FinePix S700 Manual Focus Won't Work!

[wannabehorsephotographer]

I have a Fuji FinePix S700. I have tried focusing my camera manually. I did as the instruction manual said...while in manual mode I went to the shooting menu - focusing - mf. The screen then prompted me to focus by pressing +/- and W/T. I tried pushing the +/- button and then twisting the zoom dial (assuming W/T) at the same time... and nothing. Nothing changes on the LCD or if I view through the viewfinder. Is there something wrong with my camera or am I just screwing up something obvious - Please help!

Thanks!

[mrodgers]

Ah ha! I just responded to your PM. I haven't been here for a while, so I wasn't ignoring the PM, hehehe.

But, I'll post what I wrote you here as well, in case there are any others wondering with the S700 as well.

I had a play with manual focus during the lunar eclipse not long ago. From the sound of what you are saying here, you are doing it correctly.

Press and hold the +/- button while using the zoom toggle to change the focus. I find it quite difficult.

I think the problem is, it is very slow. I didn't think it was doing anything when I first tried it either. How I knew it was changing was from the sound. If you hold the camera to your ear in a quiet place and hold your breath while changing the focus, you will hear the motor changing it. It is very difficult to hear though.

You will hear a very faint "ch...ch...ch..." sound, if that makes sense.

If you push the zoom toggle to W (to the left), you will focus towards infinity. Push to T (the right) it will focus closer.

Like I said, I didn't think it was doing anything either. I was wanting to focus to infinity for the eclipse. It wasn't until I put my ear close to the camera that I heard the focus motor.

The other problem is, I don't think the viewfinder is very good for seeing the focus when done manually. I think I would only use it when I want to set to infinity such as for shooting the moon. I don't think I could try to focus on a subject and do it manually looking through the viewfinder/LCD.

[wannabehorsephotographer]

Wow - thanks so much! I thought I could hear it doing something - I just didn't see any change. I'm kinda impatient though so I just kept toggling it back and forth. Huge help - thanks again!