How to focus on a specific point? - Orchid Board

DavidCampen · #1 09-23-2012, 03:56 PM

This is a beginner question. I want to take photos of my orchids and the flowers. I have a little Cannon Powershot A530. When I try to take a close up photo of a flower on a plant the camera focuses wherever it likes; it may focus on the leaves that are several inches behind the flower resulting in the flower being out of focus. Are there ways to make this type of camera focus where I want or even just always on whatever is in the center of view?

ronaldhanko · #2 09-23-2012, 04:12 PM

I'm not acquainted with the camera, but if it has manual focus that is one option (my suspicion is that yours doesn't have it).

Some cameras also allow you to change the focal point so that it is focusing within the frame on whatever you want even if it's not centered.

Another option (again, I don't know if it's available on a point and shoot) is to focus on what you want and hold the shutter button halfway down while you frame the picture as you want it. The camera will then hold the focus.

DavidCampen · #3 09-23-2012, 05:58 PM

Thanks, I broke down and read the manual, I can set an option to focus on whatever is in the center of the scene then I can press the shutter button half way down to hold that focus while I reframe the scene.

ronaldhanko · #4 09-24-2012, 11:57 AM

That usually works on digital cameras. It's also the easiest of the three, especially when you get used to it.

camille1585 · #5 09-25-2012, 05:06 AM

I have the previous version of your camera, the A520. If you hit the macro/MF button twice (assuming yours is like mine) then you should be in manual focus mode. This works extremely well for me, especially for the small orchids. Mine even has a small square in the middle which magnifies the view, so I can adjust focus more precisely. I like using the MF button better than using the AF lock.

DavidCampen · #6 09-25-2012, 11:29 AM

Thanks for the tip, I will try this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by camille1585

I have the previous version of your camera, the A520. If you hit the macro/MF button twice (assuming yours is like mine) then you should be in manual focus mode. This works extremely well for me, especially for the small orchids. Mine even has a small square in the middle which magnifies the view, so I can adjust focus more precisely. I like using the MF button better than using the AF lock.