A few tips for a noob? We were all here one right?

[EllisJuan]

I have Nikon D5000, a tripod, and the 18-55 kit lens. I can't really spring for a new macro lens right now. Anyone one to give me some tips for getting the most out of what I have now?

I have tried shooting in all types of mods but my results were less than stunning.


Will using my tripod solve most of my problems?


Thanks

 

[frankyrivera]

That's a nice set up the only flaw is the kit lens but you can still get great pictures with it if you get out of auto mode. Most of the kit lens have an aperture of 4.5 or 5.6 which cuts your light. Try bumping up your iso that camera can handle it. I would go up to at least 640. Shoot in manual mode. With an aperture of about 5.6 your shutter speed would probably be slow use the tripod shoot perpendicular to the glass turn off pumps and make sure glass is clean. Also shoot with all your lights on not just blues. Set wb to 10k and fine tune in with sliders in post. Good luck and post some shots to see where you're at

 

[EllisJuan]

Thanks for the great reply. Can you give me advice on what focus mode to be using?

 

[EllisJuan]

That's a nice set up the only flaw is the kit lens but you can still get great pictures with it if you get out of auto mode. Most of the kit lens have an aperture of 4.5 or 5.6 which cuts your light. Try bumping up your iso that camera can handle it. I would go up to at least 640. Shoot in manual mode. With an aperture of about 5.6 your shutter speed would probably be slow use the tripod shoot perpendicular to the glass turn off pumps and make sure glass is clean. Also shoot with all your lights on not just blues. Set wb to 10k and fine tune in with sliders in post. Good luck and post some shots to see where you're at

I tried using the setting you said and this is how they came out. I even brightened one a bit.

 

[Ssteve]

Turn off all pumps, powerheads etc, shoot straight on with the glass, and set your focus manually, make sure your not actuating the shutter manually. A remote would be ideal but you could set the timer also. You've missed focus on the first one and your dof is too shallow for how your trying to shoot. Shoot in av mode and try closing it down some, at least f8 but try about f11 to start. You'll most likely need to bump the ISO a bit more so watch your shutter speed, but you'll get more depth and sharpness.

 

[frankyrivera]

The second shot looks distorted like you took it at an angle trying to look down on it. Gotta shoot straight thru. I usually shoot at aperture of f11-f16 keep practicing

 

[EllisJuan]

Here are two more I took tonight with some different settings...

 

[Ssteve]

You need to kill all the water movement.

 

[EllisJuan]

You need to kill all the water movement.

Their pulsing xeniea...they just wont stay still!!! :spin3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKAtQ8aPfNY

 

[Ssteve]

Then you need to up the ISO so you can get more shutter speed.

 

[EllisJuan]

Then you need to up the ISO so you can get more shutter speed.

That is shot at 640. How high do you think I can got without getting too much noise?

 

[Ssteve]

There's only one way to find out. As of now it's not usable IMO so I'd keep cranking it up.

 

[frankyrivera]

I shoot with a nikon d7000 an have shot at iso 1600 with no problems. To me it looks like your still shooting at an angle since you can see the top of the piece most dead on shots are front facing and not too much top view. Gotta keep that lens straight

 

[EllisJuan]

Well, I have taken some of everyones advice and have been taking some more. I think these are a little better...

 

[frankyrivera]

White balance is off a bit and maybe over exposed a bit

 

[faithenfire]

the shots as a whole look a little soft. shoot with as low as an f stop as you can and high as you can get with your iso. i also like to shoot burst. so if i don't catch it on the first or third burst maybe i catch it on the 2nd

they look a little dark.

what are you using for postwork software

 

[accordexi]

I'm going through the same problem as you right now trying to learn how to shoot without a macro lens good luck and will follow this to learn more

 

[EllisJuan]

Still trying...

 

[faithenfire]

looks like you are getting there. they are a bit noisy but that can be fixed in post work
the middle one looks a little soft and there isn't a good point of interest
the first one looks soft or out of focus, but the last one looks pretty sharp. it does look a little washed out and i might crop off some of the bottom

 

[rovster]

What do you mean by soft? Thanks.