviewing the photo after on the PC, it's blurred everywhere, nothing's in focus

So, I'm suspecting a problem with the IBIS.

[blackfox]

Just noticed someone has copied this to Facebook and your getting a right slagging off on there .. thought you might want to know

[Greytop]

Par for the course with Facebook I guess

[Greytop]

Might be worth doing some testing with stablisation disabled.