Need help with a New Canon XTI with 100MM 2.8 Macro Lens

[MRCORAL]

I have seen Pics taken with this Lens and I have to say I would shocked by it!! So of course today I made a trip to Best Buy and got it.

Played with it a little but could not even come close to what I have been seeing. Anyone have one that can help me out? What settings should I be on? Trying to take a pic from above the tank to about 2 inches below the water line. Just not clean looking.

Any help would be great!!

 

[jedininja]

If you post some of your shots, it would make it easier to tell what yo-u are doing and how it cane improve.

 

[MRCORAL]

There so bad I will work on it today

 

[BlueCorn]

I consider a good, solid tripod to be a necessity for consistent results with that lens. When you're taking macro shots your depth of field is measure in millimeters not inches.

 

[MRCORAL]

Let say I wan to take a Pic of a Frag pack that is about 2 inches from the surface of the water. What setting and how far should I be? Should i be using this lens for it? As you see I'm really new to this

 

[MRCORAL]

<img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/mrcoral/test1.jpg">

 

[MRCORAL]

That is my pic!! Help

 

[clippo]

shooting at an angle through the surface or tank glass will introduce distortion effects. Maybe make yourself an acrylic tray to remove this - shooting like this with an dslr is a real challenge though!

 

[MRCORAL]

What do you mean Acrylic tray?

 

[BlueCorn]

The front of the tray appears to be what the autofocus grabbed. You can pick which autofocus point gets used (you'll need to read your manual) or alternatively you can use manual focus to make sure what you're trying to get sharp is sharp.

You need to minimize the shoot angle. At that range DOF (depth of field) is very shallow. You should be perpendicular to the objects that you want in focus.

 

[MRCORAL]

So I should be right above it. I'm reading today.

 

[MRCORAL]

Ok I went from above Pics look better to me. One question. I took them on without a flash mode. All other modes the flash comes on. Is this how it is on this camera?

<img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/mrcoral/EBAY515C.jpg">

<img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/mrcoral/EBAY515B.jpg">
<img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/mrcoral/EBAY515A.jpg">
<img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/mrcoral/EBAY515.jpg">

 

[BlueCorn]

If you're using one of the "automatic" settings yes.