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Does anyone know if this is possible, or I just changed a setting somewhere but suddenly, the auto-focus on the zoom just doesn't seem to be as clear (and quick to focus) as when I first had the camera. This definitely happens when the battery is near drained, but this is now happening on a full charge.  It's quite possible I changed something but I wondered if anyone had experienced this before. I have had the camera approx 8 weeks and it hasn't suffered any trauma (haven't dropped this one) and I've been very careful with it, although I do use it day in and day out.

Thanks,

FB

How long have you had the camera for?

If it was a dslr I would suggest that you clean the lens contacts with a rubber erraser.

Since it is the prosumer type where the lens is fixed to the body and zooms you may need to take it to a certified repair shop and have it cleaned or otherwise looked at.

Other suggestion make sure your battery is in good condition a bad battery can cause problems

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My New Avatar is in memory of Nancy my darling wife of 10 years who passed away on Monday November the 16th 2009 after an illness

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Approx 8 weeks, Kiwi. I've been super careful with it too.  Interesting about the battery, it comes with it's Nikon battery, which I charge after every use- could you elaborate on what could make a battery in bad shape?

 I think I'll take it in, I can't stand to be without it but I am going on a trip in a month and I want it back by then!

Thanks,
FB

Freebird:

Approx 8 weeks, Kiwi. I've been super careful with it too.  Interesting about the battery, it comes with it's Nikon battery, which I charge after every use- could you elaborate on what could make a battery in bad shape?

 FB

Batteries are massed produced for various companies and every now and then you may get a bad one have you found that the battery doesn't last as long as it used too.

I know with my nikon D60 battery I can go a couple weeks or more before it needs a recharge and that battery has to drive the focusing motor in the lens as well as operate the camera.

Sorry I forgot to ask you if you where using the digital zoom along with the optical zoom if you are turn off the digital zoom it is of no benefit to you at all

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My New Avatar is in memory of Nancy my darling wife of 10 years who passed away on Monday November the 16th 2009 after an illness

My photo gallery http://thekiwi.org/photography/index.php

That's precisely what is happening, the battery doesnt last as long either.  I am charging it after every use at the moment and sometimes, when I've only switched the camera on and tried to focus, it seems to struggle with it and sometimes simply won't focus. When I first had it, I could switch it on and it would zoom and focus in a second and with amazing clarity in an instant.

 I don't use the digital zoom at all if I can  help it (sometimes I use it like binoculars to look closer, see if it's something I want to bother with) then I dial it back to optical to take the shot and so far, I've been reasonably successful with this approach (and I remember you advising on the digital zoom before and I did listen :)  Thanks a lot, I am going to take it in Saturday- I want to buy an extra battery anyway so I'll check if they'll replace this one. I think they should, I haven't had it long (although they werent very pleased I returned the SLR after one week I dont think) FB 

thekiwi:

Freebird:

Approx 8 weeks, Kiwi. I've been super careful with it too.  Interesting about the battery, it comes with it's Nikon battery, which I charge after every use- could you elaborate on what could make a battery in bad shape?

 FB

Batteries are massed produced for various companies and every now and then you may get a bad one have you found that the battery doesn't last as long as it used too.

I know with my nikon D60 battery I can go a couple weeks or more before it needs a recharge and that battery has to drive the focusing motor in the lens as well as operate the camera.

Sorry I forgot to ask you if you where using the digital zoom along with the optical zoom if you are turn off the digital zoom it is of no benefit to you at all

I found the problem - user-error (definitely under dumb arse category)- it was the diopter!!!!!  By chance, I was playing around trying to focus on some leaves and I switched through the menu to find the backlight setting and noticed I couldn't even read the writing, then I remembered the diopter and the menu text/shots magically cleared up.

However, I still think the battery does not hold the charge as long as it did and the zoom feels slow and takes longer unless the battery is newly charged, so I still plan to go in and tell them that at the store (and no doubt buy a new battery), but I am happy I figured out the blurry focus problem

Freebird:

I found the problem - user-error (definitely under dumb arse category)- it was the diopter!!!!!  By chance, I was playing around trying to focus on some leaves and I switched through the menu to find the backlight setting and noticed I couldn't even read the writing, then I remembered the diopter and the menu text/shots magically cleared up.

Don't feel too bad.  I had the same thing happen with my D100 one day.  I had somehow bumped the diopter without noticing, and all of a sudden, I couldn't get a decent picture in the viewfinder anymore.  I was swearing up and down that my camera's AF was broken until I noticed that the diopter slider was in the wrong place. 

I felt very dumb, but also relieved that my camera was OK 

I have a stupid question - what is a diopter, and where is it located on the cameras?  Is it just something related to DSLR's?

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Diopter in general refers to the amount of refractive power of an optical system.  In this case, though it refers to the refraction of the human visual system.  If all is well the diopter of your eye's cornea and lens will focus incoming light perfectly onto your retina.  In nearsighted people (like me), the diopter is a bit too strong and the image is actually formed in front of the retina.

If you're a photographer and you're nearsighted or farsighted, you have two options.  Either you can wear corrective lenses while you look through the viewfinder, or you can use your camera's diopter adjustment to correct for your bad vision right in the viewfinder.  Personally, I just wear my glasses, mainly because I haven't found a camera that can handle adjusting to a -4.25 diopter

lyceel:

Diopter in general refers to the amount of refractive power of an optical system.  In this case, though it refers to the refraction of the human visual system.  If all is well the diopter of your eye's cornea and lens will focus incoming light perfectly onto your retina.  In nearsighted people (like me), the diopter is a bit too strong and the image is actually formed in front of the retina.

If you're a photographer and you're nearsighted or farsighted, you have two options.  Either you can wear corrective lenses while you look through the viewfinder, or you can use your camera's diopter adjustment to correct for your bad vision right in the viewfinder.  Personally, I just wear my glasses, mainly because I haven't found a camera that can handle adjusting to a -4.25 diopter

Thanks for the info.  I used to be very nearsighted and a lot of astigmatism until I got lasik a few yrs ago.  However, I also had a procedure done which enables me to read without reading glasses (unless it's real fine print).  This procedure is only done in one eye, though, so I can't see distance as clearly with my left eye as I can with my right.  This makes binoculars very annoying, as I have to close my left eye and only look through my right when viewing through binoculars.  I also think that's why I have trouble seeing birds in trees sometimes.

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 @ Lyceel -then I clearly am in very good company

OMG....I'm so glad I checked out this thread!  (not that your Nikon AF seemed problematic!  But happy you figured it out!)

I have a Canon SX10... I only use the viewfinder to focus and shoot....with my left eye.  Lately I haven't been able to manual focus very well.  DUH!  I forgot it's got a diopter adjustment!

(I too am extremely nearsighted... -12 ... and my contacts are prescribed so that one eye sees far and the other near, so proper diopter adjustment is critical!)

One note on batteries...some will have a shortened life if they are recharged before being totally exhausted.  Not sure if that is the case with yours.  I always wait to charge until they die...of course, I have fully charged ones in my camera case!