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General discussion

Focusing Tips?

Jun 20, 2005 9:41PM PDT

I have Nikon Coolpix8700, and have difficulty taking closeup shots, they are not as sharp as they are supposed to be, I have tried both auto and manual modes, any suggestioins from the users?

Discussion is locked

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I don't know about the 8700, but my 4500 focused
Jun 20, 2005 11:29PM PDT

automatically. If it could get a focus, it would be sharp. If not, you could se it searching. In cases like that, switch to a better defined focal point.

There is a limit as to how close to the subject a lens can be, and still focus properly. Get closer than that, and it cannot focus. Check the camera specs.

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Close Up
Jun 20, 2005 11:58PM PDT

I assume you are doing tabletop photography.

I would guess that you are not using a tripod.

When doing close-focus and macro photography, a tripod is NECESSARY (indispensable).

Also it is best to not use flash unless you have a special flash unit.
But you still need plenty of light.
Use a few side lights.

Here is a link that you should find interesting:

http://www.shortcourses.com/using/tabletop/chapter7.htm

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closeup with cp8700
Jun 21, 2005 6:25AM PDT

snapshot2, thanks for the tips, I was taking some shots of dewdrops on the flower and had a lot of difficulty focusing. Tabletop with plently of light should not pose any problems. I was wondering whether there was any problem with the technology itself, with which I am yet to get comfortable with, though it(digital photogaraphy) has revolutionnized the process of picture taking, it is like instant HIGH!

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Closeup
Jun 21, 2005 8:05AM PDT

You said you had difficulty focusing.

That is why you need the tripod.

Taking close up and macro shots is very similar to trying to take a telephoto shot with a 10X lens.

It is difficult to hand hold the camera still enough to let the camera achieve a focus. And all camera movement is amplified by the lens. Result.....fuzzy and/or blurred pictures.

Here is a macro shot I made on a covered back porch on a cloudy day (no extra lighting), using a Konica Minolta Z2 camera.

The lack of enough light reduce my depth of field a lot.

I focused on the dashboard of the 3 inch long model car. Notice that only the interior of the car is in sharp focus. More light would permit a better f-stop and therefore a larger depth of field.

I was using a tripod.

And remember with close-up photography you don't focus on an object,
you focus on a specific point on the object.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/randol9p9/PICT0442E.jpg

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