Difficult Spider Shot with SX40 HS

This was a difficult shot to get. And it's still not perfectly in focus. I was standing about 2 meters from the spider (so as not to scare it). The auto focus wanted to go past the spider to the distant trees. Manual focus didn't want to focus close enough. Switching to Macro, the camera still couldn't pick up the small spider in the scene. And there's no manual macro focus.

Anyone have suggestions on how to get a small subject suspended like this?

You could try focusing on the branch next to it, then back to the spider.

I own a SX30 and found same problem many times.  It happened mostly when shooting tiny object few feet away with zoom.  For black object or thing that can't provide a clear texture, I could understand the difficulty.  But sometimes it seems just the limitation of the lens (or simply it is the nature of long zoom?) that you cannot focus at certain distance with certain focal length.

I got this feeling because more often when I either step further away with more tele or move closer with shorter focal length, I'll get the focus right.  Could some one tell me if that was a wrong thinking.

From what I find with my SX40, the secret is to fill the frame as much as possible with the spider. That is easiest by turning on the Digital 2.0 TC in the menu. This turns the lens into a 1680mm macro lens (do not turn the focusing to Macro, leave it on Normal) that can shoot from as little as 4½ feet away and give a field of view as little as 1¾" wide. It also increases the stabilization. Then use the focus assist button to zoom out and find the spider right in the middle of the focus box. Release the focus assist button to zoom in while holding the camera perfectly steady. Half press the shutter to attain final focus and then take the picture.

These are three handheld uncropped results using this technique, including one shot directly into the setting sun. The first two were the better of two attempts each. The setting sun shot was the best of three attempts:

Orb Weaver and prey shot in medium shade

Orb Weaver in full sunlight.

Same Orb Weaver shot directly into the setting sun

Hope this helps,

Vision

Brilliant! That might not help every situation but surely give great insight of how to fully utilize the functions & features provided by the camera.

Thanks a lot!

I just take several shots and hope one of them works.  Might want to make sure that our focus box is small as well.  Tony

Now that is an interesting bit of information.  I'll have to try turning to the 2x.  Thanks for sharing!  Tony