Could someone tell me if there is merit to focusing the 770 by first zooming in on the subject, then zooming out to compose your picture? Or does the focus change as a result of the zooming? I'm just trying to refine the process.
Thanks, Tom
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Re: Focusing the 770
I've only had my 770 a couple of days now. I answered your question on gut instinct and not intelligence. Your initial question...."does the focus change as a result of the zooming? " the answer is Yes.
The zoom lens on the 770 is a "variable focal length" design as opposed to a "true zoom". A "true zoom" holds its focus as the lens is zoomed. While a variable focal length design requires refocsuing after the lens is zoomed. Sony uses a CPU-driven focus system to automatically adjust the lens' focus as the zoom ring is turned--- yet appears to be a "true zoom" to the user.
So when we focus the 770 in a manual mode and then change the zoom length....you need to touch up focus.
This info from a review at the following site. http://www/imaging-resource.com
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Re: Focusing the 770
Tom--
I shot TV news video for 20 years..... Focusing on Professional level Video cameras is still manual. The customary technique (where possible) is to zoom tight on the principle subject matter, *focus* and then return to the framing you prefer. The camera"s lens system doesn't care. This procedure is largely for your own confidence that the visual target is in focus. It's a manual form of the EZ-Focus function on the 770 LCD. (which I like just to reinforce my belief that I have attained proper focus.--- Would I use EZ-Focus only for a critical picture? Probably not. Gimme optics every time.)-----
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Change your focusing setting to spot focus. Then, focus on your main subject, keep the button half-way pressed while you re-compose the shot and then press it the rest of the way. Does that improve the shot?
The 18-70 is a rather slow lens and needs quite a bit of light before it will focus. Also, the lens needs contrasting between subject and background. For instance, if you try to take a picture of just the blue sky with nothing else in the frame, it will probably not focus at all. Put a plane in there as the subject and you should get the shot.
See if you experience a better focus outside during the day with some good contrast between subject and background. If it works better, then it's just the limitation of the lens. If it's still not focusing, there might be a problem with the lens. You do have the lens on M/A (auto focus) right?
From my experience, many zoom lenses that have a macro feature simply kicks into macro mode when the lens is in fully zoomed position. Remember, macro is used to take pictures of something (usually like a flower, insect, etc.) and to magnify it several or many times larger than it really it is. And as a result the subject is huge and sharply focused with a very blurry background. Another thing to keep in mind is that there is usually a focusing limit for the lens in terms of how close one can focus a subject in MACRO zoom mode. In other words, you (the lens) may have to be at least a foot or more away from the subject in order to automatically focus sharply. On this note, if you have manual focusing capability, you should be able to take pictures in macro zoom mode from even shorter distance from the subject, resulting in more larger than life pictures!
In super macro mode, pictures can be taken as close as 2 inches. Subjects measuring up to approximately 1.9 inches by 1.4 inches can be captured on the monitor.
If the camera is having a difficult time auto-focusing, you can try the FOCUS LOCK feature. This feature allows you to focus on another subject roughly the same distance from you and then move the camera back to the intended subject and take the picture without losing focus. First, turn the camera on and locate the Autofocus Target Mark in the center of the LCD. The AF Target Mark resembles an open and close bracket [ ]. Position this AF Target Mark on a subject roughly the same distance away as the subject the camera is having trouble focusing on. Press the shutter button halfway enabling the lens to focus. While holding the shutter button halfway down, aim the camera at the original subject and press the shutter button all the way down.
On a D-580 Zoom camera, the Macro Mode operating range is 8 inches to 20 inches. This means the camera must be between 8 inches and 20 inches away from the subject for a picture to be in focus.
Try the FOCUS LOCK feature. This feature allows you to focus on a subject roughly the same distance away from you, then re-compose your picture without losing that focus. Open the lens barrier fully. Look through the viewfinder at the AF Target Mark (the 4 lines in the center of the viewfinder). Position the AF Target Mark on a subject roughly the same distance away from you. Press the shutter button halfway until the green lamplights. While keeping the shutter button pressed halfway, re-compose your picture, then press the shutter fully.
On a D-575 camera, The Macro Mode operating range is 8 inches to 20 inches. This means the camera must be between 8 inches and 20 inches away from the subject for a picture to be in focus.
If the camera is having trouble doing an auto focus you can try the FOCUS LOCK feature. This feature allows you to focus on another subject roughly the same distance away from you, and then move the camera back to your original subject and take your picture without losing that focus. First turn the camera on and locate the AutoFocus Target Mark in the center of the LCD. The AF Target Mark resembles an open and close bracket [ ]. Position this AF Target Mark on a subject roughly the same distance away from you as the subject that the camera is having trouble focusing on. Press the shutter button halfway enabling the lens to focus. While keeping the shutter button pressed halfway, move the camera back to include the subject you originally wanted in the image, then press the shutter fully. (Please see page 42 in the D-535 Zoom Reference Manual in Section 3, under the heading titled “If Correct Focus Cannot Be Obtained”, for a more detailed explanation.)
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