The focusing range in wide angle is from 3.0 ft to infinity.. at full tele from 6.6 ft to infinity.
The Macro mode covers from 0.3 ft (4 inches) to 6.6 ft at wide angle.. 3.0 ft to 6.6 ft at full tele..
u need to keep within these ranges.. it looks like u need to be fairly close and in macro mode..use trial and error between getting closer at wide angle or being a little further away and useing some zoom..whichever works best as regards the cameras ability to focus.. it will come with practise.. its just totaly different than your other camera..
its a shortcoming of the long zoom lense i would guess..
trog100