Macro focusing with G10 - can't get it right!

[gray1720]

Hopefully an experienced G10 user can tell me what I'm doing wrong... As the manual seems to suggest that you can focus as close as an inch from the lens, I thought I'd try to take a photo of a bee orchid today. However I just can't get the blessed thing in focus, keep getting the grass several inches behind in focus and, when I press the shutter button, the autofocus (according to the screen) promptly defocuses! It's currently seriously tempting me to break the Box Brownies back out...

I've tried setting the AF mode to centre, with no luck. I presume that I'm missing something obvious (like the digital teleconverter mode) or the AF light is missing the subject so close up), as that usually seems to be the case. Can anyone put me out of my misery and tell me what I'm probably doing wrong?

If the EXIF data will help, I'll post a pic tomorrow.

Thanks,

Adrian

[jchrisc]

I suppose you have actually switched it to macro mode? The little flower symbol?

[alandelph]

Hi Adrian
I have a G10 and the G10 can be a bit of a pain to get macro to work as you say above, settings are as follows:

if you are using the creative moads like P, Tv, Av, M, C1, C2, on the top dial, look at the function dial on the back press the Macro button (flower) amd it brings 2 pics on the screen Normal (mountain) and Macro (flower) you have to change it from mountain to flower with the outer dial in the function dial area and select flower and press function set (centre)
if you use the Auro or SCN modes you use the same settings as above.

hope this helps. if you need more details, or clarification, just ask.

Regards

Alan

[zx9]

If the G10 is like the G9 it will focus closer and give bigger magnification with the zoom set to the shorter focal lengths (obvious if you think about it but took me a while to work it out).



Taken on my G9 the insect was about 50mm away from the lens.

[gray1720]

I suppose you have actually switched it to macro mode? The little flower symbol?

Yes, I have. I'm not (quite...) that daft! Well, not in this case, at least.

Alan, I'm pretty sure that that is what I'm doing already, though I've been working from auto rather than the "creative modes" to try and cut down what I'm having to do while I find my way round the camera. Possibly that's a mistake in itself?

Adrian

*Edit* - zx9 posted while I was posting my reply. I can't believe that Canon would reduce the capabilities between the G9 and the G10. That tends to make me think I'm missing something. Maybe it's the shorter focal lengths - will have to have another fiddle, I think.

[ermintrude]

Alan, I'm pretty sure that that is what I'm doing already, though I've been working from auto rather than the "creative modes" to try and cut down what I'm having to do while I find my way round the camera.

In the S series you can't use Macro in Auto mode, so I suspect its the same with the G series...

[Bettina]

With the G9 you can't really focus and zoom in macro mode. It works fine at the default seting eg 28mm.

[gray1720]

Cheers for the pointers, everyone. Looks like I need to go away and have a good fiddle with it to work out what it actually does.

No doubt will be back with another dumb question soon...

Thanks,

Adrian

[gray1720]

Hurrah - sort of! It finally focused close today (and stayed focused when I pressed the shutter...), on a tiger moth on the other side of the window. Nowhere near as tight as zx9's 'hopper, but I'm on the right path. I guess I expected that I could hold it a bit further away and zoom in - too much time with a borrowed Tamron 90mm SP, obviously!

Thanks for the help, now just need some time to practice!

Adrian

[ermintrude]

Hurrah - sort of! It finally focused close today (and stayed focused when I pressed the shutter...), on a tiger moth on the other side of the window. Nowhere near as tight as zx9's 'hopper, but I'm on the right path. I guess I expected that I could hold it a bit further away and zoom in - too much time with a borrowed Tamron 90mm SP, obviously!

Thanks for the help, now just need some time to practice!

Adrian

No you cannot zoom on Macro or use Auto. Glad its working for you now

[Monobod]

Very helpful tutorial everyone. Thanks.

i really love my G10 to bits!