wojtek
Established
Hello
Just wanted to read about your experience with using Hexar AF in the heavy fog or rain. Are you also experiencing some focusing problems, when shooting in such conditions?
Cheers
Wojtek
Just wanted to read about your experience with using Hexar AF in the heavy fog or rain. Are you also experiencing some focusing problems, when shooting in such conditions?
Cheers
Wojtek
Arjay
Time Traveller
Hm - I wonder how heavy a fog/rain you are thinking of.
As far as I understand the Hexar AF's autofocusing mechanism (I own one myself), there are two IR light beams which are progressively set to converge until some kind of IR imaging device detects maximum contrast. The system has to assume that the space between the camera and the target is empty, or else it has no way to find a point of maximum contrast.
I can imagine that the system will come to its limits when the fog is so dense that visibility is severely impaired over a distance of less than 20m (~60ft), since that is the maximum distance the system is designed to measure. Up to now, I haven't observed any AF problems in rain (I haven't tried fog yet, or densely falling snow).
But I have often observed that my Hexar AF focused on the windowpane when I wanted to take a shot of what is behind the window.
As far as I understand the Hexar AF's autofocusing mechanism (I own one myself), there are two IR light beams which are progressively set to converge until some kind of IR imaging device detects maximum contrast. The system has to assume that the space between the camera and the target is empty, or else it has no way to find a point of maximum contrast.
I can imagine that the system will come to its limits when the fog is so dense that visibility is severely impaired over a distance of less than 20m (~60ft), since that is the maximum distance the system is designed to measure. Up to now, I haven't observed any AF problems in rain (I haven't tried fog yet, or densely falling snow).
But I have often observed that my Hexar AF focused on the windowpane when I wanted to take a shot of what is behind the window.
wojtek
Established
Frank Petronio
Well-known
filmfan
Well-known
I have only noticed issues in cold weather...
EDIT: Shot in heavy fog and noticed the camera focusing on the min distance
EDIT: Shot in heavy fog and noticed the camera focusing on the min distance
wojtek
Established
Is your film drive getting a bit squeaky sometimes in cold weather?
pvdhaar
Peter
My experience with the Hexar-AF is that in the fog you need to really pay attention to what the autofocus does. The breaking index and the reflective properties of the water particles that make up the fog, make that the IR telemetry gets upset and the camera focusses too close. This happened even if I myself could easily make out the subject..
Alex Krasotkin
Well-known
No issues at all.
Here are examples:
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=352
http://www.krasotkin.com/stories/?all=33
Here are examples:
http://www.krasotkin.com/portfolio/?photo=352
http://www.krasotkin.com/stories/?all=33
wojtek
Established
Voila! So it looks like it's not only me, then. Good, I was thinking that maybe I am going insane, blind or both.
My Hexar behaves the same. When the fog (or rain, or any other type of air flowing particles) is dense, then it focuses, but usually wrongly.
This is actually the only bad thing I can say about that camera, anyway...
But it's a bit of limitation when you live in the land of fog and rain.
dreilly
Chillin' in Geneva
Reviving a dead thread here. Just had this experience with my Hexar AF this AM. Not a particularly heavy fog, I've seen heavier, but when trying to focus on infinity or near it, it would focus all the way in to close focus. I had to shift to MF for one shot of a building, about 50 feet away.
It seemed to be more realistic up close. I wonder if the Hexar has a default focus position for errors, and assumes close up work since the camera is designed for that kind of situation. Also did some experimenting and sometimes windows fool it, sometimes not.
It seemed to be more realistic up close. I wonder if the Hexar has a default focus position for errors, and assumes close up work since the camera is designed for that kind of situation. Also did some experimenting and sometimes windows fool it, sometimes not.
ferider
Veteran
Same experience here, Doug.
For this shot, I had to focus the camera manually, the AF would set itself to 1m or so.
I assumed the camera was focusing on the mist in the air. But your default position makes sense, too.
For this shot, I had to focus the camera manually, the AF would set itself to 1m or so.
I assumed the camera was focusing on the mist in the air. But your default position makes sense, too.
dreilly
Chillin' in Geneva
Nice shot, however!
dogbunny
Registered Boozer
I first experienced the fog problem while climbing Mt. Fuji. I came back with a couple of rolls of missed focus pics. When in such situations I look at the distance indicator to be sure that it is at least in the right ballpark. It also goes wonky at temperatures lower than -10C, even with brand new batteries. She's still a keeper.
db
db
Richard G
Veteran
Same experience here, Doug.
For this shot, I had to focus the camera manually, the AF would set itself to 1m or so.
I assumed the camera was focusing on the mist in the air. But your default position makes sense, too.
Roland is this in Australia?? I seem to remember a very similar structure photographed by lynnb from Sydney.
skibeerr
Well-known
ferider
Veteran
Thanks, Doug. Richard this is the Pt Reyes lighthouse here in California.
caasols
Member
I've had problems in extreme fog with the Hexar, couldn't focus. The same happened in extreme cold situations (-20ºc).
filmfan
Well-known
Shot in HEAVY fog:
1) had to manually set focus to infinity
2. this one I left on autofocus and focused on infinity, but as you can see:
3. and this was autofocus
1) had to manually set focus to infinity
2. this one I left on autofocus and focused on infinity, but as you can see:
3. and this was autofocus