Hi all, I have run into a situation I dont understand concerning my new Nikon 7900 camera. I am hoping someone can explain what is happening and how to correct it. The problem sometimes occurs while I am trying to do flower or bug macros. Sometimes I can not bring the image into focus. As the lens adjusts (using auto focus) I see the image come into focus in the preview screen (not the view finder) but then it goes past focus before it stops. I have moved closer and further from the subject in small increments to no avail. I have used the zoom while in macro mode and it also goes past focus before stopping. I have changed the lighting of the subject and still no luck. I have made some attempts to try different focus modes but I didnt seem to get any better results. I take a number of macros and usually do not have this problem but as best I can tell, it occurs when the object is 1/8 of an inch or smaller across. I thought maybe this size was just too small but I am puzzled as to why I can see it come into focus but cant get it to lock on even though I hold the shutter release at halfway as instructed by manual. This indicates to me that the size isnt the issue, but something else. Any suggestions? Thanks for any and all responses, Lee

Use manual focus...always!!!! for macro work!

I have the same problem when I go back to my 8700. You have to focus on something solid that is close to where the main point you want is.Holding shutter half way down, slowly move it once it is locked. The moment it finds something brighter in the back ground it will re zoom to that.It does take playing around, and is why I always use manual for macro or with my D70 now.

"The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions."

Leeco, it IS mainly based on size. User center-weighted AF, if you MUST use AF (or as the others have said, manually focus). My new Fuji S9000 is the same. My old camera was the same. It's not a fault, so don't worry. :P

The AF uses contrasts to determine of something is in focus or not. So you'll have to have something with a resonable sharp contrast in the area of focus. Like if you're trying to focus on a sheet of paper, the AF will fail, but if there's letters on it, it will succeed. I hope I wrote something intelligable :)

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first of all leeco l dont know anything on the nikon..7900..but can remember my old fujis5000.. and doug and 3dGuy has given the advise for that..find a solid point near the point of focus you need..wide angled as you possible can..ceruleanghost has given good advise over centred weighted metering because of the contrast... practise on A/F .. l use canon 20D and always take my exposure setting around the default setting because theyre 9 times outta 10 spot on, especially with contrast as its known as the wedding photographers camera because tested against whites and ability.. macro is best on manual.. but nothing wrong in a/f.. here a shot taken on a/f last week end.. shutter speed 1250..F4.00..iso 1,600. leeco when setting manually.. begin with an F setting..at F5.6... close you get the lower the f.setting ie f4... or if wishing to portrait it more .. stand back and set higher.. after this will show you a setting for a portrait setting.. any way this breaks the rule of manual setting.. took this shot on a/f..

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this leaf portraited macro.. shutter speed 1/50 f10..iso 100 manual 100mm ....

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p.s any help always prepared to help... :)

I Discovered the secret of the sea in mediation upon the dewdrop ... Sand and Foam Gibran

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I guess also how the 'macro' is defined!!

Thank you all for the comments, advice, and info. With your help, a re-re-reading of the manual, and some more experimentation, I think I have managed to work out the focus problems I was having. I have started using center weighted metering, manual focus and the cameras macro mode settings. I have no problems admitting I have never been more than a point and shoot camera user, even when I had a very nice Pentax 35mm in the 70,s. It has been gone for at least 20 years and no picture taking since then until I got a Sony p32 digital for Christmas of 2004. I picked up where I had left off, POINT and Shoot. I just recently got the Nikon7900 and have decided to become more serious about photography so I started using the different settings it has. This led to using the macro mode and that led to the focus issue. I think all I need now is lots of practice, lol. I really appreciate the time all have spent in trying to assist me in this. I am including a manipulated macro I did today with this thread and I will be posting a series of them to my gallery soon, so if you are interested you can see the results of your assistance. Thanks to all again, Lee

BTW- i forgot to mention that the flowers in this pic are less than 1/8 inch acoss so that solves that, lol.

in all honesty most photography is done on a wing and a prayer.. every one starts on point and shoot...my a/f was a done on a wing and a prayer, l didnt believe the setting of iso 1,600, its all about practise and learning... the more you practise the more you learn... now here comes my sense of humour manipulated macro l disppear sacriledge.. stop the world l wanna get off..!!!!! arghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gives up

I Discovered the secret of the sea in mediation upon the dewdrop ... Sand and Foam Gibran

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Off topic here (kinda) But damn, you guys have some great work!