Have I broken my friend's camera...any advice?

[Patrice]

I think you might have damage your friend's camera. If that is the case then your choices are rather limited, either get it fixed or replace it. You best fess up, whatever you decide. A good friend once told me he never ever borrows anything from anybody unless he can afford to replace it. (Why did you borrow a valuable camera and then go and get pie-eyed?)

 

[mjhoward]

I think the fact LiveView is taking sharp photos is a big clue.

Some part of the camera that isn't used when using LiveView may have become mis-calibrated?

The AF module isn't used for live view. Live view uses contrast detection autofocus, while the AF module uses phase detection. The reason is because the mirror has to be raised to allow the light to continually hit the sensor. When the mirror is raised, no light is passed to the AF module so phase detection can't be used.

 

[dots]

I think you might have damage your friend's camera. If that is the case then your choices are rather limited, either get it fixed or replace it. You best fess up, whatever you decide. A good friend once told me he never ever borrows anything from anybody unless he can afford to replace it. (Why did you borrow a valuable camera and then go and get pie-eyed?)

I'm the same.. I don't like borrowing tech for that reason.

 

[HermesTheHighlighter]

I think you might have damage your friend's camera. If that is the case then your choices are rather limited, either get it fixed or replace it. You best fess up, whatever you decide. A good friend once told me he never ever borrows anything from anybody unless he can afford to replace it. (Why did you borrow a valuable camera and then go and get pie-eyed?)

Well, I let him stay in my central london flat rent free for the 9 months that I'm in Bangkok. His camera was a birthday gift that he doesn't know how to use and has only done so on about 3 occasions. He offered to lend it to me as my sister has taken my DSLR and he knows I hate to travel without a decent camera.

I have to get it fixed

Should I take it to a Canon store in Bangkok?

 

[PixelDust]

I think the fact LiveView is taking sharp photos is a big clue.

Some part of the camera that isn't used when using LiveView may have become mis-calibrated?

The AF module isn't used for live view. Live view uses contrast detection autofocus, while the AF module uses phase detection. The reason is because the mirror has to be raised to allow the light to continually hit the sensor. When the mirror is raised, no light is passed to the AF module so phase detection can't be used.

I had this problem with my old d5000. I was told to send it in to Nikon and have them fix it. Apparently a big bump to the camera is usually to blame for this problem.

 

[HermesTheHighlighter]

I think the fact LiveView is taking sharp photos is a big clue.

Some part of the camera that isn't used when using LiveView may have become mis-calibrated?

The AF module isn't used for live view. Live view uses contrast detection autofocus, while the AF module uses phase detection. The reason is because the mirror has to be raised to allow the light to continually hit the sensor. When the mirror is raised, no light is passed to the AF module so phase detection can't be used.

Thanks mjhoward,

That was interesting.

Do you have any ideas on what may have got damaged if I did in fact knock it?

 

[HermesTheHighlighter]

I think the fact LiveView is taking sharp photos is a big clue.

Some part of the camera that isn't used when using LiveView may have become mis-calibrated?

The AF module isn't used for live view. Live view uses contrast detection autofocus, while the AF module uses phase detection. The reason is because the mirror has to be raised to allow the light to continually hit the sensor. When the mirror is raised, no light is passed to the AF module so phase detection can't be used.

I had this problem with my old d5000. I was told to send it in to Nikon and have them fix it. Apparently a big bump to the camera is usually to blame for this problem.

Sweet PixelDust,

How much did it set you back and how did you go about sending it off?

Thanks

 

[marmots]

did you accidentally select a single af point

it appears to be focusing on the same spot in most of the shots you posted

 

[gsgary]

User error yet again, look in the patio door you have focus so you were using the wrong focus point

 

[Dao]

From the exif data of the photo where the building is out of focus while the window frame is in focus.


AFArea Mode Single-point AF
Num AFPoints 9
Valid AFPoints 9
AFArea Widths 115 115 115 162 200 162 115 115 115
AFArea Heights 153 153 153 105 199 105 153 153 153
AFPoints Selected 8

AF Points Selected = 8. I wonder which one is 8

 

[KmH]

live view isn't separate from the viewfinder - at least I don't think so.

Liveview is indeed separate from the viewfinder.

There is a mirror right behind the lens that blocks light from getting to the image sensor and directs the light from the lens up to the pentaprism or pentamirror and then to the viewfinder. In live view the mirror is up and what is seen on the rear LCD is directly from the image sensor.

That mirror is only 50% reflective, because behind the main mirror is a smaller secondary mirror that directs the other 50% of the light down to the AF module in the bottom of the camera, which is why live view has to use a different auto focus system than the AF module used when looking through the viewfinder. Put your camera in live view and then look in the viwfinder to verify it is black, because the mirror is up.

 

[MTVision]

Liveview is indeed separate from the viewfinder.

There is a mirror right behind the lens that blocks light from getting to the image sensor and directs the light from the lens up to the pentaprism or pentamirror and then to the viewfinder. In live view the mirror is up and what is seen on the rear LCD is directly from the image sensor.

That mirror is only 50% reflective, because behind the main mirror is a smaller secondary mirror that directs the other 50% of the light down to the AF module in the bottom of the camera, which is why live view has to use a different auto focus system than the AF module used when looking through the viewfinder. Put your camera in live view and then look in the viwfinder to verify it is black, because the mirror is up.

I know I'm wrong now the viewfinder does go black when in live view. I just kind of figured that if live view was taking sharp in-focus photos then through the viewfinder should too.

It all makes sense to me know!

 

[Dao]

In my Canon 40D liveview mode, when I press the button for AF (at the back of the camera), the mirror will flip down so it can AF (screen go black). Once I release the button, the mirror will flip back up (Live video feed on the camera screen). In Liveview mode, AF will not work when half press the shutter button. Not sure if that is the case in OP's 500D camera. If it is the same, did those photo taken with Liveview ever use the AF or not.


EDIT:
Looks like the 500D maybe different. It has 2 AF modes in Liveview. One is the same as my 40D, the other one is the "uses a contrast-based AF system" which is slower. It may take few seconds to focus. But that do not require the mirror to flip up for AF.

 

[dots]

@gary that's three that have now said this. Does the OP read all responses or just 'some'.

Anythread like this that goes into several pages is BS.

 

[HermesTheHighlighter]

From the exif data of the photo where the building is out of focus while the window frame is in focus.


AFArea Mode Single-point AF
Num AFPoints 9
Valid AFPoints 9
AFArea Widths 115 115 115 162 200 162 115 115 115
AFArea Heights 153 153 153 105 199 105 153 153 153
AFPoints Selected 8

AF Points Selected = 8. I wonder which one is 8

Hi Dao,

Thank you for the time it took you to get that data out of the image and look at it. I appreciate it. I wish it was as simple as choosing the wrong focus point but it's not I'm not a complete noob. If you look at the image at 100% you'll notice the window frame isn't sharp at all, just sharper than the buildings on the horizon.


And in LIVEVIEW. The viewfinder does go black.


Thanks for all the responses. I have ****ed the camera up somehow. I'm going to drop it off for repair sometime next week.