Photography Help

[924_CarreraGTS]

I have an Olympus digital camera. For some reason, its Macro mode does not want to focus on the model parts I am photographing. For example, last night, I was trying to photograph a radiator shroud I had modified. I had to take literally 40 pictures before one finally came out clear (and that was after the battery light came on!) I have tried with and without Macro, at various levels of zoom, close, far away, etc., and have had no luck. Others in this forum have mentioned that my pictures aren't perfectly clear (and I agree!) Is there something I am missing? How do you use Macro? The chances of me getting a different camera are slim to none, so this is what I have to work with. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Alex

[mike@af]

Sounds like you need to focus the camera. Turn on macro, then before taking the pic click the button half way down to focus, then take the picture.

[bhop73]

There might also be a setting for 'where' the camera focuses. For example, it focuses in the center of the viewer, or what's closest to the camera, or maybe on multiple items in the frame. You should have it set for the center for stuff like models.

[hirofkd]

Even with macro, some camera has a longer minimal focal length than others, so check the manual of your camera. Mine is 15cm with the macro on, which isn't exactly short.

Even if you can't get close to an object, you can trim your pictures later, so set the image resolution high, and pay attention to focusing. Then, crop the picture in a photo editing program.

[Vric]

Look in the manual. Camera can only focus in a specific range (ex: 10cm of the lens at wide angle. If you are closer, you will never focus)

[924_CarreraGTS]

Look in the manual. Camera can only focus in a specific range (ex: 10cm of the lens at wide angle. If you are closer, you will never focus)

Yes, I had already checked that (it is 6 inches). That's not the problem.

Sounds like you need to focus the camera. Turn on macro, then before taking the pic click the button half way down to focus, then take the picture.

I did that, but it still didn't focus at all. It tried to, but didn't succeed.

There might also be a setting for 'where' the camera focuses. For example, it focuses in the center of the viewer, or what's closest to the camera, or maybe on multiple items in the frame. You should have it set for the center for stuff like models.

That sounds like something I should try. However, my parents have lost/misplaced the manual for the camera, so I don't know how to access this feature. Is there any specific symbol or abbreviation that this feature would have in the menu?
And by the way, how in the heck do you quote someone in this forum so that it says "originally posted by such-and-such screenname"? I have only been able to copy and paste, then put "quote" tags around the material. How do you do it?
Hope you can answer these questions.
Thanks
Alex

[drnitrus]

Originally Posted by 924_CarreraGTS

Yes, I had already checked that (it is 6 inches). That's not the problem.


I did that, but it still didn't focus at all. It tried to, but didn't succeed.


That sounds like something I should try. However, my parents have lost/misplaced the manual for the camera, so I don't know how to access this feature. Is there any specific symbol or abbreviation that this feature would have in the menu?
And by the way, how in the heck do you quote someone in this forum so that it says "originally posted by such-and-such screenname"? I have only been able to copy and paste, then put "quote" tags around the material. How do you do it?
Hope you can answer these questions.
Thanks
Alex

you should be able to go online to the manufactureres website and download the manual

To quote--find the post you want to quote.
In the lower right hand corner there is a quote button there.
That should do it.

[Flea]

main thing i can reccomend .... turn off macro mode .. make sure there is ample lighting on the peice you are trying to photograph ... stand a fair distance from the part then zoom in onto the section you wish to photograph ...

i rarely use macro mode .. even on my Olympus C 5050 ... IIRC there isn't much 'focus' in the macro ... just one focal point and thats it ...

most of the time it is much, much easier to step back a little bit and zoom in to what you want to photograph (opical zoom, not all the way with digital zoom) ...

[Jay!]

Which model is your camera?

I think mine is a D470 (or some number close to that) and mine has two distinct macro modes: a "[flower]" and "S[flower]".

The "S[flower]" mode can get WAY closer than the other one.

[cyberkid]

If your camera is a more professional type then it will have 2 or more focus types. 1.point 2.multi 3.auto-track action..
These are the focus mods I have on mine, and it sounds like you have it set on autotrack. Have a look in your manual or play around in your settings and find if you can adjust the setting.
As Jay!said, the S-flower setting will normally let you get up to 1 cm away from the object where as the normal flower setting will let you only get up to 10cm (in your case 6") from the object while being able to focus.
One other thing, if you are photographing a highly reflective object close up, ie:newly polished/waxed body, make sure that you do NOT have direct light shining on it. Filter it with something... I normally use air mail paper... the extra thin type.. This will help your camera focus with much more ease.
Using a tripod with manual focus is recommended if your camera has the option.

HTH,
Steve

[924_CarreraGTS]

Originally Posted by cyberkid

If your camera is a more professional type then it will have 2 or more focus types. 1.point 2.multi 3.auto-track action..
These are the focus mods I have on mine, and it sounds like you have it set on autotrack. Have a look in your manual or play around in your settings and find if you can adjust the setting.
As Jay!said, the S-flower setting will normally let you get up to 1 cm away from the object where as the normal flower setting will let you only get up to 10cm (in your case 6") from the object while being able to focus.

If my camera were a car, it would be a Chevrolet Cavalier. It's not very well-equipped, and has neither special focus types or S-Macro. However, I did find the manual, and seem to have found a way to take photographs that turn out quite well--I enable digital zoom, turn on Macro, then stand about two feet away and zoom in with digital zoom to the desired level. Then, I push the shutter half-way to focus the camera, which almost always works now, and then take the picture. My results are much better this way--the only problem is holding the camera steady. I end up with a lot of "motion blurred" pictures that I have to retake. But it's better than unfocused pictures that I can't get focused.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Alex

[Nutsforcars]

There are three ways to get rid of the motion blurr. In order of effort/money:
1. Use the flash. Although the built in flash might just wash the subject in light when used at close range. The result is a very "flat" subject that is over exposed in the front.
2. Rig up a temporary support. Do not hold the camera in your hand but support it with a stable object, e.g. books.
3. Get a tripod. For the purpose of photographing models you probably even get by with a table top model; they are fairly cheap. No need to buy a full size model.

Cheers
Jens

[Vric]

Originally Posted by Nutsforcars

There are three ways to get rid of the motion blurr. In order of effort/money:
1. Use the flash. Although the built in flash might just wash the subject in light when used at close range. The result is a very "flat" subject that is over exposed in the front.
2. Rig up a temporary support. Do not hold the camera in your hand but support it with a stable object, e.g. books.
3. Get a tripod. For the purpose of photographing models you probably even get by with a table top model; they are fairly cheap. No need to buy a full size model.

Cheers
Jens

4. Rise the ISO
5. Higher the shutter speed
6. lower the Aperture.
7. Yes, do use the tripod !
8. And don't use flash. it will look bad.
9. again, use a tripod.

[Jay!]

+1 tripod. You can get a little one like this for about $10:

[JTRACING]

lighting is pretty important to a good pic.
try taking some close-up pics in natural daylight and see how they turn out

also press the button down only half way until the camera "auto focuses" then take the pic