Cant get a whole picture in focus with my macro

[blackheart]

I have been trying but i cant seem to get as close as a lot of you guys do and if i am that close i cant get the clarity please take a look and tell me what you guys think.

Any help would be great thanks all

 

[pperez]

Are you using a tripod? In macro photography movements are magnified as well, so the slightest shake will blur out the pic. To get more in focus choose a small aperture. I like shooting at f22. But alot depends on your camera, what are you shooting with?

 

[blackheart]

here is another. I just cant get the quality i see so ofter on this page. I have a Nikon D-80 with a nikon AF macro nikkor 60mm lens

thanks again and here is one more that is close but no cigar

 

[blackheart]

yes i always use a tripod but i dont have a plunger my camera does not support the use of a plunger maybe i should use the timer to minimize shake

 

[pperez]

Also are you shooting at 90 degrees to the glass?

I use a d70 with the 105mm, so i am sure that you can nail it with your setup.

What's the aperture?

 

[blackheart]

yes i try to get as 90 as i can to the glass.
I let auto designate the aperture so i am not quite sure what it is at the time the picture is being taken.

should i take it as land scape or on the flower setting (if you know what i mean) maybe i just need a more intense macro. I would love to learn to use this one before i jump into a new lens. Keep probing me maybe we can get to an answer

thanks again

 

[pperez]

Oh no, don't ever try macro photography with the auto setting. You need to set the camera on aperture priority mode. A setting on the dial. Put it on f11 for now and shoot. Then you can work your way to say f22. Try the different apertures until you get the depth of field you are looking for. Make sure there is no flow on the subject since the shutter speed will be slower at the aperture mentioned. Give it a shot!

 

[blackheart]

nice i will try that this evening i will have to page through the book a little to find this mode. But this seems like a good start. thanks a bunch. I will post the results in a couple days.

If anyone else has any tips please let me know

great pics in pic of the month pperez

 

[pperez]

Thanks.

The A setting is right in the command dial, no need to go through the menu. Just a heads up!

 

[blackheart]

thanks

 

[blackheart]

I have set it on the a setting but i cant seem to move the f stop to 11 it sits around 5 can you tell me how to do it thanks and sorry for so many questions

 

[glparr]

It looks like all you have to do is turn the knob on the top left of the camera to the A setting (the setting in the M, A, S, P modes), which should be aperture priority (I don't own the camera, but you can confirm with your owners manual), then compose your shot and adjust the aperture to whatever setting gives you the proper DOF. You have a depth-of-field preview button which, when pressed, will show you the DOF at the aperture you've set. Use a tripod and a remote release or the camera timer to trip the shutter. Pushing the shutter button with your finger will create movement, even on a tripod. Make sure you use manual focus. Autofocus is easily fooled in aquariums. Also, turn off all pumps so you have no water flow causing coral movement and no air bubbles. As was mentioned, small apertures result in slow shutter speeds and macro photography magnifies any movement, so you have to have everything as still as possible. It also helps if you set your ISO to 400, or even 800, until you get a better handle on getting good photos.
Gary

 

[pperez]

Use the scroll wheels to move it up or down. Depending on how you set it, it's either the front one or the back one. Try one to see if the aperture moves, but make sure that if it doesn't that you put it back to where it was. The reason is that sometimes one of the wheels can control your exposure compensation as well.