1st macro attempt

[knight84]

my 1st attempt at macro

shot using my d60 at 55 mm with built in flash

[B-setting]

is that a plastic flower? i can't seem to find where you were focussing.. which part of the pic is the sharpest?

what lens setting did you use? you used raynox right?

[TroyP]

Your DOF is thin, you're not getting the whole flower (I presume thats your point of interest).
If the flower is parallel to the lens, you'll get it all in focus. Otherwise use a smaller aperture like F16.
Is it a 18-55mm kit lens?

[knight84]

i was walking at mac ritchie..so no tripod just the 18 - 55 with the pop up flash....this is cropped image..

Thanks for the tip on the f stop...going this friday morning with a 100 mm lens...hope to do better..

any tips for that

[TroyP]

99% of us use hand-held instead of tripod. You'll need to increase the shutter speed to compensate for any hand movement. Recommend manual mode, shutter around 1/100sec - 1/200sec, F8-16 depending on the DOF you want.
Most of us use manual focus, but if you're using auto focus, you should use AF-C mode (continuous focus) for hand-held and moving subjects.

[knight84]

thanks a lot on that..I was shooting at P.

Shall take not of your tips.

[ddwmk2002]

Originally Posted by knight84 thanks a lot on that..I was shooting at P. Shall take not of your tips.

Do you mean take note?

If you are using the built in flash, you can try warping the flash head with a pc of pocket tissue using rubber band. This will defuse the flash abit and remove the direct flash harshness.

[knight84]

haha..yah i mean take NOTE..hehe

I was thinking of getting a cheap manual flash instead of using the pop up flash do you recommend that. or should I go in for a sb 400/600 etc.

Many Thanks

Originally Posted by ddwmk2002 Do you mean take note? If you are using the built in flash, you can try warping the flash head with a pc of pocket tissue using rubber band. This will defuse the flash abit and remove the direct flash harshness.

[ddwmk2002]

Originally Posted by knight84 haha..yah i mean take NOTE..hehe I was thinking of getting a cheap manual flash instead of using the pop up flash do you recommend that. or should I go in for a sb 400/600 etc. Many Thanks

If budget permit, go for SB series if possible. It can be use for Macro as well as general shooting. It will be a drag to change flash setting everytime you shoot in an outing.

But if you only need a slave flash for macro then a cheap manual flash is enuff to do the job.

Is the Nikon 18-55 a macro lens? If not then there are limitation. Try not to crop at high%. It will not look too good. Work within the lens limit and you will get good result. If you are keen in macro photography, it's better to invest in a true macro lens later. Another alternative is to use magnifier like Raynox 150/250.

[TroyP]

Originally Posted by knight84 haha..yah i mean take NOTE..hehe I was thinking of getting a cheap manual flash instead of using the pop up flash do you recommend that. or should I go in for a sb 400/600 etc. Many Thanks

I have the SB600 and I still find it difficult for macro. It's still harsh for me at times, and inconsistent. I guess I need a lot more practice with it... I'm not happy with my SB600 or the inbuilt flash

[knight84]

I have a 200 to 300 sigma macro i was thinking of using that..but that on i need to carry tripod. Else I was thinking of using my 55 200 nikkor ( non macro) at about 150 mm la.

With regards to flash...I am a new bie...so not quite sure what you mean by slave function.

SB600 is going for about 350ish la..I can try and save up for it..as for the harshness I see a lot of people using various kinds of diffusers...what are your thoughts on that

Many Thanks

[TroyP]

Originally Posted by knight84 I have a 200 to 300 sigma macro i was thinking of using that..but that on i need to carry tripod. Else I was thinking of using my 55 200 nikkor ( non macro) at about 150 mm la. With regards to flash...I am a new bie...so not quite sure what you mean by slave function. SB600 is going for about 350ish la..I can try and save up for it..as for the harshness I see a lot of people using various kinds of diffusers...what are your thoughts on that Many Thanks

But those bigger lens have much longer minimum focus distances. I borrowed a friends 500mm lens, and you had to be > 1.5m away just to get focus (which defies the whole point). For macro you need to use a macro lens (180mm costs a bomb), or a teleconverter like a Raynox DCR250 (approx $120), but you'll need to be around approx. 5-30cm away from your subject (depending on what lens it's connected to).

You can use the SB600 directly from the camera, or set the camera to commander mode so the flash will work as a slave externally from the camera (trigger by the inbuilt flash).
Last time I heard, SB600 was around $325 (Camera Workshop @ Peninsula Plaza I think). That's how much I paid for mine a couple of months ago.

[ddwmk2002]

Originally Posted by knight84 I have a 200 to 300 sigma macro i was thinking of using that..but that on i need to carry tripod. Else I was thinking of using my 55 200 nikkor ( non macro) at about 150 mm la. With regards to flash...I am a new bie...so not quite sure what you mean by slave function. SB600 is going for about 350ish la..I can try and save up for it..as for the harshness I see a lot of people using various kinds of diffusers...what are your thoughts on that Many Thanks

Sorry tchuanye. Have to make use of your pict. Hope you don't mind.

http://tchuanye.smugmug.com/gallery/271702_qq93x#P-2-12

The second flash tchuanye holding in his hand are the slave flash. It purpose is to wipe out the hash shadow create by the hotshoe flash. Notice how balance and natural the exposure are. There are more functon of what a slave flash can do. You can google it and read up abit.

I am using Sto-Fen omnibounce. Although it help to soften abit but the harshness is still there... Guess i have to read and try some other way to control the lighting...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/...80e74bded3.jpg


Under power the flash and i get uneven exposure...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/...34ea7e5838.jpg

The above shot with E-30 + 12-60mm + Cir Polarizer. Not sure whether the CP help to absorb the harsh reflection from the flash onot...

200-300mm macro not easy to use... I just got the Sigma 105mm Macro. Perhaps i can post some test shot this weekend... Actually 105mm dof oredi quite small and i am having abit of problem with that...

[knight84]

guys thanks for the tips..else the one on the sb600 about the hot shoe..


yah with the 70-300 i need a tripod unless my shutter speed is around 1/300.

Shooting tmr morning shall post the results over the weekend...

right now making a diffuser!