why wouldn't if focus?
May 3, 2015 22:23:36 #
doing a shoot of a client's house this afternoon. The sun was behind and above the house so I was shooting into the sun.The house is white. I use spot metering on a 7d. I was in shutter priority. The lens(18-200). N o matter what I did the lens would not autofocus. It just focus hunted and never came to an accurate focus. Nomatter where I placed the spot focus still no focus. I jus had to wait for a cloud to get the shot. Can any one explain this. I was going to go to manual but the cloud came just in time. thanks
May 3, 2015 22:29:17 #
Without seeing a post of the photo in question - I'll speculate that the auto focus mechanism couldn't see an 'edge' to be able to 'see' what is in focus. Or, the white area was too bright, or 'blown out.'
May 3, 2015 22:30:51 #
boberic wrote:
doing a shoot of a client's house this afternoon. ... (show quote)
Interesting and annoying problem, but you don't know how to manual focus your lens? :?: :-(
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May 3, 2015 22:39:14 #
twowindsbear wrote:
Without seeing a post of the photo in question - I'll speculate that the auto focus mechanism couldn't see an 'edge' to be able to 'see' what is in focus. Or, the white area was too bright, or 'blown out.'
.You are probably right Couldn't post a shot cause the shutter wouldn;t release untill the cloud blocked the sun enough to get the shot
May 3, 2015 22:41:21 #
boberic wrote:
.You are probably right Couldn't post a shot cause the shutter wouldn;t release untill the cloud blocked the sun enough to get the shot
That 'factoid' seems to indicate that you had your camera set to only 'shoot' when the camera thinks it is in focus. Try turning off that feature. I have no idea how that's done, though.
May 3, 2015 22:49:39 #
boberic wrote:
.You are probably right Couldn't post a shot cause the shutter wouldn;t release untill the cloud blocked the sun enough to get the shot
I figured that as well. Though I'd take it off Auto. I seldom shot with auto focus but have seen similar problems to what the OP experienced. Some times my older DSLR and when using a kit lens I get really slow auto focus locking. Miss shots that way.
If the OP gets in to that situation again, aside from manual focus as you described he could try to find an edge with some contrast. Also shooting into the Sun, not only not getting a focus lock perhaps the camera could not find an exposure in Shutter Priority (or Aperture Priority). And so would not release the shutter.
May 3, 2015 23:55:22 #
twowindsbear wrote:
Without seeing a post of the photo in question - I'll speculate that the auto focus mechanism couldn't see an 'edge' to be able to 'see' what is in focus. Or, the white area was too bright, or 'blown out.'
:thumbup:
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May 4, 2015 00:21:45 #
May 4, 2015 06:25:43 #
Nikon users can go to Custom Settings Menu and select "Release" instead of "Focus" mode for shutter. Maybe give something to work with.
May 4, 2015 07:05:21 #
Leitz
Loc: Solms
boberic wrote:
doing a shoot of a client's house this afternoon. ... (show quote)
If the client reads this, they'll hire a photographer next time.
May 4, 2015 07:09:44 #
I have had this problem shooting into bright backlight, and it wasn't a problem with focus mode. I just had to switch to manual focus.
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May 4, 2015 08:00:54 #
lamiaceae wrote:
Interesting and annoying problem, but you don't know how to manual focus your lens? :?: :-(
Of course I do. I used the Canon F-1 for more than 30 years. Bt as I said the cloud came at just the right time so it wasn't necessary. I got the shot and the architect was very happy with it.
May 4, 2015 08:18:11 #
tsilva wrote:
Auto focus needs contrast to focus on.
Tsilva has it dead on. You were trying to shoot a white house with a bright back ground that looked white to the camera. In essence, the camera thought it was trying to take a picture of an all white scene with no distinctive features, therefore, nothing to focus on.
Not trying to be rude or a smart-a--, but if you check the manual that came with your camera, it often gives a much better description with graphics of how the auto focus system works and what can mess with it's mind. In situations as you have described, it is most frequently recommended to go to full manual focus, as was previously suggested.
May 4, 2015 08:38:27 #
Picdude wrote:
Tsilva has it dead on. You were trying to shoot a ... (show quote)
The 2 main reason that I use shutter priority, and rely upon auto focus is a tremor in my right hand (getting older sucks). I find that that the focus ring doesn;t have much range. I will use manual focus as a last resort but this time I just got lucky. BTW I would rather be lucky than good
May 4, 2015 09:14:43 #
DavidPine
Loc: Fredericksburg, TX
DaveO wrote:
Nikon users can go to Custom Settings Menu and select "Release" instead of "Focus" mode for shutter. Maybe give something to work with.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
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