Need advice on lense issue?

[Overread19 7]

Indoors under normal lighting is generally pretty dark for any DSLR - our own eyes are far far more adaptive to the light levels than the camera is, especially when it comes to the AF sensors. Better lenses will have a larger maximum aperture (smaller f number) which will mean that they gather more light during focusing and thus the sensors will have more to work with.

I'm unsure if there is a problem with the gear beyond its level of performance - its hard to say, but sometimes when we go back to tools after not using them for a long while they can seem sub-par to our memories (or we can forget the mistakes/problems we had in the past).


Another options is you can use a speedlite design flash (Eg a 430EX2 or 580EX2) which has a built in AF sensor aid (enabled only in one-shot af mode). This sends out a beam of low brightness redlight which helps the camera to lock onto a subject in dimmer lighting conditions. Also with the flash mounted you've also additional options to improve the lighting for a clearer shot.

 

[fjrabon]

Its the combination of low light, a lens that doesn't let much light in and perhaps (though unlikely) a camera that doesn't have the greatest autofocus software. How autofocus works is by measuring the local contrast in a small area. The more light is hitting that area, the greater it can read that contrast. Some cameras are also better at this than others.

 

[Groupcaptainbonzo]

I believe that the 18-55 is a bit faster than the other lens. But if you are getting good results from the 18 - 55. And Used to get good results from the other , but are no longer doin so, then I would ASSUME (1st rule of life, assume nothing) that it would be the lens that ha reached the end of it's service life, rather than the camera. The 18-55 is an inexpensive lens, but none the less capable of some good results. So if it is working, the system must be OK

 

[tnraines]

took the camera and the lense in today to a third shop (got sevaral within few mile drive) verdict was not the camera but the lense, not worth even attempting to fix in his opinon. With three different people two said the lense is bad. I am willing to go with that.

 

[gsgary]

took the camera and the lense in today to a third shop (got sevaral within few mile drive) verdict was not the camera but the lense, not worth even attempting to fix in his opinon. With three different people two said the lense is bad. I am willing to go with that.

All 18-200 are not great to start with

 

[tnraines]

Glad my entry level budget at this point is satisfactory, have to start somewhere and work there way up at least some of us do.

 

[pixmedic1 1]

gsgary, that is a very interesting picture of the trumpet player and the bokeh is very nice. +1 for that pic for sure. tnraines, im no camera techie on internal issues like that but it sounds like the camera itself does indeed have some AF issue and is having trouble with how it interprets less that perfect light.

edit: i just saw you got some shops to diagnose the lens as the issue..good news indeed. lens is definately easier to replace =) glad to hear it wasnt the camera itself. now its just a matter of deciding what you want to replace the lens with.

 

[gsgary]

gsgary, that is a very interesting picture of the trumpet player and the bokeh is very nice. +1 for that pic for sure. tnraines, im no camera techie on internal issues like that but it sounds like the camera itself does indeed have some AF issue and is having trouble with how it interprets less that perfect light.

edit: i just saw you got some shops to diagnose the lens as the issue..good news indeed. lens is definately easier to replace =) glad to hear it wasnt the camera itself. now its just a matter of deciding what you want to replace the lens with.

That was with the Canon 200mmF2.8L it's not pin sharp shutter was a touch slow for hand holding fingers were moving quite fast