Auto Focus Problem

I just purchased my new p510 last week. My wife and I are going on a vacation to Alaska next month. So i thought I would buy a new camera with a "zoom" on it to photo the whales and glaciers we hope to see. I am an architect and take a lot of overall building shots. My first photo is attached and I was shocked to see how blurry it is. I have tried "infinity focus" and it seems to help; however, I note that there is a Manual Focus selection according to the user manual but my camera does not have that option. What could be my problem??? I presently use a Kodak camera and have been very pleased with it. I thought this would be a definite upgrade but am not so sure now.

The P510 likely has a lot more flexibility than the Kodak. And with all that flexibility comes a few more things to know.

Have you tried shooting in different modes? Off hand, I would suggest to use full auto mode at first and explore the different scene modes. Auto and scene modes will control many of the camera settings.

Welcome to the forum,first thing to say is that camera will do a lot better,it will most likley be in the settings or most unusually a fault in that camera

To put your mind at rest this is what the camera can do

Nikon Coolpix P510 Review - Sample Images | PhotographyBLOG

Hi and welcome...If that is the best it can do...Take it back....Is this a one off blurry image or are they all like it...

Welcome. I shot the P510 and you should not be having this problem. I would suggest you go into the menu and set AF to Auto and Autofocus mode to full time. This will create multi focus points for you. Make sure you get the green blocks on the subject before you take the shot. Like any camera it sometime focuses on something you do not want.

Check my shots here or my Flickr page and feel free to contact me with any other questions.

http://nikonites.com/project-365-daily-photos/13091-alan%92s-potpourri-photography.html#post142984

Thanks for the replies. Here is a sample of a closeup image taken in zoom mode. The second image is taken with the "infinity" setting. I will try to experiment with the various settings to see if this works. Can anyone tell me why my camera will not allow for "manual focus"? The "manual" states that there are four focus settings: Autofocus, Macro, Infinity, and Manual.

Infinity setting is only good for landscape ie: mountains etc. It sets the focus point too far away for anything close including the photos you took. Your best results would be using the AF settings I spoke about above. You should be able to set Manual focus by pushing the lower part of the control wheel on the back of the camera towards the Micro flower. It should give you a display on the screen that allows you to pick AF, Macro, Inf and MF (manual). Use the same wheel to select what you want and push OK. Personally I only use MF for close up or if I am having a problem with the AF locking on (usually when there is not enough contrast to allow AF to distinguish the difference) or when I am shooting birds in trees and it insists I want to shoot the leaves or branches in front of the birds. Hope this helps.....

My camera only has three choices. AF for Auto, Flower for Macro, and Mountains symbol for Infinity. NO MANUAL.

If you are using auto mode to shoot you will not get Manual focus. Try changing you setting to "P" for program. It should then let you select MF. Program mode is like Auto but has a wider selection of options for both you and the camera to chose from. You will most likley get better results from that mode than auto.

Thanks, that seems to allow manual focus. I will take some more shots and post to show the results.

I have taken a series of 5 photos.
1. Nikon - Auto Focus w/ no zoom (the square was flashing red)
2. Nikon - P setting w/ no zoom (the square was flashing red)
3. Nikon - P setting w/ slight zoom (the square was flashing green)

4. Kodak - Z612 - Auto Focus w/ no zoom
5. Kodak - Z612 - P setting w/ no zoom

I had hoped to purchase a "point and shoot" camera like my Kodak - only newer and with better zoom capability. The Nikon is not a point and shoot camera - at least this one is not. The last two photos (Kodak) are much clearer than the Nikons. I am just wondering if there is a flaw with the camera. Does Nikon have a help site where I can send them these examples and get their opinion. Is it the camera or will the camera NOT do what my Kodak will do?

From the pictures you've submitted, I would be inclined to think that your camera might have a problem. I would send Nikon's service a few pictures taken with the camera or, if you bought it locally, exchange it asap to make sure you can have a working camera truly tested BEFORE you leave for your holiday.

Best of Luck.

The camera may have a problem, but it could be settings.

It appears the camera is not getting a focus lock on the first two (red square) and it automatically uses the center focus point when you zoom.

Check the manual and set the focus area to use the center option only and try these shots again.

There is just more versatility with the 510 to allow for more creative shots, so there are more settings to deal with.

I've been perusing the manual for this camera and now I wanna go buy one. It is crammed with some nice features. Unless it does have a problem, I think you'll be happy with it.

I said earlier to use full auto, but not sure that is closest to point and shoot in this case. Perhaps @Alan can advise how to set it up most like a point and shoot.

The camera is not really made to be a point and shoot but try the following settings and see if it helps. This is what I set it at when I want to just point and shot.

Set the mode select wheel to P

In Menu set the ISO to set range 100-800, This allows the camera to adjust to lighting changes

In Menu set AF area mode to "center. This will give you one focus point in the center of the view. You can focus on a spot and then move the camera slightly if what you want in focus is not in the center. Insure the box turns green. If it does not release the pressure on the shutter and try again. Depending on the subject it might take a couple of times to get a good lock.

In Menu set Noise Reduction to high.

In Menu set Active D lighting to off

In Menu set Image quality to fine and Image size to 16m

In Menu set metering to Matrix

Set you focus to AF

Hope this helps. I took this shot of my Grandson today with settings close to these.