Please help

[disneydreamingdebby]

This may be ridiculous, but I can't learn if I don't ask...so forgive me.

I have two books to guide me, but I am overwhelmed by the text and am currently playing trial and error (thank goodness for digital) with one text open next to me.

I don't know what information is important: I have the Canon Xsi; it is set to Av. I am playing with the wheel<dial> to set a higher and lower f-number. When I press the shutter button the focus moves in and out of focus but never snaps. I imagine this have to do with the settings. When I tried different settings it snapped, and I moved the dial more and it still snapped. P.S. it doesn't say BuSy

What accounts for why it won't sometimes take the picture?

Any help, greatly appreciated.

 

[JoeDif]

It's possible that the camera never locked focus on anything which caused the shutter to not snap. My Olympus does this sometimes in low light so I assume it may be the same with any other camera with auto focus set.

 

[ColleenG]

It could also be that you are too close for it to focus. When you look in the view finder is there a green dot flashing on the bottom right? If so it can't focus, or there is not enough light. If your subject is too close move back and see if that helps. If light is the issue try a higher ISO. The smaller the f/# the larger the aperature, ie more light can get to the sensor. Don't feel bad about asking. that's the best way to learn.

I have a Canon also, if the subject is to close it will try to auto focus and if it can't the green dot will flash and there will be no beep. The shutter won't fire either. Hope that helps.

 

[Groucho]

The aperture setting should not have any effect whatsoever on the camera's ability to focus - it will affect how much is in focus in the final photo, but not at all how quickly or effectively the camera focuses and takes the shot.

Really, the only thing that should affect how quickly the camera focuses is how well it can find something to focus on. Darkness or trying to focus on a large area of solid color will give it problems and it will sometimes give up - try putting an area of contrast in the center of the frame and see if it can focus on that.

You will also find that a "faster" lens (ie, one with a larger maximum aperture) will focus faster especially in low light, since it takes in more light which makes it easier for the camera to find something to focus on.

 

[disneyboy2003]

I agree with ColleenG & Groucho. Your lens has a minimum distance where you can focus on an object. If you're too close, then your camera can't focus on that object.

However, it sounds like you were able to take pictures after "trying different settings". I assume you were at the same distance to your subject this whole time. If that's the case, then maybe it's not the minimum focusing distance problem.

As Groucho mentioned, if you're trying to focus on an object, make sure there's an area of contrast (ie. an area where there's a line / transition between light & dark). That's what your camera looks for in order to focus on an object.

Imagine pointing your camera at a white wall (or any other solid color). Because the entire wall is white, the camera can't figure out how to focus on the wall. There's no area of contrast. In this situation, your camera will move in & out of focus, trying to figure out how to focus the scene in front of it. If your camera can't get the right focus, it won't let you snap the picture.

However, if you've got an object in front of that wall, the camera will use the contrast between the object & the white wall to determine the focus.

I do not think your focus problem is due to your settings.

Hope that helps. Let us know if you figured out your focusing problem.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I agree with ColleenG & Groucho. Your lens has a minimum distance where you can focus on an object. If you're too close, then your camera can't focus on that object.

However, it sounds like you were able to take pictures after "trying different settings". I assume you were at the same distance to your subject this whole time. If that's the case, then maybe it's not the minimum focusing distance problem.

As Groucho mentioned, if you're trying to focus on an object, make sure there's an area of contrast (ie. an area where there's a line / transition between light & dark). That's what your camera looks for in order to focus on an object.

Imagine pointing your camera at a white wall (or any other solid color). Because the entire wall is white, the camera can't figure out how to focus on the wall. There's no area of contrast. In this situation, your camera will move in & out of focus, trying to figure out how to focus the scene in front of it. If your camera can't get the right focus, it won't let you snap the picture.

However, if you've got an object in front of that wall, the camera will use the contrast between the object & the white wall to determine the focus.

I do not think your focus problem is due to your settings.

Hope that helps. Let us know if you figured out your focusing problem.

x2


(that means I agree. I saw that on another forum and always wanted to do it... heheheheheee)

Mikeeee

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Okay, after reading your posts and playing this am, I think that it might have been the lack of contrast causing it to have difficulty focusing. I was taking shots of my large WDW coffee mug which is all white except a quarter-sized wdw insigna. I am still not sure why it fired some times and not others but I think that maybe the distance was just slightly different or maybe I had the angle slightly different.

In playing more, I had the same issue trying to take a portrait. In this case, I switched to manual focus and the shot fired.


I guess the camera's AF makes it dummy proof? If you try to take a shot that won't focus, it won't let you make that mistake?

Thanks; I am sure I will have more questions.

