Focusing Problem

Help!! Please, its been very overcast and raining, i was using my 350D and sigma lens, taking a bird table at approx 12 feet because of the rain i was sat in the car with the window down, and no way could i focus on the table, i did manage 3 half decent shots by focusing on the ground then with shutter button half pressed, i brought the camera up to the bird table it was still in focus then i took a shot, is the problem me, or the lens, or the 350D any advice would really be appreciated , thank you...Ray

Ray,
has the lens you are using got a distance setting ?

i really dont understand, but if you can give me it in simple terms i will have a look...Ray

Ray,i don`t know the lens you are using but from your signature you have a 70 - 300 macro.Just wondering if you have it set for macro.

The lens has distance scale numbers round it does that tell you anything aligater

no it wasnt set for macro, but i think im begining to understand now, ive just been outside and had the same problem, then i adjusted the the scale ring and i got it focused, do you think that was my problem aligater, if it was im very grateful to you ...Ray

Ray pasted off Sigma site...........Sigma 70-300mm DG Macro Zoom Lens is capable of macro photography with a 1:2 maximum close-up magnification at the 300mm focal length. The minimum focusing distance of Sigma 70-300mm DG Macro Zoom Lens is 1.5 m at all zoom settings. Sigma 70-300mm DG Macro Zoom Lens also has a switch for changeover to macro photography at focal lengths between 200mm and 300mm with a maximum close-up magnification from 1:2.9 to 1:2 and a minimum focusing distance of 95cm. Without changing the distance between camera and subject, you can change the shooting magnification of Sigma 70-300mm DG Macro Zoom Lens.

Have you set the switch to the macro setting ? or is set to MF ?

it's probably set on MF right now... make sure the switch is on AF

The camera was on auto focus, and the macro wasn't on, ive just found the AF point on the camera was set to the far left would this give me this problem guy's

The camera needs contrast - lighter and darker areas - for a good focus lock. I would speculate that the combination of low-light conditions, rain and the lack of contrast of the subject itself contributed to the camera's inability to achieve focus lock. Your 70-300mm F4-5.6 lens is also a bit slow at 300mm with an f5.6 maximum aperture meaning its just not going to work very well in these sorts of low-light low-contrast conditions.

grandadraymond wrote in post #4056538
The camera was on auto focus, and the macro wasn't on, ive just found the AF point on the camera was set to the far left would this give me this problem guy's

Yes, especially if that focus point was off to the side of where you were actually trying to focus. Then, when you pointed the lens at the ground, that particular focus point was in the same plane of focus as the others and you could set focus and recompose.

Mrak

Thank you very much friend's youve learned me a lot

grandadraymond wrote in post #4056538
The camera was on auto focus, and the macro wasn't on, ive just found the AF point on the camera was set to the far left would this give me this problem guy's

I suggest you select the "centre focus point" for most of the images you are likely to take. For the exceptions select one of the others as needed but IMO avoid letting the camera pick the focus point(s).

Just my 2p's worth.