Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens (HELP)

[northernreefer0]

I just baught new Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens. Can anyone give me any tips on shooting with this lens?? How does the Infinity Compensation mark work?? What's the best mode to use on my Rebel Xti when shooting with this lens??

Any help or link would be great..

 

[BlueCorn]

"Infinity Compensation" isn't anything to worry about. When using AF, the lens will pick the right point. Using manual focus, just adjust it until it's sharp.


When using it for macro work, using a tripod will greatly improve your images. At f/2.8 your depth of field will be very shallow. Just moving slightly can mean the difference between in focus or out of focus.

If you're shooting a stationary object raise the f/stop (higher number) to increase your DOF. Using the DOF preview button on the front of the camera can help you see what is and isn't in focus.

 

[BlueCorn]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=812371

 

[dendronepthya]

When I shoot with my 100mm macro, I do the following:
1. Use a tripod
2. Set the aperture to something around 16-20 to get a lot into focus
3. Use the timer so I don't shake the camera by pressing the button

There is usually a long exposure time (1-3 seconds) but I get pretty good results.

 

[northernreefer0]

Thanks for the info Beerguy and Dendro.

I seem to be getting good pics through the glass. Can you guys help with top down shots with this lens???

Could this pic be better?? (No Photoshop)

 

[Jacob D]

Thats a nice shot. The exposure is pretty good but most of the pic is OOF. What aperture did you shoot at? Hand held? One other tip that has helped me is to shoot perpendicular to the glass whenever possible.

Thats a nice coral by the way, lobo? Would love to see a pic of the whole thing

 

[spline9]

Try leaving the pumps off for a moment when shooting, also. If your exposure is too long then movement from flow will make them blur out as well.

Being able to mount the flash over the tank, into the water can produce nice results. You'll obviously need a flash unit and a off-shoe cable for this. Thats going off-subject, though.

 

[crvz]

Yup, I do the same as many of the suggestions. Pumps off, tripod, I use the remote in lieu of the timer, and aperture priority.

 

["Umm fish?"]

northernreefer0--

A macro shot like that is really hard because the focal plane gets thinner as magnification gets higher. You're never going to get a whole photograph in focus in macrophotography unless you get into some specialize techniques like focus stacking. So, try to look for subjects with an obvious focal point. For animals with eyes, pick the eyes. I've found with my shots that with corals, the coral mouth often works really well as a focal point. If you can get that focal point into sharp focus then fuzziness elsewhere in the photo is not a terribly big deal.

Good luck!

 

[northernreefer0]

Thanks for the help everyone!! What about Full Tank Shots with this lens??? Im having problems with getting full tank shots to turn out. Also custom white balance, Should the gray card be shot in the water or at the surface of the tank???

 

[BlueCorn]

The target for setting a custom white balance needs to be receiving the same color of light so, ideally, in the tank. That's not always very practical. Once method that can work is putting a coffee filter over the lens and pointing it at the tank at close range.

With that said, I generally just shoot RAW and adjust the WB in processing.

 

[drparker]

I've found that even putting a gray card or white card in the water does not work well for me, even in raw. The software tries to to take out the blue hue that it has and I want. So I've quit bothering and just adjust to my liking in software as beerguy suggests. Raw is your best bet. I always shoot raw.

 

[northernreefer0]

OK thanks. What about Full Tank shots with the macro lens?? or should I be using my 18-55 that came with my camera???

 

[BlueCorn]

Depends, how big is your room?

The 100 is very sharp but since it's a prime lens (no zoom) you'll have to be further away.