S400 Macro Photo Shoots?

[Matt]

Hey

Just wondering if anyone can give me any insight on doing macro shots with the S400.

Do I need to be in manual mode?

Can I get some setting recommendations?

I am a novice at this as you can see.

Thanks a lot

[Littlenose]

Matt,

I've had sucess in auto mode aswell as manual mode... just make sure you've got the little flower symbol up :-)

Mikey

[Matt]

Can you send me some of you're macro shots possibly?

I have tried both and when getting up close they just will NOT focus.

You can email me pics at:

matthew.perry@rogers.com

Thanks a lot

[Littlenose]

Hi Matt,

I can send a couple on, but before I do, would you prefer the image size reduced? I'm just thinking in case you're on narrowband.

Mikey

[Andrys]

Matt wrote:
Can you send me some of you're macro shots possibly?

I have tried both and when getting up close they just will NOT focus.

You can email me pics at:

matthew.perry@rogers.com

Thanks a lot
I'll email you the URLs below also. There is a flaw in that, in rooms with not much light and with NO window and no daylight, the camera has a hard time focusing when in "macro' mode. I found this out when trying to get some shots on our Rose Day. You'll see that on my site.

But in shooting macro with window light nearby, it focused fine. See several close-up shots (http://andrys.com/elph/more) and also the problems I had on Rose Day at work (http://andrys.com/elph/roses)

[rsprods]

I can't even take decent macro shots outside - in the sunlight or in the shade. The S400 just doesn't want to focus - with or without the 9pt AiAF.

UGGGHHH!!!

[Andrys]

Have you had it long?

If not, I'd sure ask for an exchange. The one I have focuses very well in 'macro' mode with good daylight on the subject.

If you've had it too long (isn't it warrantied for a year?) then a repair might be in order.

[Andrys]

rsprods wrote:
I can't even take decent macro shots outside - in the sunlight or in the shade. The S400 just doesn't want to focus - with or without the 9pt AiAF.

UGGGHHH!!!

By the way, sometimes if you're not on AWB (auto white balance - Auto) the macro focusing will be much harder due to confusion resulting with the camera with the 'wrong' kind of white light.

Also, you can try manual-mode and choose spot-metering to get your focus to follow your spot-metering point.

[digitri]

http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1678099&size=lg

A picture's better than a 1000 words, but here's the exif info:


Make - Canon
Model - Canon DIGITAL IXUS 400
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 180
YResolution - 180
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
DateTime - 2003:07:11 13:59:57
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 706
ExposureTime - 1/250 seconds
FNumber - 2.8000
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:07:11 13:59:57
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:07:11 13:59:57
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/250 seconds
ApertureValue - F 2.80
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.80
MeteringMode - 5 (multi-segment)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 7.4063 mm
UserComment - copyright digitri
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 1024
ExifImageHeight - 768
InteroperabilityOffset - 1996
FocalPlaneXResolution - 8114.2857
FocalPlaneYResolution - 8114.2857
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit - 2
SensingMethod - 2 (other)
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - On
Self timer - Off
Quality - Fine
Flash mode - Off
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - Single
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Close-Up
AF point selected -
Exposure mode - Easy shooting
White Balance - Sunny
Image Type - IMG:DIGITAL IXUS 400 JPEG
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.00
Image Number - 1070724

- digitri
http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?include=all&user_id=762307

[Moly]

digitri,

first off... fantastic photo.
second... I'm amazed you got that shot with a 400 as it looks more like something you would get with a 10D.
third.. how do you find out your settings? especially the shutter speed etc. which are not controllable on the 400?

thanks,
martin

[digitri]

moly wrote:
digitri,

first off... fantastic photo.
second... I'm amazed you got that shot with a 400 as it looks more like something you would get with a 10D.
third.. how do you find out your settings? especially the shutter speed etc. which are not controllable on the 400?

thanks,
martin
Thanks for 1 & 2 ;) this little baby can shoot great macro. I was lucky the hopper did let me get real close to him - maybe it was exhausted from all them red mites..

As for the info, it's the EXIF info which the camera attach to all photos and you can see in most photo editing software, including Canon's Zoom Browser. This one is taken from IrfanView, which surprisingly gives more details than most other programs.

digitri

[Sheri]

There is a certain minimum distance it will focus in macro mode, and its further away if you're using any zoom. If you're having trouble focusing, move the camera back a bit.

[mike j]

My first attempt at macro photography can be found here...

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13186#68350

I left everything on automatic, put the camera on a mini-tripod to hold it rock-steady and lit it from the side with a desk-lamp, fairly close-up.

Light levels definately seem to be important when taking these kinds of photos.

Mike.