Why won’t my Canon SX740 focus when zoomed in on close subjects?
Asked 5/9/2019
4 views
2 answers
0
I photograph small computer hardware for online listings. My old Olympus SZ-16 could focus on an item from about 40 inches away even when heavily zoomed in, but my Canon SX740 HS refuses to focus if I zoom in too far at the same distance. It seems to work only when I back off the zoom.
Why does this happen, and is there any way to fix it on the SX740? What specification should I look at when buying a camera if I need to photograph close subjects with a tight framing? I mainly need clear close-up shots of small details or defects.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
4
I would suggest trying your SX740 again, but use a far more conservative zoom setting. It should reduce your minimum focus distance to a workable level.
The long telephoto setting is for making distant objects as large as possible in the camera, but you really only need to work with things that are close to you. The macro mode and wide angle [ie, not zoomed in] should allow you to move the camera closer to make the objects you're photographing fill the frame cleanly.
Focusing Range
Auto: 0.4 in. (1cm) – infinity (W), 6.6 ft. (2.0m) – infinity (T) Normal: 2.0 in. (5cm) – infinity (W), 6.6 ft. (2.0m) – infinity (T) Macro: 0.4 in. – 1.6 ft. (1–50cm) (W)
- Canon SX740 HS Specs
Canon's spec sheet is 'delightfully unclear', but appears to be showing a 6.6 foot minimum focus range for its (T) [full telephoto] setting, but only 0.4 inches for its (W) [wide angle] setting.
Originally by user82321. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user82321
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is mainly a minimum focus distance issue. On compact cameras, the closer you are to full telephoto zoom, the farther away the subject usually must be for the camera to focus. On the SX740, the telephoto end appears to need about 2.0 m / 6.6 ft minimum focus distance, so a subject at roughly 40 inches is simply too close when zoomed in.
The fix is to use less zoom, switch to macro mode, and move the camera closer instead of relying on long telephoto. Macro on these cameras usually works only at the wide-angle end, not when fully zoomed. You can then crop the image afterward if needed; 20 MP is more than enough for online sales photos.
So the key spec to check is the focusing range or minimum focus distance at both wide and telephoto settings—not just a generic “macro distance.”
Also, for sharper product shots, use a tripod, lower ISO if possible, and avoid very slow handheld shutter speeds.
In short: your SX740 is behaving normally; its telephoto focus distance is just much longer than your old camera’s.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI7y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How can I make distant birds and wildlife look larger and clearer with a phone camera?
How can I check image sharpness on a small camera LCD in the field?
Which lens is best for extreme insect macro, and can it work well in low light?
Why is my older macro lens sharp up close but soft at longer distances?
Why is my Nikon 18-55mm kit lens blurry when zoomed past 18mm?