F707 macro mode always on?

LarryS · Apr 21, 2002

Some of my pics show the focal point just behind my subject. I know its my own fault since in pretty much every situation, I am too close to the subject for the focal length - 6 feet away with full tele. Usually I remember to switch to macro but I've missed a few good ops. because of this.

So the question is, does it matter if I leave the camera set to macro mode all the time so it will check for close objects?

Example:

LarryS

Lisa Young74699 · Apr 21, 2002

I have found that when I am shooting a landscape type of shot and the camera is still accidently in macro mode, that the photo is soft. Another help for a shot like this where you didn't get your main object that's not small like this wild cat is to use your spot meter.

Lisa

LarryS said:
Some of my pics show the focal point just behind my subject. I
know its my own fault since in pretty much every situation, I am
too close to the subject for the focal length - 6 feet away with
full tele. Usually I remember to switch to macro but I've missed a
few good ops. because of this.

So the question is, does it matter if I leave the camera set to
macro mode all the time so it will check for close objects?

Example:

LarryS

LarryS · Apr 21, 2002

... use your spot meter.

I thought the spot meter was only for light metering? I seem to remember a thread a while back where this was mentioned and Ron Parr or Ulyssees thought the metering mode made difference on the auto focus routine, but it may have been the other way around.

Either way, I'll give it a try.

Thanks,
LarryS

That wild cat is a lion cub! Here's a better picture:

Lisa Young74699 · Apr 21, 2002

Definitely better Larry. Like it.

I always use my spot meter. I think the spot meter does both. I get my ev for the shot where I put the spot, but it also lets my camera know what I want focused.

Lisa

LarryS said:
... use your spot meter.

I thought the spot meter was only for light metering? I seem to
remember a thread a while back where this was mentioned and Ron
Parr or Ulyssees thought the metering mode made difference on the
auto focus routine, but it may have been the other way around.

Either way, I'll give it a try.

Thanks,
LarryS

That wild cat is a lion cub! Here's a better picture:

Mike K · Apr 21, 2002

This is a common behavior with consumer digicams, which almost always use a contrast focusing system. The camera looks for optimization of contrast, adjacent light and dark pixels, and locks on contrasty lines. In this case the leaves had a lot more contrast than the fuzzy cub so you get nice sharp leaves.
Mike K

LarryS said:
Some of my pics show the focal point just behind my subject. I
know its my own fault since in pretty much every situation, I am
too close to the subject for the focal length - 6 feet away with
full tele. Usually I remember to switch to macro but I've missed a
few good ops. because of this.

Ed (;¬ >) · Apr 22, 2002

There was considerable debate on whether this trick actually causes the camera to narrow its field of focus (as well as exposure) or that taking the extra time to center the crosshairs simply gives the camera more time to find the correct focus.

I prefer to find my focus by zooming in to the spot I want in center focus, switching to manual and zooming out again. You could also simply half-press the shutter before zooming out but I find that increases exposure errors.

-Ed ( Maintenance-free: When it breaks, it can't be fixed... ) W.
Sony F505v w/Canon 500D +2 Diopter lens

LarryS said:
... use your spot meter.

I thought the spot meter was only for light metering? I seem to
remember a thread a while back where this was mentioned and Ron
Parr or Ulyssees thought the metering mode made difference on the
auto focus routine, but it may have been the other way around.

Either way, I'll give it a try.

Thanks,
LarryS

That wild cat is a lion cub! Here's a better picture:

sabine haller · Apr 22, 2002

It happens in P&S "normal" cameras as well. I have lots of pics from my Minolta Riva camera with a sharp background and an out-of-focus person. The only difference is, with the digicam I know straight away, with the Minolta, I only know, after the pics come back from the lab.....

Mike K said:
LarryS said:

Some of my pics show the focal point just behind my subject. I
know its my own fault since in pretty much every situation, I am
too close to the subject for the focal length - 6 feet away with
full tele. Usually I remember to switch to macro but I've missed a
few good ops. because of this.

Click to expand...

Goran · Apr 22, 2002

If you switch upper right buton comand to SETUP and go for Expanded Focus,you can choose:
• On (camera uses a wider area to pick closest focus subject)
• Off (camera uses center of frame for focus subject)
I thik that is what you need to do.

http://www.pbase.com/goran/inbox

Jusko · Apr 22, 2002

The "Expanded Focus" is used for manual focus only. The function will magnify the focused area on the LCD for verification of sharpness.

LarryS · Apr 23, 2002

These photos were taken at full tele. Hence the need for macro (only 5 feet away from subject), which I forgot in the one picture.

LarryS

Ed (;¬ > ) said:
There was considerable debate on whether this trick actually causes
the camera to narrow its field of focus (as well as exposure) or
that taking the extra time to center the crosshairs simply gives
the camera more time to find the correct focus.

I prefer to find my focus by zooming in to the spot I want in
center focus, switching to manual and zooming out again. You could
also simply half-press the shutter before zooming out but I find
that increases exposure errors.

-Ed ( Maintenance-free: When it breaks, it can't be fixed... ) W.
Sony F505v w/Canon 500D +2 Diopter lens

Ulysses · Apr 23, 2002

Larry -

Not that the spot meter definitely has an influence on the focus algorithm. But using the spot meter gives you a visible marker in the center of the screen, therefore increasing your chances of getting the object that you want truly centered in more of the area being used for focusing. At least that was the idea.

LarryS said:
... use your spot meter.

I thought the spot meter was only for light metering? I seem to
remember a thread a while back where this was mentioned and Ron
Parr or Ulyssees thought the metering mode made difference on the
auto focus routine, but it may have been the other way around.

Either way, I'll give it a try.

Thanks,
LarryS

That wild cat is a lion cub! Here's a better picture:

John Forish · Apr 23, 2002

And it does NOT change (tighten) the center-weighted area of focus -- it just zooms the picture, temporarily, to assist with manual focuisng.

---John

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F707 macro mode always on?

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