Thx Donald Just looked in spec. sheet for mine and it says - "TTL Auto focus ..........9 point (AiAf)/1 point (AF) (any position available)." It seems to emit some sort of beam of light I notice when the light is poor eg I went to zoo to try it out and I noticed a beam of light would come on (reflected in glass). Sounds to me like it maybe the second type even though it is a compact digi. This would explain why it has trouble focussing because what I am asking it to focus on is all the same colour within focus box. It works fine at other times just in macro where focus area is on something that is all same colour and lightness.

And every one said, 'If we only live,
We too will go to sea in a Sieve,---
To the hills of the Chankly Bore!'
Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, And they went to sea in a Sieve.

Edward Lear
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/jumblies.html