13 replies to this topic

[Sefto]

I recently purchased a P1000 and noticed issues with focusing while zooming in on subjects between 500 to 3000 meters away in particular boats on the water and a jetty. The issue is when previewing in the viewfinder or LCD the subject appears to be focused very well and very sharp, but when the button is pushed fully for the photo the quick preview is out of focus and when I view the file, that is also out of focus.  Of course this is while using a tripod, time delayed photo and I have tried all sorts of settings including full auto, shutter speed priority, manual focus etc etc. The only common denominator is the water. The camera works perfectly in all other ways. 

 

I have been to Nikon and explained the problem and they have had the camera for testing and they told me there are no issues with he camera!

 

They will probably offer me a refund if I push them but that is not what I want, I just want a camera with a huge zoom, that can focus properly at full zoom. 

 

Has anyone out there come across the same issue?

[Merco_61]

Are you sure that it is a lack of focus you see and not haze?

Could you post a sample photo?

[Sefto]

See attached. I previously had a P900 that took better photos of the same subject 

Sorry forgot to reply to your other question, I am certain it is a focus issue and not haze because the preview is perfect as I mentioned before. 

[Merco_61]

Hi-res LCD finders and screens often mask haze as they have such high contrast.

 

No photo visible.

[Sefto]

[mikew]

It looks to me like atmospheric problems, i had a quick play, while not perfect i think it shows what i mean

 

[TBonz]

I agree with Peter and Mike.  It looks like haze / atmosphere.  Although you do not indicate how far you were zoomed, keep in mind that you have a longer reach with the P1000 than the P900 (3000mm vs. 2000mm).  At extreme zoom level you will face more atmosphere and be more likely to see blur from camera (or subject) movement.  What settings did you use for the image (Aperture, Shutter, ISO)?

[Sefto]

The aperture was 8.0, shutter 1/500 but iso unknown. I have tried the same picture morning/midday/late afternoon but they all have the haze (also regardless of temperature/light. As I mentioned, the hardest thing to grasp here is that the preview is perfect! I have seen there is someone else complaining about the same thing with the same camera so its not just me. 

 

I am about to accept a refund but reluctant due to what yo guys are saying.

 

Does anyone know if there is a better version on the horizon With a similar zoom?

[mikew]

I have not used it but atmospheric degradation increases with the distance, other things come into play like surface your shooting over, temperature and others, the reason it looks good on the camera back is due to the small backlit image you are viewing, going to stick my neck here and say buying a different camera and doing the same thing will give the same results.

The reason you have seen others complain is because of the same thing,not the answer you want but i had a P900 and would limit my expectations as the distance increased, i viewed it as a tool to get large images of small subjects over a short to medium distance. 

Look at this about 1m30 sec in you can see the foreground being distorted due to the atmosphere, then imagine a still image of it.

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=LhQlwKX3LQA

[Merco_61]

I have had days when I can't get acceptably sharp photos of a plane starting to roll because of haze. Not a warm day, just the grass releasing some moisture to the air. The distance as small as 1200m or so, sometimes. Visible in the optical viewfinder of my DSLR and in the captured photo, but not in LiveView.

 

It can be frustrating, and with a bridge camera you have no warning when it might show up.

 

As it is the atmosphere acting up and *not* the camera, getting another camera won't solve anything.

[TBonz]

I agree with Peter and Mike again.  As I mentioned above, you have a longer reach with the P1000 which puts even more atmosphere in between you and your subjects.  It shouldn't take much effort in post processing to clear that up as Mike did above.  If I wanted that much reach, I would consider that a small price...

[Sefto]

Thank you all for your advice. Just one more thing, does the sea make atmospheric issues worse?

[Merco_61]

Haze is usually caused by moisture in one form or another, so the sea or a lake definitely make things worse.

[Ssedlmayr]

I have the same problem.  It does not focus exactly.  When I switch to the manual focus and use the white out feature, the focus is just off slightly from the automatic.  I then refocus with the manual white feature and it does perfect focus.  So you are not crazy, nor is it haze.  I have several pictures I can show you that are of the same item, just one with autofocus and the other with manual focus.  

There is something slightly off with their autofocus.  I would love a way to calibrate it.  

 

I first thought it was haze, but then noticed on a perfectly cool day with snow and very calm conditions, it was doing the same to me.  So I experimented and found the problem.  It is off just enough to drive you crazy.  And it seems to work at longer zooms then at the shorter ones.  

 

I have not played with all of the focusing features yet, but have it on the middle of the screen and a very small area, and it still does the same as the broad focusing setting.  It might be something in the camera adjustment.