Taking clear macro shots?

Hi all.
Im new here & am wanting to learn how to take better photos.
I cant seem to take a Good macro shot..its either over or under exposed. i usually use Auto ..i know i have ALOT to learn. I have a Canon A720
any advice would be great~~~

suesue,
Welcome to the forums

I don't use a A720 but you might try putting it in M and adjusting your exposure compensation +1 or -1 (or more) to correct for over or under exposures.

There is no EC in manual, since you set everything where you need it?

If you have manual & a histogram, try this: Need an exposure crutch?
How the subject affects the exposure in Post # 47

PhotosGuy,
Are you sure?
I have it in my Canon A560 P&S when in Manual
Its not manual like M in the DSLR (at least in my model), as you can't adjust shutter speed or f/stop.

I didn't know that "manual" with those isn't really manual? If you can't adjust shutter speed or f/stop, what do you adjust, ISO?

suesue, while I'm not familiar with the camera in question: Is the flash going off when you take the macro shots? If so, try disabling the flash as it probably isn't designed to work at close range and the camera will be compensating incorrectly when it's going off.

edit: of course you will need good lighting from somewhere else so the camera has something to work with or they will be blurry instead.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #5401213
I didn't know that "manual" with those isn't really manual? If you can't adjust shutter speed or f/stop, what do you adjust, ISO?

PhotosGuy,
Exposure compensation, ISO, White Balance... picture style ex. like vivid

Ah! "Semi-manual"!

thanks for the tips...
here is a pic i took of cat today...not REALLY close up but better than what i was doing.

http://img508.imagesha​ck.us/img508/9329/img0​198kf8.jpgt I was in the back portch & a fair bit of daylight..the flash was on but not full (kwim)? in manual mode.p?image=img0198kf​8.jpg]

heres one of my Hyacinth.