Problems focusing on smaller objects or small things up close

workaccount

Hi,
A few times in the past I have needed to take photos of small things for showing people on the net to get help on something.

ie. I once had to take a photo of a wire to confirm the correct size as it has been incorrectly printed on the side.

I was trying to take a photo of some welding wire last night and there was no way I could get the camera to focus on it. It kept focusing on the concrete floor underneath.

Is there something I'm missing here?

I'll have to pull out the manual and learn how to manually focus the camera properly because at the moment when I hit the MF button I get a square in the viewfinder that is takes up about 2/3 of the frame. I can zoom in and out a little in this MF frame but then when I take my finger off the MF button the MF frame disappears and it's back to auto.

Anyways should the auto focus be able to focus on smaller things like I mentioned?

My camera is a Canon Powershot S1 IS.

Thanks.

sheesh

check the manual for the minimum focusing distance and make sure you are not too close I had a powershot a620 and had the same problem and sorted it and got a couple of good pics with the macro focus on the camera it may be a question pulling back and and cropping the image.

AnCatDubh

Sorry but i don't know the specifics of the camera, but if checking out the manual check for spot focus setting and macro modes - these may help. The minimum focussing distance as mentioned above may be a limiting factor.

kmick

Yeah there is a min distance the lens will focus at. If you put it against a piece of white paper it might help. Dark against white. Take it the highest quality you can and then blow it up with photoshop or paint.net.