XSi autofocus question

I hope I don't get flamed for this one... the Canon manual is horrible! The print is so small that reading it is almost impossible. I'm on my way to pick up a book that I saw recommended here.

But in the mean time, this is driving me nuts. In any of the program modes, why isn't my camera auto focusing when the shutter button is pressed halfway down like it does in the preset modes? I think I got it to auto focus when I pressed the * button, but I was frustrated and could have pressed anything.

Thanks in advance!

is the autofocus switch on, on the lens?

it also has a hard time focusing if the subject is all 1 color... i.e blue sky, or white walls...

i cant really think of anything else... i havent had any problems with autofocus except that i focus on too much of blue sky... stuff like that

jjaenagle wrote in post #6437585
is the autofocus switch on, on the lens?

Yes, the switch is on and it works just fine in the other preset automatic type modes. If I press down halfway, it doesn't do anything in the manual modes. I was shooting indoors with borderline light in Av mode and it would not auto focus. Why? Beats me. I was hoping someone in here had a quick and easy answer.

I've got my claws on David Busch's book called Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D. It appears as though I have a tremendous amount of reading to do.

If you can't read the manual because the print is too small, buy some reading glasses at a drugstore, seriously.

Make sure that in the custom functions the AF lock function has not been changed to the * button. Better yet, reset the camera, just to make sure it did not get into some strange place by accident.

yea.. i cant really think of anything else for you. sorry

leadweight wrote in post #6437659
Better yet, reset the camera, just to make sure it did not get into some strange place by accident.

I'm a strange guy and I bought it used. Perhaps a full reset is in order. I'll go for it!

Thanks for the help folks. I really do appreciate it.

Big smelly ape out.

Edit-I cleared all of the settings and gave it a go. The camera will auto focus as expected in the preset modes. If in a program mode, Av Tv etc, it will auto focus if I hit the * button instead of hitting the shutter release halfway. Why? Beats me, but it works consistently.

You have autofocus set to the "*" button - this is a custom setting ( cant remember which one at the moment ) - but many people set it like this on purpose so they can meter by pressing the shutter halfway and focus by pressing the * button seperately.

Change C.Fn-10 Shutter/AE Lock to 0.

Page 158 in the manual.

If the print is too small download the Pdf manual from Canon and you can zoom to any size that is good for you.

Party on! Problem solved, thanks guys/gals!!!!

I just upgraded from a Pentax K1000. The dSLR equipment is bordering on overwhelming. I'm going to bury my nose in the books and learn all I can.

Thanks again. The next cold one is on me!

lol.. well glad you got it working!