Help with focus (Olympus C5000)

[rhlee]

I'm relatively new to photography. I've been using an Olympus C5000 with a PT-019 housing, shooting with just the internal flash. I've been getting some reasonable pictures, but I haven't been able to figure out how to get the camera to focus on small (< 2" maybe) subjects. The pictures always seem to come out blurry, even when the camera is in "macro-mode" (the flower icon).

Here is an example of a blurry picture of a small subject, and a crisper picture of a larger subject:




I've tried shooting from different distances and playing with the level of zoom, but none of this has really helped.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[SeaYoda]

I've been told to use a "focus" light. I've just started using one so I can't tell you that it cured my problems yet. I tried it on land some, it seemed to have great results.

 

[alcina]

A focus light will likely help.

Also, when using zoom if you back off full zoom by one notch cameras seem to like that better

Practice on land. Get a feel for the minimum focus distance when you are set in macro mode and for all zoom settings....remember, the more you zoom the farther away you will need to be as the minimum focus distance will likley increase! You need to practice to find the best combination of zoom and physical distance.

Also, take more than one shot. Get what you think is the correct focus, then rock in and out teeny bits and take another frame. A very small movement from when you "thought" it was in focus will make a huge difference when you are talking tiny creatures!

 

[rhlee]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been trying to play around with a focus light (my Ike PC backup light), but without much luck. Is it possible that I need a macro lens to shoot subjects this small? Sorry for the dumb questions, but I really don't know where to begin...