[Zero]

So whats the secret boys.  I'm over here pulling my hair out trying to take a picture of these speakers for review, and I'm crunched on time all the way around.  I have the lens focused right on them, and all it does is focus on the back-round instead, no matter how little of it is showing.  Even though I know its all user error..  I'm about ready to throw this camera into a lake...  any sage advice is very welcome..

[low.pfile]

So whats the secret boys.  I'm over here pulling my hair out trying to take a picture of these speakers for review, and I'm crunched on time all the way around.  I have the lens focused right on them, and all it does is focus on the back-round instead, no matter how little of it is showing.  Even though I know its all user error..  I'm about ready to throw this camera into a lake...  any sage advice is very welcome..

What camera? Nearly all cameras have an Auto-Focus lock, which is actuated by a half-depression of the shutter button. if the speakers do not have a lot of contrast (eg. flat black finish) you need to trick it. If you have a friend who can hold a book or some other object at the same plane you want to focus on-you can trick the camera's auto focus. Have the friend hold the object next to the speaker, you then lock focus on it. then move the object out of the picture frame and fully trigger the shutter. Also consider using the lens telephoto zoom to remove(crop out) as much of the background out of the focus zones.

You may also experiment with the Macro mode, if the camera has one. Typically the camera needs to be on its widest angle setting for the Macro to properly focus. 

A tripod also is helpful as is a manual focus camera, which I have to guess is not the type of camera you are using.

good luck, ed

[low.pfile]

zero, check this out too : I was going to show a speaker image as an example but kodak has a cool Flash example.

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=317&pq-locale=en_US#wg07_1_title_1

Click Top 10 Tips

See #6 Lock the focus

[Zero]

low.pfile,

Thanks for taking the time to share the good info with this n00blet. It really helped. 

In this instance, the ole' "tricking the camera" technique proved the easiest and most successful. What really chaps my hide is I knew about this little trick, and forgot all about it!     Anyways, having the camera focus on a different object at half shutter and then quickly moving it back to the subject was all it took to get the mojo back.

To answer your question; the type of camera I have been using is an old Sony F-828. For what it is, it is still a camera capable of some fantastic shots. I have used its manual focus on occasion, although to be honest with you, I normally err more towards the simple and straight forward approach.

Once again - thanks for taking the time to share a few tips! Mucho appreciated!