I have a Samsung digital camcorder VP-D305i.

I was trying to focus on the crescent moon with Jupiter and Venus forming a smiley face. The focus kept going in and out all by itself. The camera was on a) a tripod; b) a brick wall; c) a wooden handrail. I even had my hands off the damned thing and still the focus "wobbled" between perfect and crap.
Situated near the edge of a small village a fair way from any large towns. My eyes said that the moon and planets were very clear in the sky.

Anyone any ideas as to why this should happen

Go to manual focus, and set it to "infinity".  That'll stop autofocus from messing with you.

Duh!!! I didn't think of doing that. Now I've just got to find out how to do it

Thanks bittmann

Thought this thread was interesting, I've been following Venus and Jupiter the last few evenings myself. I've  not been seeing the smiley face such as how you are seeing it such as THIS. I guess because I'm on the other side of the world, I'm supposed to be seeing it like THIS.  

Irregardless, it's quite a sight to see these planets so close to the moon.

I've only seen it on a couple of nights, early on in the evening (about 7.00pm EST) and the moon was above the planets showing a glum face. a bit like this
I believe as the night wore on the moon moved below the planets and it was a smile. If I knew how to link to a photo I could show you a still of what I saw.
(Hint for some help

Here's a picture in case you didn't get to see it.  Click

 Don

Old&Wrinkley:

If I knew how to link to a photo I could show you a still of what I saw. (Hint for some help

Hywel, the following is a copy paste from a previous post of mine,

Most of the pictures I post are from Google. Go to google, and click images. Type in what you are looking for. And click the one that you want to use.  Now the web page is showing up. At the top it should say "See Full Image Size". Click on that. Now all you should see it the picture you want to use, and above is the direct url that is just for that picture. I never save the pictures, I just link to them using that url.

Now, type your message, and highlight the word you want the link to work with. I like to use the word HERE. Highlight the word by left clicking on the "h", hold the left mouse button and drag over the other letters. Once you let go of the mouse, the word will be highlighted and the little chain link will show up at the top right next to the insert image icon that you are now using. When you click on that little chain link, a window will appear. Do a copy/paste of the direct url of the picture you found in google, copy it straight into the pop up window. When you click the "insert" button, the link should work.

This works with a picture, but you can insert the url for a web page as well. 

HERE is what I saw tonight, however I've had a tinnie or two.....

HERE is what I saw tonight, however I've had a tinnie or two.....

Most of us see Pink Elephants - Mike sees naked fat ladies, lurking in the shadows.

colour:

HERE is what I saw tonight, however I've had a tinnie or two.....

Most of us see Pink Elephants - Mike sees naked fat ladies, lurking in the shadows.

Ha Ha, you just told on yourself Peter. You ought to be .

 I had to stare for a minute before I saw the fat lady. I think she's a redhead.

Thanks muchly towbar.
Having seen the great pics that others have posted, mine is pretty ordinary. I'll keep the info in a safe place though

Well, there is a half-a-sky distance between the Moon, Jupiter and Venus tonight. So I guess the party's over huh ? Nope, I understand that a cresent  Moon and Venus will converge on New Years Eve.

Facts: The Sun is 67 million miles away from Venus, and Venus is 94 million miles away from Earth. Light takes 6 minutes to travel from the Sun to Venus. Light takes 8.5 minutes to travel from Venus to earth. All calculated out, the light you see from Venus is 14.5 minutes old. This might be an interesting comment on New Years Eve !

towbar:

Well, there is a half-a-sky distance between the Moon, Jupiter and Venus tonight. So I guess the party's over huh ? Nope, I understand that a cresent  Moon and Venus will converge on New Years Eve.

Facts: The Sun is 67 million miles away from Venus, and Venus is 94 million miles away from Earth. Light takes 6 minutes to travel from the Sun to Venus. Light takes 8.5 minutes to travel from Venus to earth. All calculated out, the light you see from Venus is 14.5 minutes old. This might be an interesting comment on New Years Eve !

Depends on how many and/'or     

Just a friendly reminder..........

towbar:

  I understand that a cresent  Moon and Venus will converge on New Years Eve.

Also, remember that if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with bull s..... malarkey.......

towbar:

Facts: The Sun is 67 million miles away from Venus, and Venus is 94 million miles away from Earth. Light takes 6 minutes to travel from the Sun to Venus. Light takes 8.5 minutes to travel from Venus to earth. All calculated out, the light you see from Venus is 14.5 minutes old. This might be an interesting comment on New Years Eve !

Gotta look early here in the States, probably just as it gets dark. By 9 oclock, the show is over.

On a side note, did you feel the earth stop for a second TODAY ?

towbar:

On a side note, did you feel the earth stop for a second TODAY ?

Yes, you were wonderful Ooops, sorry, I promised not to tell  

Yes, you were wonderful Ooops, sorry, I promised not to tell  

'Ello, 'Ello - wot's goin' on 'ere then?

colour:

Yes, you were wonderful Ooops, sorry, I promised not to tell  

'Ello, 'Ello - wot's goin' on 'ere then?

You tell me, I didn't know that 1 second could make a difference.....

It's the difference between then and now

Duh!!! I didn't think of doing that. Now I've just got to find out how to do it