200801 Frontyard

[yannh]

Taken during CNY holiday.

Caterpillar #1


Caterpillar #2


Caterpillar #3


Caterpillar #4

[yannh]

Snail #1


Snail #2


Snail #3

[yannh]

Ladybug #1


Ladybug #2


Ladybug #3


Ladybug #4


Ladybug #5

[yannh]

White Spider #1


White Spider #2


White Spider #3


White Spider #4

[yannh]

Brown Spider #1


Brown Spider #2


Brown Spider #3


Brown Spider #4


Brown Spider #5

[yannh]

Fly #1


Fly #2


Fly #3


Fly #4

[yannh]

Fly #5


Fly #6


Fly #7


Fly #8

[yannh]

Wish all the ShiFu here can provide some guidance.
Happy new year to all of you!

[tchuanye]

It may be good to share your settings.

The caterpillar shots are nice, esp #3 and #4.

Some of your other shots are soft, and flash abit harsh.

[yannh]

Originally Posted by tchuanye It may be good to share your settings. The caterpillar shots are nice, esp #3 and #4. Some of your other shots are soft, and flash abit harsh.

Thanks master, appreciate your comments!

All shots above were taken with A100 with kit lens at 70mm + hoya +4 cu.
My current setting only achieve around 1:2, stilling waiting for my Raynox 250.
1/125s, F16 or F22, ISO400, Flash on hotshoe with home made diffuser.

By the way, what is soft? And how to overcome it? And really need to learn to improve on the diffuser.

Really admire you now, can always take super nice shots at ISO80 and low speed!

I realised my camera has front focusing problem, those on focus shots were taken with manual offset.

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by yannh Thanks master, appreciate your comments! All shots above were taken with A100 with kit lens at 70mm + hoya +4 cu. My current setting only achieve around 1:2, stilling waiting for my Raynox 250. 1/125s, F16 or F22, ISO400, Flash on hotshoe with home made diffuser. By the way, what is soft? And how to overcome it? And really need to learn to improve on the diffuser. Really admire you now, can always take super nice shots at ISO80 and low speed! I realised my camera has front focusing problem, those on focus shots were taken with manual offset.

"Soft" as in not sharp. Your spider shots are soft, and no sharp focus is achieved...unlike the caterpillar shots.

Macros, I would always suggest using MF, as when using AF, you are letting the camera decide where to focus, and even though you may pt the AF at the eye, it may focus on another part. So for MF, you fix the focus and move the camera, and you decide where to take the shot.

For my camera, nothing to admire....force by the limitation of equipment...as my camera CMI at higher ISO.

[yannh]

Originally Posted by tchuanye "Soft" as in not sharp. Your spider shots are soft, and no sharp focus is achieved...unlike the caterpillar shots. Macros, I would always suggest using MF, as when using AF, you are letting the camera decide where to focus, and even though you may pt the AF at the eye, it may focus on another part. So for MF, you fix the focus and move the camera, and you decide where to take the shot. For my camera, nothing to admire....force by the limitation of equipment...as my camera CMI at higher ISO.

Thanks Chuan Yean.

I have been using MF for these shots, but I realised I also limited by the equipment at that time, as it suffer back-focusing problem. I'll need to send for servicing soon, hopefully can deliver better result next time.

You photo is always very sharp and rich, I thought that's due to low ISO?

[ming9866]

for you yannh !

[yannh]

Originally Posted by ming9866 for you yannh !

Thanks Ming.

I just received my Raynox 250 last night, and my camera back-focusing problems seems resolved after "restore factory default". Can start to do macro more seriously now...

[ming9866]

This Raynox 250 is a filter , what is this actually ? I have 2 pieces of Achromat +5 but seldom use ...

I like the cute little brown spider ... sweet !

[yannh]

Originally Posted by ming9866 This Raynox 250 is a filter , what is this actually ? I have 2 pieces of Achromat +5 but seldom use ... I like the cute little brown spider ... sweet !

Hi Ming,
It's actually a +8 diopter cu filter, achromatic type with 2 or 3 components, so better quality. The effect is similar to your 2 +5 stack up.
Not sure how close the normal macro lens allow you to focus, but with +8 above, it's easily within 10cm. So can see the model clearer and adjust the focus easier.

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by yannh You photo is always very sharp and rich, I thought that's due to low ISO?

Low ISO does not produce sharp and rich pic.... reduce noise....at least for my camera. DSLR can afford higher ISO with less noise.

Sharp pic more due to focal point, and with more DOF, more depth appear sharp.

Rich colours comes from lighting to show up the colours and details.

[yannh]

Originally Posted by tchuanye Low ISO does not produce sharp and rich pic.... reduce noise....at least for my camera. DSLR can afford higher ISO with less noise. Sharp pic more due to focal point, and with more DOF, more depth appear sharp. Rich colours comes from lighting to show up the colours and details.

Thanks CY for sharing the experience.
I'm thinking of improving my lighting setup at the moment, should be able to deliver good image result, as well as simple setup, and easy to bring along...

[ming9866]

Have you got yourself a Flash already ? Get a Omnibounce & stuff some facial cotton in it . Thats what i do .

[yannh]

Originally Posted by ming9866 Have you got yourself a Flash already ? Get a Omnibounce & stuff some facial cotton in it . Thats what i do .

I have an old flash 3500xi. With digital body now, losing all important feature like TTL & wireless, can only flash in full or low power, and controling the zoom angle.
I'm planning to made a diffuser and place on lens similar like yours and excelglsi. Hopefully can get it done this weekend.