First try at macro (or should I say micro)

jthao

jthao

Super Saiyan
I just got a nikkor 105mm micro/macro lense. Here's a few pics I took. No pp just cropped. Not the best, but my first try so hope you guys can give me some pointers.
Thanks!

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/?action=view&current=CSC_0055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/CSC_0055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/?action=view&current=CSC_0054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/CSC_0054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/?action=view&current=CSC_0058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/CSC_0058.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

here's a link to some more pics I took today/yesterday.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13761181#post13761181
 
I'm just looking from my iPhone so my screen isn't the biggest but the shots look good to me :)
 
I guess no one wants to comment huh?
common, don't be shy, I won't take it to the heart. Besides these are my first macros, so I know I need a lot of practice... suggestions/advice will help me more when I'm practicing.
 
okay, I guess I'll ask specific questions:
1) How/what do I use for white balance in my tank at different light levels? or do I have to reset each time I take a photo?
2) Is it just my lense that does this? At 1:1 it is f2.8, but as I focus (the lense is prime set at 105mm) the aperture changes up/down with 2.8 being the max.
 
1. White Balance:
You should shoot in RAW format. This will save all of the white balance settings possible with the original file. When the photograph is loaded onto the computer, you may now change the white balance at will. Use the "eyedropper" to select something that should be grey, or simply move the color temperature slider to make blues reds or reds blue. Your white balance looks pretty decant in all of your examples...especially since they all look like they were taken under antic lighting.

2. Focus/Aperture
Because of how the images were saved, the EXIF data was lost and I can't see your settings. I would guess you used "Auto" or "P" or "Shutter Speed Priority". These are all bad choices for macros because your aperture will change at the camera's will, which is what I understand to be your problem in the first place. With macro shots, assuming you are using a tripod, aperture is the most importiant aspect of exposure.

Your lens will always have a max aperture of f/2.8. The exposure, and therefore the aperture, should not change as you focus. Perhaps you were using spot metering and barely moved the spot being metered to one side or the other, resulting in a different reading? The amount of focus should not interfere with the metering process. Without EXIF to see exactly what you did, I am not really sure what is happening here sorry.

I suggest you use "Manual Mode" for macro shooting. This will eliminate your problem in question #2. Manual Mode will give you complete control over both Aperture and Shutter Speed. Since you should be using a tripod anyway, all you need shutter speed for is freezing the subject, (which shouldn't be too hard), and after that only to balance the teter totter that is exposure. Use the Aperture to control your depth of field, which is a huge deal.

I am sorry about the late response, I just hadn't seen the thread before for whatever reason. I think your examples posted above all show great promise and potential. Good job with them! The 2nd shot of the three, (what I guess to be a birds nest), is my favorite. Good use of Depth of Field, Excellent use of lighting, colors look natural, picture is sharp where it is supposed to be. I give that one an A. The other two seem (slightly) soft to me for one reason or another, without EXIF I can't tell why, but they are marvelous for a first attempt, you should give yourself a pat on the back.
 
Last edited:
thank you titusvilesurfer! Coming from you, it means a lot if you think the pics are decent. I don't know if you followed the link to the other pics as well, but what do you think about the setosa and the rose nebula pics?

oh yeah, I did use manual mode (not shutter/priority mode) funny thing is when I exif the photos on this page, it works for me. Funny that it doesn't work for you, it should.

also, I can't really shoot in raw (I think) cuss I don't have the good program to mess with it on my computer. I just use jpeg cuss on my comp I only have cheap photoshop program. man, I wish I had the photo editing software you guys do. all my photo taken above are all just cropped, no pp... besides there's not much I can do in photoshop cuss my photoshop sucks anyways.
 
No I didn't see the link...

Setosa: Wow, that is a sharp shot. You did everything right here, nice work!

Rose Nebula: It looks like blueberry ice cream with strawberry sprinkles, very easy on the eyes. Again, excellent uses of DOF, lighting, and exposure. You pulled out all the stops...so to speak.

