4500_trouble focusing in macro

Midnight2 · Nov 20, 2002

I'm still having problems focusing in Macro mode. Yesterday I was discovered a huge spider right outside the window above my desk. A funny photo would have been of me on my knees atop my desk, in my PJ's trying to get a picture!

The conditions are difficult: through glass, bright background. It took about 30 attempts before my camera would actually focus! There were times when it would focus one second but not the next, yet I was in the same position. I tried everything: zooming in and out, auto program, aperture priority, switching AF area mode from off to on, etc.

I finally got some pics but the point is that I don't know why getting it to focus seems so arbitrary. It mostly wanted to focus on the background. I really need guidance here. My future subjects are not likely to be so patient

~~midnight2, CP775, 4500~~

Chris Birkett · Nov 20, 2002

Did you go to the macro hot spot?

JJ10 · Nov 20, 2002

Chris Birkett said:
Did you go to the macro hot spot?

I have the CP995 and I do on occasion have the same problem. There is a very easy workaround for me....

I hold up my finger in the same area/background I want to take the shot of and pre-focus on that. Still holding the shutter button 1/2 down I then compose the shot of the subject(spider) by moving the camera around till the focus looks good and the subject is well composed. Then fully press the shutter button.

the focus problem is most likely to happen when there is not enough edge contrast for the focus to lock onto. The finger provides that.

HTH
JJ

DChambers · Nov 20, 2002

Midnight2 said:
I'm still having problems focusing in Macro mode. Yesterday I was
discovered a huge spider right outside the window above my desk.
A funny photo would have been of me on my knees atop my desk, in my
PJ's trying to get a picture!

The conditions are difficult: through glass, bright background.
It took about 30 attempts before my camera would actually focus!
There were times when it would focus one second but not the next,
yet I was in the same position. I tried everything: zooming in
and out, auto program, aperture priority, switching AF area mode
from off to on, etc.

I finally got some pics but the point is that I don't know why
getting it to focus seems so arbitrary. It mostly wanted to focus
on the background. I really need guidance here. My future
subjects are not likely to be so patient

~~midnight2, CP775, 4500~~

How about the scene mode for close-ups?

Midnight2 · Nov 21, 2002

In all my attempts with macro I've not always found focus in the so called "sweet spot", it doesn't seem to make all that much difference.

In this case I didn't try the macro scene mode. What was really frustrating was watching the camera find focus for a second and then go beyond it! That's what I don't understand. During the time it's trying to focus I could see it perfectly for a sec and then it would stop in an unfocused state.

I will try JJ's finger trick tomorrow. That sounds promising.

--
~~midnight2, CP775, 4500~~

Miles69592 · Nov 21, 2002

Why not manual focus??

Of course, it would be a lot easier if they hadn't removed the distance figures : )

Miles

Midnight2 said:
In all my attempts with macro I've not always found focus in the so
called "sweet spot", it doesn't seem to make all that much
difference.

In this case I didn't try the macro scene mode. What was really
frustrating was watching the camera find focus for a second and
then go beyond it! That's what I don't understand. During the
time it's trying to focus I could see it perfectly for a sec and
then it would stop in an unfocused state.

I will try JJ's finger trick tomorrow. That sounds promising.

--
~~midnight2, CP775, 4500~~

--
Nikon e990; Olympus OM2n
London U.K.

Steven S · Nov 21, 2002

Steve S---> > D1X-CP5700
http://www.pbase.com/sshyone
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/sshive2/

Miles69592 · Nov 21, 2002

In this case, you could draw a vertical line on a piece of paper and place the paper against the glass. After you've locked focus, remove the paper. This will get the focal plane closer to the spider.

Miles

JJ10 said:
Chris Birkett said:

Did you go to the macro hot spot?

Click to expand...

I have the CP995 and I do on occasion have the same problem. There
is a very easy workaround for me....

