Focusing Problem

[Galiano]

I have a Fuji S9000. At this time of year, from the window of our condo, the morning skies are often quite incredible over the waters of Discovery Passage. I have the telescopic lens out full. There is very little light as the sun is just rising.

For reasons that I cannot figure out, sometimes I cannot get the lens to focus . I can hear the mechanism working; it often goes to a focus but then keeps going to out-of-focus; and the dreaded !AF symbol comes up. I have tried to focus on something other than just horizon (there is a small island) but that often has no effect either.

I'm sure that there is something basic that I am not taking into consideration.

Cheers,
Helen

[Codebreaker]

Auto Focus relies in detecting contrast in the AF regions. So subjects with low contrast or even low lighting can often present nothing for the AF to work with.

You can try just to re-position the AF point (often the centre) onto something that has contrast and is at the same approx. distance. Then press the shutter half way; re-compose and then press fully to take the shot.

Or if all this fails then resort to manual focusing - assuming that your camera allows it.

Colin

[Galiano]

Colin -
Thank you for your reply. While I tried to get it to focus on the island, I guess that there was just not enough light.

I will change the setting to Manual next time, and see if I can make a better job of it.

Cheers,
Helen

[lexcell]

Great answer Colin...
That is exactly the problem here...lack of contrast can be caused by aiming just at the sky for example or, if the light is too low for the camera to see.