HELP ME PLEASE!!! Sony A200

[etl45]

So i just purchased this camera~

seemed to be working fine~

came home today and was playing around with it..

and it seems like it cant take a pictures unless on of the focus points have something to focus on???

so i cant take a picture of a plain white wall~

or maybe a white wall with a picture frame way off to the side.. that isnt getting caught on one of the focus points..

WHY?!?!

help please!

[slitherjef]

AF works by contrast... a solid white wall has no contrast to focus on. Situations like this, manual focus. Also anything out side of your selected focus point, the camera will not focus on, in cases like that, manual focus, either that, find something that has contrast the AF can lock on too, focus that, lock the focus then recompose (reframe) the shot

[BugEyes]

Put it om MF and shoot your wall.

[etl45]

thanks!!! you guys are really helpful!!!

i would have got a canon but this was a gift!

[Keydogg]

Why are you on a Canon forum? That might be one reason your having problems with your SONY camera. Are you reading a canon manual as well?

Lose the attitude, he's just asking for some help for christ sake.

[Atiyeh]

the internet never ceases to amaze me.

[PacAce]

Why are you on a Canon forum? That might be one reason your having problems with your SONY camera. Are you reading a canon manual as well?

Uh huh...The Sony board is that way :rolleyes:

Although the members here are primarily Canon gear owners there is nothing in the forum rules that state that only Canon questions can be asked in this forum. If you can answer the question, then please do so. If not, then it's best to keep quiet instead of making snide comments which, in case you weren't aware of it, is against the forum rules. ;)

[SwingBopper]

I'm a little perplexed as to why you'd want to take a picture of a plain white wall, or even a wall with a picture way off to the side; nevertheless if that's your goal then I'd put a piece of black tape (or some such) on the wall where I wanted to focus then either (remove the tape & shoot if you can keep the camera stationary, or remove it in post processing). I have Canon 40D and Sony (R1) gear. The R1 ergonomics are pretty cool and in some situations it's a better choice for shooting (it's very quiet) and has a 10mp sensor.

[egordon99]

My 40D/580EXII can AF on a white wall in pitch darkness (using the 580's spot beam :lol: )

[qtfsniper]

Wow, I didn't know this place was canon only. So me being a Sony A700 user is a problem because I'm on a Canon forum? Wow. I thought this place was a large forum to talk about photography. I must have been mistaken.

[Jamie Holladay]

As Leo has already stated, it is not a requirement to own and shoot with a Canon to be a member of POTN. Hower, as Leo has already stated snide comment are against the rules.

I for one don't light a match around gasoline. I do however drive a fire truck.

Thanks for playing.

[Refemall]

Joining this discussion a little late, but although it is in the OP's best interests to ask this question in a Sony related forum, the positive advice of some in this thread has been quite helpful.

Besides, the A200 is just a starting point. Although not very quickly, Sony seems to be gaining some ground with their line of SLRs, and especially the Zeiss lens lineup.

Don't be afraid to submit some of your pictures to the sharing forums. I'd love to see what the A200 can do. Just no blank white walls :)