Unable to focus in Macro (flower) mode

[dmstraton]

Just got a new 24-70L...Wow...amazing.

Strangely, I put my camera in Macro mode (flower) and lens would not focus. Tried this a number of times.

It was no big deal, I usually shoot up in the manual modes anyway, I was just goofing around...but I thought this was strange.

Anyone else have this issue?

[Hellashot]

I don't have an XT, but I don't think the Drebels have a "flower" mode setting or does it? My Drebel doesn't have a flower mode since focusing distance is controlled by each lens.

[Raj]

What distance is your subject which you are trying to focus ? You may want to check your lens's minimum focussing distance. It wont focus any closer even if you Xt provides a flower mode.

[robertwgross]

The flower mode (actually close-up) does not allow you to shoot at a distance closer than the minimum for that lens. The mode does set metering and drive, and often it sets up a wide aperture, which means a narrow depth of field. As a result, often that cranks the shutter speed up.

---Bob Gross---

[dmstraton]

It was the 24-70L, 1.3 ft is the minimum focus range...it kept hunting back and forth, and I wasn't any closer than I had been all day in Aperture Priority mode...only reason I went to flower mode was to see what setting the camera would come up with...once back in manual modes, no issues.

[glenhead]

I don't have my 10D manual with me, but you might check and see if macro mode makes the camera default to the center focus point only. There may not have been anything with enough contrast for the single focus point to lock onto, if that's the case, whereas the other modes use multiple focus points. Remember, you have to have a "thing" with a contrasty edge for the auto-focus to see. I did lots of macro shooting with my Elan IIe and A2E and frequently had to use manual (or set the focus and move the camera a tiny bit (foot focusing rail?)), simply because there wasn't a good enough contrast point within the area I wanted to shoot. For a demonstration, try focusing on a white wall using any mode - the lens will just hunt.

[bolantej]

i alwaysjust focus out, and then go back and forth. sometimes the autofocus just can't cut it.