Close up shots won't auto focus.the lens trys to adjust but the final setting is out of focus. the camera works fine on subjects at least 2 feet away

Hi, It wouldn't autofocus on the D5000 as the body doesn't have an auto focus motor in the body and since that lens is AF, not AF-S, it won't autofocus. It should autofocus on the D7000 though, how far away are you from the object you're trying to photograph?

A couple of possible reasons:
You are trying to take the shot with the lens too close to the subject. If you attempt to take a shot with AF on while too close then the camera won't take the photo. Try backing up from the subject a bit.
Which camera mode are you in? If you are using the green box (automatic) mode then in very low-light settings the camera may refuse to take the photo.
The AF on your lens might be broken. Try using a different lens (if you have one available). Do other lenses have the same problem?

This issue can occur in the following circumstances:
The subject is too close to the camera lens Insufficient lighting Subject movement Camera movement Incorrect camera settings Incorrect camera operation Follow the steps below to help prevent taking pictures that appear blurry, out-of-focus or distorted.

If the camera has both an auto focus and manual focus mode, make sure it is set to auto focus. Make sure there is enough lighting to allow the camera to focus on the subject. Make sure the camera settings are set appropriately. When taking close-up or macro-type shots, ensure the subject is not closer than the minimum focus distance of the lens. Also, if the camera has a zoom option, set it to the W (wide-angle) position. If you have a fast-moving subject and the camera has a Program AE mode with a higher shutter speed (such as Sports action), make sure it is enabled. Also, if the camera has an ISO control, set it to a higher setting. If your camera has a SteadyShot/anti-blur function, ensure it is enabled. Aim the camera at the subject. Press the shutter button halfway down. NOTES:
Pressing the shutter button halfway down allows the camera to focus automatically. A flashing green indicator will be visible in the LCD or viewfinder. When the indicator stops flashing, focusing is finished and the camera is ready to take the picture. Some camera models have a Monitoring AF setting that can be selected which allows the camera to focus without the need to hold the button halfway down. Consult the instruction manual of the camera for information whether or not this is applicable for your model.

If you're right "on top" of the subject - then, yes - it should indicate "macro". Macro focusing is for "very up close" photography and is exactly as you describe. You simply physically move the camera a little closer to or further from the subject to focus.

Not all lenses are capable of macro focusing. The vast majority of these non-macro lenses are required to be at least a couple (or more) feet away to focus. Macro lenses on the other hand can usually get just inches away - which is a great capability.

Enjoy your macro lens!

Depth of field is one of the most useful creative controls on any camera.

It enables you to see how any given aperture setting will affect how much of your photographic scene will be in sharp focus. Aperture settings don't just affect how much light enters the lens, they determine how much of the scene in front of and behind the subject which you've focussed on will also be in focus. The distance between the nearest object in sharp focus and the most distant is called the depth of field.
Wide open apertures (i.e. lowest numbers) give you the shallowest depth of field and vice-versa.

Modern cameras always show the image in the viewfinder or LCD using the lens aperture wide open, regardless of what you've actually set: this allows maximum light into the lens to allow you to clearly see the scene and the lens only close down to the correct aperture at the moment that you press the shutter. The depth of field button (more correctly called the depth of field preview button) enables you to close down the aperture to what it's actually been set to so that you can see exactly what is in sharp focus; when you press it the scene will darken as there will be less light entering the camera, but if you look at a foreground or background subject which is out of focus before you press the button you'll notice that it becomes sharper when you activate the preview. The button will not have any effect at all if you have the lens set to it's maximum (lowest number) aperture, as the aperture that you're viewing the scene at is identical to the one you're taking the photo at.

Understanding depth of field and how you can manipulate it is vital to taking stunning photos:-

Say you want to take a photo of a bee on a flower: if you leave the camera set to auto, or select a medium to small aperture then the photo will show the bee, the flower, and everything in front and behind making a confusing and busy shot. If you select a wide open aperture then the bee will be in sharp focus (if you're really close, maybe only it's head), the flower, or parts of it will be in sharp focus, and the foreground and background will blur out making the bee and the flower the most important compositional elements in your shot.

Alternatively, you may be in a situation where you need to lift your camera quickly and take a shot without disturbing the subject. You don't know exactly how far away your subject will be, but you know it will be between, say, five feet and twenty feet. If you use your camera as normal, you'll see the shot, lift the camera to your eye, wait for focus (if using an autofocus camera, it might not even focus on what you intend). By the time the shutter has activated the moment has passed or the subject has seen or heard you and gone. Using depth of field you can manually prefocus to a point about a third of the way into your d.o.f. (in this case, ten feet) and select the correct aperture to give you a fifteen foot d.o.f. The setting varies with the lens, but you'll almost always get away with f8). When you see the right shot you just lift the camera and fire without worrying about focus and if you've done so correctly your subject will be sharply focussed. Of course, you could set the lens to minimum aperture, but this can result in the shutter speed being too low for the light conditions and causing unsharpness due to movement of the subject or your camera.

The technique is known as hyperfocal focussing and it explains why some lenses have various markings on them in various colours with aperture numbers next to them, they're a simple depth of field calculator for any given aperture setting. I'd provide a link but it's better if you search yourself as some sites go into what may be far too much detail about the subject.

Hope this has helped you, all that I ask in return is that you take a moment to rate my answer. If there's anything which you want me to clarify further then add a comment to my answer and I'll return as soon as I can to assist you some more.

1 ensure that your camera is not set in Macro mode test by taking a picture of a subject very close up ie. 10 - 15 cm if the image is in focus then you may be set in macro mode.
2 if lens is removeable ensure it is fitted properly. remove the lens and refit ensureing the connectors are clean.
3 ensure the switch on the lens or camera is set to AF for auto focus.
4 suspect autofocus sensor is defective if you try to focus on subjects which are close and far away and you do not hear to camera re-setting the focus then it is in manual focus or the focus sensor may be defective or in need of adjustment.

5 recommend specialist have a look at this problem.

If you are focusing On a subject make sure first that you are two feet away,

You can also try to turn On the blur reduction under setup menu. make sure also that your on auto mode or smart scene.

when taking picture indoor turn of the flash, you can do this by pressing the flash button On the camera

here are some basic troubleshooting

try to put your camera On a tripod or on the table to stabilize the camera then try to take a picture.

the technique of taking a picture Is first you need to half press first on the shutter button and you will noticed camera will adjust Now if the camera already adjusted pull press on the shutter button.

Blurry picture may caused if camera is not stabilized and may cause also if the flash will not fire correctly.

you may call tech support for further support toll free 1 800 235 6325

That's not likely to be the camera but the lens. You can actually set a focussing pre-set for each lens you use on the D300. See your manual for more info.

Hi,

I have an FZ7K, here’s what I do:

#1. Set the mode dial on top of the camera to “A”.
#2. Set the aperture to the smallest f/number possible, f/2.8, f/3.2, f/3.3.
#3. Now take pictures standing as close to the subject as possible, (or zoom the lens).

For even better results, have the background farther away from your subject.

It will not focus on anything closer than 5 feet.

(From Sigma lens literature) Capable of macro photography, this lens has a 1:2 maximum close-up magnification at the 300 mm focal length. It's the ideal high performance lens for portraits, sports photography, nature photography, and other types of photography that frequently use the telephoto range. It also has a switch for changeover to macro photography at focal lengths between 200mm and 300mm with a maximum close-up magnification from 1:2.9 to 1:2. The minimum focusing distance is 1.5m / 59 in. at all zoom settings.