G9 Zoom/Macro Issues

[Crissy7682]

When I first got my camera I never seemed to have problems zooming as close as I wanted, using macro, and getting a super clear shot. Not, if I zoom in too much with macro it won't focus on anything and it comes out as one big blur. This is the closest I could zoom in on this bug today without having a complete blur. I was in Auto, no flash, macro. Focal length was 18.9 mm if that matters.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc156/Crissy7682/IMG_1495.jpg

[tombell]

Check your menu for digital zoom set it on standard.

[Crissy7682]

It already was set to standard

[tombell]

I might try a reset and start over.

[denncald]

A few possibilities come to mind;
- the max distance you can focus in macro with the lens zoomed all the way out is 19 inches. As suggested, make sure your digital zoom is turned off, so you are only using optical zoom.

- read page 75 of the User Guide, paying attention to step 1 on the use of the zoom bar colors, when you get into the yellow range you cannot focus.

- try manual focusing when in macro mode, discussed on pages 123 to 127 of the User Guide.

- I also find a tripod helpful in macro. I noticed your shot was at 1/15 sec., so even IS will be challenged to give you a non-blurred image. I find I cannot do a good handheld macro shot, when compared to shots on a tripod.

- Was it windy at the time of the shot. My flower shots are often not sharp on windy days, because the flower is moving slightly (or a lot) due to the wind at the moment of the shot.

Dennis

[Jman13]

The G9 does its best macro at the wide end. I don't do telephoto macro with the G9 (of course, I only do macro with the G9 if I leave my SLR at home).

Here are two pretty close macros...one much closer than the other, of coures. Both were at the wide end:

http://www.jordansteele.com/forumlinks/cicada.jpg

http://www.jordansteele.com/images/recent/crocus.jpg

[Kevan_G9]

Invariably...the closer I get to my subject a breeze kicks up. Speed has to be 60 or better.

[maxwolfie]

Hmm.. I can't see the logic in trying to shoot macro photos with the camera in anything BUT full wide?

[GordonSBuck]

Hmm.. I can't see the logic in trying to shoot macro photos with the camera in anything BUT full wide?

It becomes difficult to light the subject when the camera is so close.

[denncald]

Here is a shot I took last month while on a hike. It was quite windy, and I was having difficulty getting a good macro on this flower. I resorted to standing off a little on the macro, using manual focus, and dialed down built-in flash to try to stop the motion, as well as balance shadows mixed with strong sunlight. This was my eleventh and final shot, before we moved on.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/2577860121_50f666f8a2_b.jpg

I think the flash was still a little too strong, but I got the shot finally. I checked my results after each shot until I finally got something I liked. I might have tried the same tactics on the OP's shot until I got the desired results. Manual focus can help a lot.

Dennis

[tombell]

The G9 manual thats easier to read. Download and view in Adobe Reader.

http://rapidshare.com/files/57915200/CUG_EN.pdf.html

[denncald]

I prefer to download the PDF directly from Canon, so I know I'm not going to get a virus or malware - trojan;

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=15669#DownloadDetailAct

Dennis

[codearachnid]

I use a combination of the lensmate 58mm banonette with a macro filter and turn out shots like these pretty easily in macro mode. It takes some getting use to the short dof - but with patience and a steady hand it can be done.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2657845038_2c4b975de0.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/codearachnid/2657845038)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/2657724073_cae2a8b838.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/codearachnid/2657724073/)

[gold'nchocolate]

codearachnid: that is a really good photo of the bug but what is that other picture?

[maxwolfie]

Looks like an eyelash?

[WMDunkin]

yeah manual mode and macro works well for me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2601269993_2f6f104060.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2630208430_e3e60e390a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2598992749_d0ef3cddc9.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2596258327_0a96fc388d.jpg