The problem is heightened today, of course, by the preponderance of self-focussing cameras...

I have a great camera, an Olympus SP500. 6mp, a really good lens. But to put focus on manual is a chore, a real chore, and then I don't know if it works.

With auto focus you might have everything just right and as you depress the 'shoot' button the focus point changes itself to something much nearer!