I need help with my Nikon D40 digital SLR and taking close ups!?

Question

I'm pretty new to photography, i have had my Nikon D40 for about 9 months and i don't really know how to properly use all of its functions. But until now i've been happy enough just snapping away and editing on my computer. However, recently i have noticed that when i try to take a photo very close up, either zooming in or just getting really close to what i'm photographing, my camera wont let me take the picture! I hold down the button to take the picture and my camera sort of focuses then unfocuses and then does nothing. As i said i dont know how to use all the cameras functions or change settings, that kind of stuff, so i dont know if there is something i can do or change to help me with this problem? Does anybody have any ideas?

Btw, the camera is in top condition and the lense is 18-55mm, do i need a different lense?

Thanks

Answer 1

IMO you would benefit greatly from a few courses in photography.

If you'll really READ & STUDY the Owner's Manual for your camera and for the lens you'll begin learning how to actually use the camera to its full potential.

The Magic Lantern has an instructional DVD for your camera. Its available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Circuit City, etc. It would be a wise purchase at $24.95 IMO. Watching someone do something is usually easier to grasp than merely reading about it.

The problem you're having is due to the close-focusing limits of the lens you're using. Again, the Owner's Manual for the lens will tell you how close you can get. Until you have fully mastered the equipment you have you shouldn't be concerned with buying more.  

Answer 2

Minimum focus distance on that lens is slightly under a foot. If you are closer to the subject than that, you will never get it in focus. You will need to pick up a macro ( nikon calls them micro) lens for close up work.

Answer 3

take control...........use manual focus, on your lens there is a selector and a focus ring, read your manual and it will tell you how to use it

po

Answer 4

As others here have noted the problem is probably that you are shooting in auto and it will not let you shoot when the camera has not aquired focus. try backing up a few inches and see if your lens will focus Minimum focus distance on that lens is 0.9 feet While a macro lens is the best way to go the cost is prohibitive to some newer photographers. An option that will give you good results at a very reasonable price is close up filters.  They come is varying magnifications and s***w onto the front of your lens

I hope this helps if not email me

Answer 5

You might be getting too close to the subject for the lens to focus.

You can gauge how close you can focus by setting the lens to it's closest setting either manually or by placing your hand in front of the lens and letting go of the autofocus/shutter button when it hits the stop. Without touching the shutter button, measure how close you can get without the subject going out of focus, and don't get any closer when shooting.

A quick and easy method: If your camera doesn't take the shot, move back slightly, and it should then.

Also, there is a problem with low contrast images and autofocus. If there is insufficient contrast in the frame you wish to take a shot of, the autofocus will not focus on anything.  In this case you either light the subject up more, or go to manual focus.

As you quite correctly state, it may be that your kit lens18-55 isn't up to the job... quite likely IMHO... in which case you'll need to buy a macro/micro lens if you are thinking of regularly taking close ups of small subjects.

I hope that helps.

Answer 6

The Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens isn't a Micro lens. This lens can only focus on a subject from 0.9 feet away. Which is about a foot. No matter where it is in the zoom range, that's still only have close this lens can focus. As i already said, this isn't a macro lens. This isn't like a point and shoot lens which can macro focus for free in the package. With a digital SLR you have to buy a 500$ macro lens, which can focus much closer to the subject. The 18-55mm lens is under 130$, and isn't meant for macro focusing. Sorry to say, here's one that you might like to try out?

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imagin...

It's really expensive, but if you want to take macros you have to get a lens like this. This lens costs almost double your Nikon d40. It would be quite and investment for you. The 18-55mm Nikkor lens isn't a macro lens. Although the d40 has a macro mode, it doesn't make the lens focus any more closely than it regularly can.