• Joined: January 18, 2011

Topic: Need Focusing help!

Helloz
Ok so, i got a Nikon Coolpix S3000 for Christmas present becuase it is basicalyl the equivelent to the Cannon power shot SD1400, but the Nikon works with Istopmotion live view...
anywayz...
i was trying to animate with it for the first time today, and it would not go into focus! i tried for about an hour and a half, (1:30) and i could not figure out how/why it would not focus!
i turned on macro focus (usual for me to have it on), it didn't work, so i turned it off, still would'nt work, then i went through everything in the camera that had "focus" in it, and tried all the diffrent combos of them, but i could not get it to focus!

any help? i really really need it... this is my second camera that has failed with stop motion.... mini/sad

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Re: Need Focusing help!

For starters you should read the manual. But what I'm thinking that's happening to you right now is that your set/minifig is too close to the camera. The camera won't focus that close to an object. Either buy a lens, or move the set far away, then do all of your animation, and zoom in during post production (which is what I do). Hope this helps.
- Mason

  • Joined: January 18, 2011

Re: Need Focusing help!

well, i doubt it has to do with the set being to close, as i did a few tests last night, and my camera seems to be totally anti-lego mini/sad
is what i mean by this is i take a mini-fig, try to get him in focus for 5 minutes, can't, but the i try to focus on the gum wrapper about 4 inchs away (same distance from camera) and it focus on first try, and over and over again... did i few more tests like that, all the same... i even tried diffrent color mini-figs and everything....
mini/sad'
anymore ideas?

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Re: Need Focusing help!

Use manual focus, it sounds like you're using autofocus.

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  • Joined: January 18, 2011

Re: Need Focusing help!

i don't think my camera has manual focus mini/sad it's a point and shoot digi camera... or am i missing something?

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Re: Need Focusing help!

If your camera has no manual focus...then get a webcam. The Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 is a widely used webcam, and the manual focus is in the Webcam Controller software that comes with it.

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Re: Need Focusing help!

minifig051 wrote:

If your camera has no manual focus...then get a webcam. The Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 is a widely used webcam, and the manual focus is in the Webcam Controller software that comes with it.

Cjsuner wrote:

...Istopmotion...

The latter quote tells me that he has a Mac, which makes your suggestion impossible to carry out, should he wish to try and use the webcam and iStopmotion.

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Re: Need Focusing help!

So some webcams aren't compatible with Macs? I didn't know that. Well, then try looking at the manual like Mason said and see if there's a manual focus.

Last edited by minifig051 (January 22, 2011 (01:51pm))

Not literally dead, just no longer interested in Lego or animation.
  • Joined: January 18, 2011

Re: Need Focusing help!

mcoov wrote:
minifig051 wrote:

If your camera has no manual focus...then get a webcam. The Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 is a widely used webcam, and the manual focus is in the Webcam Controller software that comes with it.

Cjsuner wrote:

...Istopmotion...

The latter quote tells me that he has a Mac, which makes your suggestion impossible to carry out, should he wish to try and use the webcam and iStopmotion.

i also do have a PC, which is a scratch build, and my main computer.... But, is why i do not use it is cuz of my desk space around it.... there is 3 computers in my office, so no real rooom for the lights, and sets and stuff, hence why i use my mac...

And so, ya, i am kinda at a lose becuase of the whole focusing thing.... any other idears?

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