If you have used other digital cameras, you might notice a button missing from the Canon PowerShot S1 iS: Macro. Where is it? "Macro" and "Close Up" aren't even in the index of the camera's manual.
("Macro" is another word for close-ups. Most cameras need to switch gears to focus closer to small objecs. Other cameras require the use of macro lenses, which re-focus the camera's lens, making them near-sighted. "Macro" is curious term, coming from the Greek word for "large." True, the macro lens makes small objects larger, but you'd think it'd be called "Micro" mode, as in microscope!.)
The Macro button isn't missing. Instead, Canon designed the lens system of the S1iS to be all-inclusive: from close-up (macro) all the way out to 10x tele. This is much more convenient, because we do not need to push another button for close-ups. Here's how:
1. Ensure the camera is in wide-angle mode (zoomed all the way out.)
2. Hold the camera close to the object, as close as 4 inches (10cm).
3. Focus, and take the picture.
You might think that using the 10x zoom gets you closer, but no: the image ends up being further away.
It can be difficult to focus during closeups, because the depth-of-field (the region in-focus) is shallow. Here are some aids to focusing:
* Turn on Manual Focus mode, which enlarges part of the image for easier focusing.
* Use a tripod, which lets you measure the distance from camera to subject.
* Use Focus Bracket mode, which takes three photos, each with a different focus distance.
To get closer than 4 inches, you'll need to: (1) buy the LensMate or Canon LA-DC52E lens adapter; and (2) buy a wide-angle adapter (Canon says its WC-DC52A lets you get within 0cm), or buy close-up lenses.
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