Newbie focus question

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I have just got a Canon Ixus 40, and am having a go at using the manual
settings, badly, but I am trying!

I want to be able to adjust the focal point (not sure if that is the correct
phrase), so that when I half press the shutter release, I can vary what the
camera focuses on...does that make sense? ie. I want to take a picture of
my cat, looking at it through some foliage of a tree, but when I half press
to focus, the camera focuses only on the tree, as it is closest, and not the
cat?

I can't work out which setting that is, any help please?


Thanks in advance




Chris

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Evil Uncle Chris wrote:
> I have just got a Canon Ixus 40, and am having a go at using the manual
> settings, badly, but I am trying!
>
> I want to be able to adjust the focal point (not sure if that is the correct
> phrase), so that when I half press the shutter release, I can vary what the
> camera focuses on...does that make sense? ie. I want to take a picture of
> my cat, looking at it through some foliage of a tree, but when I half press
> to focus, the camera focuses only on the tree, as it is closest, and not the
> cat?
>
> I can't work out which setting that is, any help please?

Hi Chris...

Don't know your camera, but for starters in general what
you want to look for is "spot focus"... usually iconized
as a square with a dot in the center of it. Once you've
found and turned it on, center the cat in the viewfinder,
do your half press, then compose your shot. The cat should
then be perfectly exposed at the expense of the tree.

Hopefully others with your model will be more helpful.

Take care.

Ken

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"ASAAR" <caught@22.com> wrote in message
news:5u0qe19vgndlp7gmns3ff0a1ut0m9eofbr@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 12:44:43 GMT, Evil Uncle Chris wrote:
>
>> I have just got a Canon Ixus 40, and am having a go at using the manual
>> settings, badly, but I am trying!
>>
>> I want to be able to adjust the focal point (not sure if that is the
>> correct
>> phrase), so that when I half press the shutter release, I can vary what
>> the
>> camera focuses on...does that make sense? ie. I want to take a picture
>> of
>> my cat, looking at it through some foliage of a tree, but when I half
>> press
>> to focus, the camera focuses only on the tree, as it is closest, and not
>> the
>> cat?
>>
>> I can't work out which setting that is, any help please?
>
> The Ixus 40, like most P&S cameras, doesn't have the ability to
> focus manually. These cameras usually try to focus on what is
> contained in the center of the image (your manual should describe
> this). If the cat was isolated this would be easy. But as it's
> surrounded by the tree, your Ixus 40 is probably going to focus on
> some of the much closer leaves and branches. When you half press
> the shutter, the camera not only focuses (and determines the
> exposure settings) but it locks them in place. So if you can find
> another object to focus on that is approximately the same distance
> as the cat, you could focus on it, and they while keeping the
> shutter half-depressed, point the camera back towards the cat, and
> then take the picture. If this other object that you're using to
> pre-focus on causes the picture of the cat to come out too light or
> too dark, you'll be able to fix that. One of the Ixus's few manual
> controls is exposure compensation, and with that and using an
> alternate focus point, you *might* be able to get a nicely focused
> picture, assuming that it's not one of those pesky Cheshire's.

Here's another idea. Back up the distance from the cat to the leaves and
branches then press the shutter halfway down. Now, move in the same
distance and your focus should be locked on the cat, but with the proper
framing. Since you are getting your exposure from the same area you should
be able to get close, or easily adjust that.
>