 

[Groucho]

Okay, after reading your posts and playing this am, I think that it might have been the lack of contrast causing it to have difficulty focusing. I was taking shots of my large WDW coffee mug which is all white except a quarter-sized wdw insigna. I am still not sure why it fired some times and not others but I think that maybe the distance was just slightly different or maybe I had the angle slightly different.

Probably the composition was slightly different... your camera has a 9-point focus system which means (assuming your camera is set for "auto" focus point selection), you need an area of contrast somewhere in one of those 9 points. You may have set your camera to use only the center focus point, in which case you need contrast right in the middle of the shot to achieve focus. This is not necessarily a bad thing as long as you understand that that is what the camera is trying to do.

In playing more, I had the same issue trying to take a portrait. In this case, I switched to manual focus and the shot fired.

Yep, manual focus mode should pretty much always fire the shutter immediately.

I guess the camera's AF makes it dummy proof? If you try to take a shot that won't focus, it won't let you make that mistake?

Thanks; I am sure I will have more questions.

Well, it's not completely dummy-proof, but generally they will not take a photo unless it is fairly confident that it is focused. Of course, you can still get a blurry photo due to the camera focusing on the wrong thing, depth of field being smaller than you want, movement that is too fast for your shutter speed, etc, etc.

Don't worry, you'll get it all figured out.

 

[bob100]

Okay, after reading your posts and playing this am, I think that it might have been the lack of contrast causing it to have difficulty focusing. I was taking shots of my large WDW coffee mug which is all white except a quarter-sized wdw insigna. I am still not sure why it fired some times and not others but I think that maybe the distance was just slightly different or maybe I had the angle slightly different.
In playing more, I had the same issue trying to take a portrait. In this case, I switched to manual focus and the shot fired.
I guess the camera's AF makes it dummy proof? If you try to take a shot that won't focus, it won't let you make that mistake?

Thanks; I am sure I will have more questions.

the little red focus point won't light up if you are too close and using auto focus. Are you looking at the center point focus point and exposure meter?

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Groucho, I was also playing with the 9 point focus system it is possible (highly likely) I never reset it to use all 9.

Bob- read above. I haven't read about exposure metering. I will though.

This is fun but terribly frustrating. Once I think I have figured one thing out, another variable comes into play. Thank goodness for the basic mode for the critical shots (kids and family at Christmas.) I have until June to sharpen skills for Disney. Then, the next Disney trip and the next Disney trip. . .

Thank all of you!

 

[Groucho]

This is fun but terribly frustrating. Once I think I have figured one thing out, another variable comes into play. Thank goodness for the basic mode for the critical shots (kids and family at Christmas.) I have until June to sharpen skills for Disney. Then, the next Disney trip and the next Disney trip. . .

Thank all of you!

You're very welcome. You're discovering one of the best and worst things about DSLRs... if you're not getting the pictures you want, it's probably not the camera's fault!

 

[JoeDif]

Another thing to remember ( with DSLR's there is always something to remember ) is that your lens has a minimum focus distance. Once you get inside that distance the AF won't work.

 

[mrodgers]

This is fun but terribly frustrating. Once I think I have figured one thing out, another variable comes into play. Thank goodness for the basic mode for the critical shots (kids and family at Christmas.) I have until June to sharpen skills for Disney. Then, the next Disney trip and the next Disney trip. . .

Until June? Plenty of time as long as you keep playing and keep trying.

You will sit there dumbfounded about it all until one day it smacks you upside the head and everything comes together for you.

It's like riding a bicycle. I was teaching my daughter how to ride and told her, "some time you will just take off and it will be so easy and after that point, you won't understand how it was so difficult before." This is what will happen with the camera as long as you keep reading and playing around.

Here's a good link to check out. It touches on just about everything to start you out on the right foot. Start with the "Using Your Digital Camera" part.

www.shortcourses.com

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I feel for you, I really do, but it is nice to know I'm not the only one banging my head against the wall.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

mrodgers, thanks, I will certainly check out the website, and I hope you're right.

NateNLogan's dad, I look forward to reading and learning from your questions then too. BTW, I'm in West Chester, but I am a Delco transplant - Aston/Chester Heights.

 

[JoeDif]

Wow all these Delco ties......former Glenolden resident here

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Joe, My husband is from Wilmington (which really pinpoints it, huh?) grew up off Naaman's Road.

I guess since it was my thread - I am not hijacking it.

I am currently banging my head and checked back in to go to the website suggested by mrodgers.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I'm shocked at the # of people on the Photography section are from around here! Nice to meet you!

b/t/w Joe an I will be at the camera show tomorrow morning at The Greater Phila Expo Center off of 422 if you're bored.