Macro Newbie


canonid

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Jan 21, 2011
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Hi,

Been dying to buy macro lens since last year. Now finally bought a new canon 100mm macro lens. Very facinated by the effects of getting small things come to life in my viewfinder. Also been poised in the macro thread!!!


As i do my test shot on butterflies.. Ive notice that All of my shot is out of focus!!! Some parts are sharp but not really as what i see in the macro section. I now question my self...
1. Am i taking the photo properly???
2. do i need to buy addtional accessories for my cam when shooting macro??? Or most of the photos in macro section has been PS alot???

I also realized that macro photography is quite hard...


Hope to hear from your advice...

Thanks
 

it would help others to help you, if you could post some of the oof photos with exif that you are referring to.
 

1. Try using aperture of F11 or F16 to get better DOF.

2. If shutter speed is too slow, increase your ISO, use a tripod or use a flash (must be diffused).

3. Share your picture with us at the Macros and Close-ups section.

4. Joint the group outing.
 

it would help others to help you, if you could post some of the oof photos with exif that you are referring to.

post it already

1. Try using aperture of F11 or F16 to get better DOF.

2. If shutter speed is too slow, increase your ISO, use a tripod or use a flash (must be diffused).

3. Share your picture with us at the Macros and Close-ups section.

4. Joint the group outing.

Thanks for the pointers...sure ill join the outing..
 

heres the sample pic

6gv813.jpg


Aperture Priority @ F/4
No Flash
Handheld

Note that the Wings is focus but he body is not...
Im too close with the butterfly when shooting this...

Can you give me some pointers to achived a better photo?
does tripod really helps?


Hope to here from your advice... THANKS
 

also is 100mm 2.8L Macro Lens enough? or do i need to buy an extension tube or close-up filter?
 

heres the sample pic

6gv813.jpg


Aperture Priority @ F/4
No Flash
Handheld

Note that the Wings is focus but he body is not...
Im too close with the butterfly when shooting this...

Can you give me some pointers to achived a better photo?
does tripod really helps?


Hope to here from your advice... THANKS

f4 is too shallow, try shooting at f16. Tripods are optional but a flash would certainly help (like Diavonex said, remember to diffuse)
 

heres the sample pic

6gv813.jpg


Aperture Priority @ F/4
No Flash
Handheld

Note that the Wings is focus but he body is not...
Im too close with the butterfly when shooting this...

Can you give me some pointers to achived a better photo?
does tripod really helps?


Hope to here from your advice... THANKS

also is 100mm 2.8L Macro Lens enough? or do i need to buy an extension tube or close-up filter?

you need more dof, f4 is too shallow at 100m.
try using tripod / monopod
try using a flash also

tubes or filter, unless you need to go more than 1:1
 

heres the sample pic

6gv813.jpg


Aperture Priority @ F/4
No Flash
Handheld

Note that the Wings is focus but he body is not...
Im too close with the butterfly when shooting this...

Can you give me some pointers to achived a better photo?
does tripod really helps?


Hope to here from your advice... THANKS

also is 100mm 2.8L Macro Lens enough? or do i need to buy an extension tube or close-up filter?

you need more dof, f4 is too shallow at 100m.
try using tripod / monopod
try using a flash also

tubes or filter, unless you need to go more than 1:1
 

Thanks to all the replies...

Really appreciate your time to reply in my post...

But what i am trying to achieve is a more close-up shot of the face on the butterfly... like what I see on the macro thread "where the eyes and hair of the insect is very sharp"...

Do I need an extension tube to achieve this effect???

Should I be using manual mode rather than aperture mode???

What Mode do u set when shooting macro???


Thanks... Sorry for so many questions.
 

Thanks to all the replies...

Really appreciate your time to reply in my post...

But what i am trying to achieve is a more close-up shot of the face on the butterfly... like what I see on the macro thread "where the eyes and hair of the insect is very sharp"...

Do I need an extension tube to achieve this effect???

Should I be using manual mode rather than aperture mode???

What Mode do u set when shooting macro???


Thanks... Sorry for so many questions.
 

You don't need to, cropping will allow you to close up to the insect, unless the insect is really small.

Normally we shoot in manual. With a flash, try 1/160-1/200 at f16.
 

spree86 said:
You don't need to, cropping will allow you to close up to the insect, unless the insect is really small.

Normally we shoot in manual. With a flash, try 1/160-1/200 at f16.

Ok..I'll try it later...
 

Just to check, can I add a closeup +4 filter to my kit lens. How close can I get or macro shot?
 

Hi Canonid,

Just last week I went on my first Macro shoot with SteveWhye and a group of macro shooters at the boardwalk just behind Casuarina Road. I have roughly the same lens as yourself except with IS.

Besides the flash (which I thankfully happened to bring along), I realised that alot requires manual focus. A slight tweak of movement on the part of the insect and MY focus is lost. My hands trembled at the weight of the camera.

Again he mentioned shutter speeds of 1/125 or 1/160 at least, ISO can be 100, minimum f8.0 and above. I will try to take f11 and above shots in future.

Maybe also due to the fact your subject was in motion so it maybe hard for you to adjust to the speed (I know as a macro beginner I do too). The ones at night we illuminated by torch.

They aren't very mobile. Maybe in future when SteveWhye posts another night macro outing or macro shooting outing you could join. I'm keen too!
 

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