I hold up my finger in the same area/background I want to take the
shot of and pre-focus on that. Still holding the shutter button 1/2
down I then compose the shot of the subject(spider) by moving the
camera around till the focus looks good and the subject is well
composed. Then fully press the shutter button.

the focus problem is most likely to happen when there is not enough
edge contrast for the focus to lock onto. The finger provides that.

HTH
JJ

--
Nikon e990; Olympus OM2n
London U.K.

Midnight2 · Nov 21, 2002

the results were variable, since I can only put my finger on the glass, which is still an inch away from the subject. I want to try this trick when there's no barrier. I also tried spot metering and the macro scene mode. Sometimes it will focus, sometimes not, sometimes it goes right past focus....oiy.

Tonight I will post some pics of my test situation(and results) just so you guys can at least have a good laugh. Hope my neighbors aren't watching these contortions.

Still trying.
--
~~midnight2, CP775, 4500~~

Midnight2 · Nov 22, 2002

This is a great tip,JJ. I tried it outside where there was no glass in my way.

Thanks

JJ10 said:
Chris Birkett said:

Did you go to the macro hot spot?

Click to expand...

I have the CP995 and I do on occasion have the same problem. There
is a very easy workaround for me....

I hold up my finger in the same area/background I want to take the
shot of and pre-focus on that. Still holding the shutter button 1/2
down I then compose the shot of the subject(spider) by moving the
camera around till the focus looks good and the subject is well
composed. Then fully press the shutter button.

the focus problem is most likely to happen when there is not enough
edge contrast for the focus to lock onto. The finger provides that.

HTH
JJ

--
~~midnight2, CP775, 4500~~

Shafak · Nov 22, 2002

--
Shafak CP4500

Midnight2 · Nov 23, 2002

Here's a pic of my situation. The spider is about an inch or so away from the window. I must have taken 80 pics of this critter over 2 days, trying to figure out the trick to focusing. It just couldn't control the focus, despite using every blinking setting I could find (except manual).

This one was about the only one which had full focus of the entire spider. I got some closer but either the body or the head was in focus, no DOF at full macro. Today I set up an experiment (tired of kneeling on desk) to simulate the same circumstances and experiment more. I was only able to achieve focus with Manual focus. I don't know if I've learned anything here. My wildlife photography days are still in the distant future methinks.

--
~~midnight2, CP775, 4500~~

1PatrickM · Nov 23, 2002

Midnight2 wrote:
It just

Midnight2 said:
couldn't control the focus, despite using every blinking setting I
could find (except manual).

So why did you not use manual? Doesn't look like the spider was moving very fast . . . manual focus doesn't take too long on stationary subjects. P.S.: Nice subject; is he an adopted pet?

Midnight2 · Nov 23, 2002

I've only had this camera for a few weeks and I'm a novice photographer. I'd only tried Manual focus once before and didn't get it. Finally got it to work in my experiment. Therefore I didn't use it on the spider.

I have a lot to learn. I expected to aim and achieve focus.....silly me. With the strong background competeing, my camera wanted to focus on that. Also, numerous times the camera would (as seen in the LCD) achieve focus on the subject and then go beyond!

Actually that guy was moving right along during his web building phase, LOL.

--
~~midnight2, CP775, 4500, Portland, Or.~~

1PatrickM · Nov 23, 2002

Hey Midnight, that makes two of us.

I've found that there is a lot to learn regarding all the settings on this camera. I tend to do like you and experiment with them all. I recently read here on this forum about how to use the digital zoom to assist with manual focus (I used to think that the digital zoom function was totally useless) . . . set auto-timer, zoom in to max, manual focus, zoom back out to compose, fire off the shot. Works like a champ; of course only for stationary objects (or ones like the spider that may soon return to the same spot!).

Hey, at least you've figured out how to post fotos here! I need to work on that one. Cheers. And good luck with the spider.

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4500_trouble focusing in macro

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