Why does my lens search?

13 years 1 week ago #45356 by Djradio
I have 18-55mm, and sometimes it will take a long time to focus on the subject, almost like it's searching. Why? I point it where I want it to focus. How do I get it to stop searching?


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13 years 1 week ago #45358 by Ford Plus
You could manual focus on your subject first. Either shoot manual, or switch back over to to auto focus and shoot.


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13 years 1 week ago #45359 by Djradio
I'll try that.


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13 years 1 week ago #45366 by chasrich
Are you using a conversion lens with this setup. Sometimes adding additional glass can cause focus and exposure to be off a bit. As I understand it some lens combinations are compatible while others are not.

“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
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13 years 1 week ago #45381 by Screamin Scott
Could be a number of things causing this. What mode were you shooting in? Any tubes, converters, etc in use with it?. What was the light level when this happened? Were you shooting at the 18 or the 55mm focal length of the lens? What focus point do you have selected?...Normally the AF will "hunt" as it's called, when there is not enough light for the contrast detection system to properly work...Most AF systems have trouble focusingwhen the aperture selected is F5.6 or smaller (which is what it is when using the 18-55 at the 55mm length. Tubes & converters reduce the amount of light striking the sensor & can cause problems as well...

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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13 years 1 week ago #45478 by Nod
I was going to ask what metering mode you're using but Scott pretty well covered that. As he mentioned a lot of things can cause searching but light is usually right up there on the list.


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13 years 1 week ago #45479 by Baydream
A lot of the newer AF systems have multiple focus points. The camera is deciding which ones are in the majority.You can set your camera for a limited number of points and reduce the search.
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Example, the bird you want is dead center but the other 8 (or so) other focus points are on the background. Guess who wins?

Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
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13 years 1 week ago - 13 years 1 week ago #45497 by photobod
Try setting your camera to a single point focus area, I have mine set at 6mm, focus on what you want sharp like a persons eyes, depress shutter button until you here that beep, hold it there then find the composition you want and click. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

www.dcimages.org.uk
"A good photograph is one that communicate a fact, touches the heart, leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective." - Irving Penn

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13 years 1 week ago #45610 by Joves
Also it will hunt more if you are using Continuous Focusing in low light or the subject is not well defined or has other thing near by. Try using the Single Focus Mode.


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13 years 1 day ago #49306 by Todd Knight

Screamin Scott wrote: Could be a number of things causing this. What mode were you shooting in? Any tubes, converters, etc in use with it?. What was the light level when this happened? Were you shooting at the 18 or the 55mm focal length of the lens? What focus point do you have selected?...Normally the AF will "hunt" as it's called, when there is not enough light for the contrast detection system to properly work...Most AF systems have trouble focusingwhen the aperture selected is F5.6 or smaller (which is what it is when using the 18-55 at the 55mm length. Tubes & converters reduce the amount of light striking the sensor & can cause problems as well...


Excellent points :agree: :goodpost:


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13 years 1 day ago #49342 by Stealthy Ninja
Because you left the lens cap on.
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