 Wendy P |
macro problems I just purchased a 10 megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom. It takes wonderful pictures, but I'm having extreme problems with the close-ups. It seems that no matter where I stand or focus, the results are generally very blurry and the details on whatever subject I am shooting just aren't coming through. I've tried changing my settings, but that hasn't helped either. Any suggestions on what may help?
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- Carolyn M. Fletcher  Contact Carolyn M. Fletcher Carolyn M. Fletcher's Gallery |
Try not zooming at all and get closer to your subject. Turn OFF the digital zoom. It distorts the picture. It's worth a try anyway. I have one camera that won't focus if I zoom any at all, but if I get right up on the subject it focuses just fine. Worth a try anyway.
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Wendy P |
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Stan Lubach |
Wendy, lenses have minimum focus distance---the minimum distance at which the lens can focus. Dedicated macro lenses have a very short minimum, typically in inches. Other lenses, like Nikkor 80-400mm telephoto has a min focus distance of around 7 feet. You've probably just found the minimum distance that your camera is can handle. Does the camera have a 'macro' setting for it's lens? That would allow you to get closer.
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Wendy P |
It has two close-up settings. One is set up as a push button on the back of the camera the other is an internal setting. The butterfly was moving a lot so that might be part of the problem on that one. I'm not sure. I've been taking pictures for about 4 years now, but just about everything I have ever shot came from my Nikon 35mm, so I'm used to instant focus, instant light adjustments, etc. I've really great luck with it, but I'm thinking about eventually doing photography as a side business (not quite ready to give up my day job as a teacher yet), so I figured this camera would give me a decent start. The macro is my biggest issue with it. That and it eats batteries like a five year old with a bag of M&M's.
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David A. Bliss |
Looking at the flower shot, that you are either closer than the minimum focusing distance (like Stan said), or else your auto focus focused on the background instead of the flower. The background seems to be in better focus than the flower. Something to remember with macro photography. When you are focused that close to a subject, the DOF is significantly shorter. On a very close focus, you can set the camera to it's smallest aperture (greatest DOF), and still have parts of the subject out of focus. Getting a wide DOF with a very close focus requires the use of a tripod. Being that close to the subject will decrease the amount of light entering the lens, and using a small aperture will create the need for a longer shutter speed.
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Wendy P |
You know it never dawned on me to change the aperture. The smaller the aperture the better?
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Stan Lubach |
Keep in mind, Wendy, that as the aperture gets smaller your shutter speed will need to get slower to compensate for the lower light. BTW, I agree with David that the problem with the flower shot is just that the camera focused on the background instead of the subject. One of the problems with using AF with macro photography is that the camera doesn't always pick the right thing to focus on. There have been times when I'll switch to manual focus, set the lens for closest focus, and then actually focus by moving the camera back and forth.
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Hi Wendy... yah, I reckon had nothing better to do tonite, before bed, than go hunt down your camera's manual online. ;) According to the User Guide, your camera, set in macro mode (via the flower icon button) has a minimum subject-to-lens distance of about 2" in wide-angle, and about 9.5" in telephoto. Both modes state they have a maximum distance just over 3 feet. I didn't see anything about selecting an "internal" setting for Macro Mode, besides that icon button, however... There was reference to setting the flash mode to coincide with Macro Mode (via menus) Hope that helps, a little!
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Samuel Smith |
thanks chris.
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Wendy P |
I appreciate everyone's help so much!! I changed the aperture and that helped a lot. I also changed my DOF and I was very surprised at the results. Thanks so much. And Chris, I can't believe you took the time to look up my manuel. :) I appreciate the extra step. Very nice of you.
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Rom A.G. |
I shoot macro often with my Kodak C330 in macro mode. I use the LCD, full zoom, turn flash on, and set exposure compensation to -1. here is a flower I took a few days ago.
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