Macro setting on Canon powershot sx30is HELP

[DreamCatcher84]

I have a Canon powershot SX30is, which is a Super zoom, not a DSLR. I am having issues getting the Macro setting to work and actually focus. I have looked up the manual instructions through Canon USA directly and followed the instructions to a T but can't seem to make it work. The problem is I can get it to let me set the Macro, but if I try to zoom in at all it won't focus. But if I don't zoom in I have to be right on top of the object I'm shooting which still does not really get me the "close up" shot I am looking for.. Any suggestions would be grest! Thanks.

[RichardTaylor]

I have a couple of Canon P&S cameras but not the powershot SX30is.

As you say they wont focus very close when zoomed and need to be set at the widest angle for best results.
You will not the the super close ups that you may get with a DSLR + the right attachments but you can still do pretty good.
What were you wanting to shoot?

[dlambert]

My first thought was to watch out for the minimum focusing distance. Although advertised as "macro", these lenses are usually only "macro-like", but I checked the minimum focusing distance, and the specs do, in fact, suggest that it should be able to focus down to 0cm. (?)

This thread turned up in google -- maybe it'll be of some help:
sx30is and Macro: Canon Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

[DreamCatcher84]

At Richard, I am not trying to shoot anything in particular, but I usually use it on things like plants or bugs, those types of things.

[RichardTaylor]

For coverages of larger areas I would initially try not using "macro".
Fro example on my Canon G11 I can "zoom in" to cover something 6" (150mm) long (horizontally).

In macro mode I can cover a length of 1.5" (35mm) with the lens at the wide angle end.

Why not run an experiment on your camera?

With the Canon G11 I can achieve close up results like this.

(1) Bug in a Nasturtium


(2)


and flower detail like this.
(3)

[DreamCatcher84]

at richard, I have experimented a bit, and if it is not set to macro it will still not let me zoom and focus on the target, such as a spider in a web. And when set on macro it won't actually get the close of shots that you showed me examples of.

at david, thanks for the link, it will be a good reference later, but it really didn't help my current issue....

I'm starting to wonder if maybe there is something wrong with the camera itself, but from what I have read, the macro is not really a very strong feature on this particular camera, which is pretty pathetic considering the Fujifilm I upgraded from had amazing macro which I could zoom with from a few feet away and still achieve a good shot....

[RichardTaylor]

How does it go with centre focus point only (or its eqivalent) and/or manual focus?

[RichardTaylor]

This Flickr person has quite a few "close ups" taken with an SX30is. Maybe she can help.

Flickr: flyingpjs' Photostream

[inkista]

Ok, this is just me, but why is zooming all the way out, and getting on top of the subject not working for you? Because this is generally how most P&S cameras work with the macro mode.

Macro mode doesn't do something magical inside the camera that suddenly makes it capable of taking closeup shots. It simply limits the distance range the autofocus system will search through. The lens and sensor size of the camera itself make for an extremely deep DoF, which then means that close focusing is capable, but it's only going to be a the wide end.

Zooming in increases your minimum focus distance. Period. That's just the way lenses work. And the SX30IS can zoom in a whole damn lot. Probably more than your Fujifilm could (or possibly, your Fuji wasn't really zooming, but just doing "digital zoom" aka "cropping").

Stop insisting that you HAVE to zoom in to do a macro. The SX30IS simply doesn't work that way. Zoom out. Get in on top of your subject. If you're zoomed all the way in, your minimum focus distance becomes 50cm/1.6 feet. Zoomed all the way out, you can have the object touch the front of the lens and still be in focus. Look at the specs.

[ssamiamss]

Dreamcatcher84- I have this exact same camera and its macro does indeed not work for me, I believe it is because its not a Super Macro,(olympus sp 800 UZ) which is what I previously had and Loved! This was suppose to be an upgrade but I regret this purchase