I'm sure you know full well that if I don't like something I don't mind saying it. All of your shots are great. No complaints or really even nit-picks here, the setosa shot really blew me away and is my new favorite. You are doing a fantastic job and will have many happy memories to look back on as your tank matures.
icon14.gif
 
It surprises me that you were using Manual mode and your aperture was changing as your focused. Something isn't adding up here. Every time (I have a Canon but I think Nikon is the same) you press the shutter button down half way, the camera will re-evaluate the metering and as a direct result, the exposure. If auto focus is engaged then the focus and metering will reevaluate. With auto focus disengaged, the focus stays the same but the metering will still be reevaluated. In manual mode none of the exposure settings will actually adjust, even though the +/- exposure meter may (correctly or not) suggest they should. You would have to intentionally change the aperture from f/2.8 to f/3.5, or whatever you decide is best.
 
Last edited:
The reason the aperture was changing is because this lens is a variable aperture lens. I believe as you approach 1:1 the aperture goes to f/4.8.

Here is a review of the lens and he talks about the lens being a variable aperture lens http://www.bythom.com/105AFSlens.htm.
Here is the excerpt:

Let me step away for a moment and address a question that I keep getting. One person expressed it like this: "when are you going to take Nikon to task for this being a variable aperture lens?"

I have news for you: all of the fixed focal length Micro-Nikkors aren't actually fixed focal length. In order to keep from being enormously long when focused at 1:1 magnification, Nikon (as well as many other macro makers) plays with the optical formula in order to keep from having an ever telescoping lens barrel. In macro work, you wouldn't want that, anyway, as a lens barrel that telescoped significantly to get to 1:1 would reduce working distance and potentially start hitting things in your scene at close working distances. Thus, at 1:1, this lens becomes about f/4.8 and does not extend even a millimeter. The aperture loss is actually a bit less dramatic at lower magnifications and the non-extension is very much welcome for macro use.

I ordered this lens on Sunday and it will be here on Thursday. I can't wait.
 
Last edited:
okay, I guess the link don't work but this is what they said:

QUESTION:
The aperture numbers on my camera's LCD get smaller as my 60mm Micro-Nikkor lens focuses closer. Does this indicate a problem? If not, what's going on?
ANSWER:
The camera's LCD shows progressively higher f-numbers as an AF Micro-Nikkor lens is focused closer because the optical elements inside are moving farther away from the camera so less light is reaching the film plane. The meter interprets this as a progressively smaller effective aperture, even though the actual aperture is not changing. This is normal with AF Micro-Nikkor lenses and does not indicate a malfunction
 
abark: thanks!!
I was just going to say that.... from what I read, it's normal then, right??
I don't have to worry that my lense is messed up right?

How come nikon don't let people know this!!! they make us think that the aperture is fixed at 2.8, that's misleading information!!

So I guess from nikon's explaination, it reads a different aperture, but realistically it's 2.8? it's confusing.
 
Last edited:
so is this just a nikkor (nikon) thing? those that have canon lense, does this happen to you too??
 
Yeah actually...the 100mm Canon does do that. I just had a complete brain fart sorry. Kind of embarrassing really. :/
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13772044#post13772044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
Yeah actually...the 100mm Canon does do that. I just had a complete brain fart sorry. Kind of embarrassing really. :/
Click to expand...

oh ok.... so I guess it's normal then.
 
here's a couple more pics:
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/?action=view&current=DSC_0071.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/DSC_0071.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/?action=view&current=CSC_0065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/CSC_0065.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/?action=view&current=CSC_0063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/CSC_0063.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/?action=view&current=CSC_0034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/CSC_0034.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/?action=view&current=CSC_0067.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/CSC_0067.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I never knew an aiptasia is so beautiful! lol. this one's my avatar:
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/?action=view&current=DSC_0027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/00ninja00/DSC_0027.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
WOW! Lovely photos and corals. edit-is that an aptasia in the last photo?

Im especially liking your contrast and colors. The third shot down w/ the dark blue back ground is sweet. The oranges and blues compliment each other nicely.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

joekidwell
JBJ Nanocube MP10
Replies
4
Views
4K
jeremy007
J
S
Frag Tank Clean up - Porch Pick or Meet up
Replies
10
Views
2K
rocsec1
R
keepLearning
Some corals for sale. Curbside pickup ONLY
Replies
2
Views
919
miralami
miralami
joekidwell
How do I stop light from flooding the room
Replies
6
Views
2K
Sk8r
Sk8r
Reefers4U
Citron Goby Death
Replies
2
Views
774
Reefers4U
Reefers4U
Back
Top