HELP! G5 macro / MF problem

[cardio66]

Hi all
I recently bought a Canon G5. I tend to use the camera for macro shots. I have been getting on OK, beginning to produce some decent shots, and getting used to the camera.

However, something strange has happened! I'd really appreciate your help with this. The problem: the camera will no longer allow me to use manual focussing when in macro mode. This occurs in any mode including manual, P, aperture or shutter priority.

When in macro mode, if I press the MF button the macro switches itself off. If I am already using MF, and then use the macro button, the MF disappears.

Why has this happened?

Is it at all related to having recently been using the adapter / close up lens?

Thanks for any help you can give - can't figure this out at all

Regards
cardio

[Autumn]

I should also like to know why, as this happens with my G3.

[gtg]

does this mean that we cant use manual focus while using closeup lens or something... weird...
I will also be waiting on a reply for this thread, coz i was planning a HOYA for my G6.

[Warman]

Unless i am undestanding this correctly, it is perfectly normal for that to happen.
You either ask your camera to focus (MACRO) or you focus yourself (MF). What puzzles me is that you mention the fact that this only happened now and that for a while you were able to use auto and manual focusing simultaneously!

[meow]

No, this is not supposed to happen. When you click the macro button it should just change the range of the manual focus, not disable it.

[P.Dieter]

I'm pretty sure all the macro button does is shift the sensitivity of the auto focus to closer ranges; it has no relation to the MF feature. It's an auto focus feature which naturally gets shut off when you shift to a manual focus mode. Hope that makes sense.

Have fun
Paul

[Warman]

No, this is not supposed to happen. When you click the macro button it should just change the range of the manual focus, not disable it.

meow, ive had a G5 for quite some time now and i assure you that if you press the macro on MF it simply disables MANUAL focus and goes to AUTOMATIC focus for close distances which is macro like P.Dieter explained. To be absolutely 100% possitive, i even tested it on mine.

[meow]

I think we maybe mean the same thing, but express it differently. You have to push the macro button first to bring up the shorter distance scale when you want to focus manually in the macro range. But manual focus is in no way disabled for the macro range.

[bauerman]

I think that we are stumbling over the fact that the "flower" icon - for macro - and the "MF" icon for manual focus will NOT be on at the same time on the G5 screen - Warman is correct there. Hitting one button cancels out the other one and vice versa - I just tried it on my G5 and in a bunch of different modes and it was always that way. You could have one or the other activated - but not both.

Now - you CAN focus down into the macro range of distances while in manual focus mode - and you do not NEED to hit the macro button to access that scale - you just keep scrolling until you are into those distances at the bottom of the scale. Manual focus is just that, manual focus, you are given access to the ENTIRE range of focusing distances while in manual focus mode - no need for the macro button while in MF mode folks.............

Clear as mud?

[meow]

Sorry Warman, I think I misread your post (the first one). I see now what you are saying. :oops:

And I didn't realize that much of this discussion was about what icons are displayed. I thought the OP had lost the functionality of manual macro focusing. :wink:

[gtg]

Just trying to understand after reading all ur posts here... Lets see if my understanding is right...

1. Macro Focus is a type of Autofocus for shorter range
2. Since we cant have both Autofocus and Manual Focus at the same time, the same applies to Macro Focus and Manual Focus too...
3. The above line also indicates that we can either use Manual Focus and focus the subject or use Macro Mode to enable AutoFocus for Close range shots...

Am i correct guys..???

[meow]

Yeah, you can use both manual and auto focus for close-up shots. I can't answer the rest because I think I get confused by the Conon-ical terminology. :P

BTW, the advantage of hitting the macro button before you hit the manual one is, as I see it, that you get right down to the "macro" focus range. God, I hate that retarded focus knob! :evil:

[gtg]

thank u meow, bauerman and Warman... That was of great help...

[cardio66]

Thanks to all for the replies.
Yes, it would appear the camera is fine and that I must have been mistaken when thinking that I had been able to be using MF with the Macro symbol visible at the same time. The manual also appears, at fisrt glance, to suggest that both should MF and macro can appear at the same time.
Yes, the query concerns which symbols are displayed - initially I did not realise that the loss of the macro symbol did not affect the function of the camera.
So apologies if I have wasted anyone's time, I am new to this - I had the idea that pressing the macro button made some physical change to the lens, whereas it is in fact purely an autofocus function.
Thanks a lot,
Cardio
PS Starting to not like the focussing knob either!