Macros

espn · 15th June 2003

My try at taking macros after having stopped shooting for near 2 weeks

Setup used:
Nikon CoolPix 5700
Nikon SB-80DX
+4 Close Up filter
Circular Polariser

Beeeeee

Flash used: Yes
Focal length: 71.2mm
Exposure time: 0.0080 s (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.3
ISO equiv.: 200
Whitebalance: cloudy
Metering Mode: matrix

Lily

Flash used: Yes
Focal length: 37.7mm
Exposure time: 0.0010 s (1/1000)
Aperture: f/7.8
ISO equiv.: 100
Whitebalance: cloudy
Metering Mode: center weight

Fly

Flash used: Yes
Focal length: 71.2mm
Exposure time: 0.0080 s (1/125)
Aperture: f/4.2
ISO equiv.: 200
Whitebalance: cloudy
Metering Mode: matrix

lennon · 15th June 2003

Flower shot is nice, though I noticed that you used too fast shutter speed that resulted in a black background. But if you really intended to shoot at that setting then it's nice and dramatic.

Shallow DOF for the Bee and housefly shots. Consider few stops down, say F11-F16, and compensate the exposure with slower shutter speed.

Just my 2cents...

Marx · 16th June 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by lennon
...Consider few stops down, say F11-F16, and compensate the exposure with slower shutter speed...

lennon, I used to own the 5700 and I believe the minimum aperture is only f/8, but it translates to a much smaller f-stops if compared to dSLRs.

espn, this is pretty impressive for your set-up.

Good job!

megaweb · 16th June 2003

the bee and the fly look soft to me ... could be due to the
1. out of focus
2. slow shutter speed
3. slow shutter lag
4. poor optical quality from closeup +4

did u use a UV filter ?

I think 5700 itself can take better macro than using a closeup +4 filter ...

maybe you should do some macro test shots at home ...

espn · 16th June 2003

lennon n Marx: Yep F/8.0 is the lowest I can go

Will try harder!

megaweb: Yep. I agree with you. I just realised it's not as sharp as I thought it turned out to be after looking at your shots.

Yep I did leave the UV filter attached on for general protection, does it hinder the shots? I think I didn't manage to focus fast enough before I take the shots, will try again at home.

I will try to post some macro shots with and without the Hoya +4 filter. Thanks for all your kind comments and suggestions!!

megaweb · 16th June 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by espn
lennon n Marx: Yep F/8.0 is the lowest I can go Will try harder!

megaweb: Yep. I agree with you. I just realised it's not as sharp as I thought it turned out to be after looking at your shots.

Yep I did leave the UV filter attached on for general protection, does it hinder the shots? I think I didn't manage to focus fast enough before I take the shots, will try again at home.

I will try to post some macro shots with and without the Hoya +4 filter. Thanks for all your kind comments and suggestions!!

ya .. I guess the softness it due to stacking filters of UV and closeup ...

djchris · 16th June 2003

I believe it could be sharper..keep up the good work..

espn · 16th June 2003

megaweb: Noted will try without the next time. Any filters that can don't reduce the sharpness and yet protect the lens? Just very scared the subjects come banging into the lens.

djchris: Got time we go BG together, teach teach

megaweb · 16th June 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by espn
Any filters that can don't reduce the sharpness and yet protect the lens? Just very scared the subjects come banging into the lens.

I mean while using closeup +4 filter , you can remove the UV filter. If not using the closeup +4 filter , you can put the UV filter back.

espn · 16th June 2003

Noted

Garion · 16th June 2003

Just a few comments from a fellow learner...great composition for the bee shot but it could be much better with a larger DOF and the overall image is a bit too soft for me. Flower shot: nice and sharp with good colour, but background kinda dark (due to ur high shutter speed setting), not sure why u set such a high speed, maybe ur intention is to make the flower stand out? No comments for the 3rd shot.

Hope u dun mind my 2cts, just trying to give some constructive comments...good to see u shooting macro again, hopefully you'll be inspired by our comments to tryout more macro shots and learn and improve along the way.

espn · 17th June 2003

Oh believe me I will, I am almost tempted to visit BG after my driving lesson this week on saturday, maybe about 12+ try again.

Hobbes234 · 17th June 2003

Hi espn.

was wondering bout your 2nd shot. I have seen pictures with the subject in the foreground is bright while the background is dark.
is it delibrate? is there a technique which you can do that?

thanks

espn · 17th June 2003

Hi Hobbes,

what I did was meter on the flower, set the metering to centre, used a very fast shutter speed and fire off my speedlight.

The speedlight will brighten up the subject and the large F number will cut off the background, and so I achieved this shot.

Hope it helps.

One way is to fire off the internal flash, it works also

Hobbes234 · 17th June 2003

thanks espn...

will give it a try sometime soon.

15th June 2003	#1
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	Macros My try at taking macros after having stopped shooting for near 2 weeks Setup used: Nikon CoolPix 5700 Nikon SB-80DX +4 Close Up filter Circular Polariser Beeeeee Flash used: Yes Focal length: 71.2mm Exposure time: 0.0080 s (1/125) Aperture: f/5.3 ISO equiv.: 200 Whitebalance: cloudy Metering Mode: matrix Lily Flash used: Yes Focal length: 37.7mm Exposure time: 0.0010 s (1/1000) Aperture: f/7.8 ISO equiv.: 100 Whitebalance: cloudy Metering Mode: center weight Fly Flash used: Yes Focal length: 71.2mm Exposure time: 0.0080 s (1/125) Aperture: f/4.2 ISO equiv.: 200 Whitebalance: cloudy Metering Mode: matrix

16th June 2003	#4
megaweb Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Posts: 8,106	the bee and the fly look soft to me ... could be due to the 1. out of focus 2. slow shutter speed 3. slow shutter lag 4. poor optical quality from closeup +4 did u use a UV filter ? I think 5700 itself can take better macro than using a closeup +4 filter ... maybe you should do some macro test shots at home ... __________________ See my Photo Gallery at the Clubsnap \| Pbase

16th June 2003	#11
Garion Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: West side of S'pore Posts: 5,512	Just a few comments from a fellow learner...great composition for the bee shot but it could be much better with a larger DOF and the overall image is a bit too soft for me. Flower shot: nice and sharp with good colour, but background kinda dark (due to ur high shutter speed setting), not sure why u set such a high speed, maybe ur intention is to make the flower stand out? No comments for the 3rd shot. Hope u dun mind my 2cts, just trying to give some constructive comments...good to see u shooting macro again, hopefully you'll be inspired by our comments to tryout more macro shots and learn and improve along the way. __________________ [ deviantart selections \| Photoblog ]

15th June 2003	#2
lennon Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 393	Flower shot is nice, though I noticed that you used too fast shutter speed that resulted in a black background. But if you really intended to shoot at that setting then it's nice and dramatic. Shallow DOF for the Bee and housefly shots. Consider few stops down, say F11-F16, and compensate the exposure with slower shutter speed. Just my 2cents...

16th June 2003	#7
djchris Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 876	I believe it could be sharper..keep up the good work..

17th June 2003	#12
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	Oh believe me I will, I am almost tempted to visit BG after my driving lesson this week on saturday, maybe about 12+ try again.

17th June 2003	#13
Hobbes234 Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 402	Hi espn. was wondering bout your 2nd shot. I have seen pictures with the subject in the foreground is bright while the background is dark. is it delibrate? is there a technique which you can do that? thanks