Some new Macro pics
- Thread starter RevHtree
- Start date
kactusficus
More is not enough
very beautiful images! and I'm absolutely brethless looking at the red/black one! What an amazing specie! never seen such zoa... Gorgeous!
clippo
Member
great shots - nice specimens too. Although plane of best focus is well placed in most shots, Depth of Field is very shallow. Unless you are specifically using shallow DOF for artistic impact, by controlling aperture better, you should be able to get more out of this camera and lens combination (particularly with relatively 'easy' stationary subjects)
Looking forward to the next batch!
Looking forward to the next batch!
gregr
New member
Note Clippo's comments about depth of field- you got shallow depth of field as opposed to out of focus, a common misunderstanding. As if aquarium photography wasn't challenging enough, close-up photography adds yet another complication: the greater the magnification the lesser the depth of field. As you move the lens closer to the subject you have to use smaller and smaller apertures to get good depth of field. And as you know, or will learn
, the smaller the aperture the longer the shutter speed. That's why a tripod is often your best friend for this kind of picture taking.
RevHtree
Active member
Thank you all!!
Clippo and Grege that was the info I was looking for. I was using a tripod, but I was just using auto settings to start with. Anymore suggestion on settings? Sorry for the noob questions! LOL!
In theory I should be able to get how close to the object with this lens before it will not focus?
Clippo and Grege that was the info I was looking for. I was using a tripod, but I was just using auto settings to start with. Anymore suggestion on settings? Sorry for the noob questions! LOL!
In theory I should be able to get how close to the object with this lens before it will not focus?
gregr
New member
5.9" is how close you can get. For close-up photography I recommend aperture priority because depth of field [aperture choice] is key. I think a lot photographers use aperture priority for the majority of their shooting. Keep an eye on the shutter speed [in the viewfinder] as you change the aperture to a smaller and smaller fstop [bigger f-number]. If you shoot those zoo close-ups at f16 you'll be amazed at the detail. Unfortunately the shutter speed will be very slow so if the zoos are moving they'll blur a bit. There's a good compromise in there somewhere!
gregr
New member
I take it you mean the auto focus isn't focusing on the right thing? If so, look for the switch on the lens barrel- manual or auto focus-- switch it to manual and focus manually by turning the rubber ring on the lens barrel. Manual focus is par for the course with this kind of photography.
RevHtree
Active member
HEHE! Well I already use manual focus and know how to focus, but what I mean is this.
Example: Say I want to photograph my daughter. Do I have to stand far away from her? Like looking through the lens, the object is close. Can I take a shot that gives me a view from the camera to my daughter, not close up? Man it's hard to type what I am trying to say.
Also another thing is this. When I go to photograph something father away in the tank can I not zoom all the way up on it? When I try to manual focus it will not focus. When I do auto, it wants o pull back from the object.
gregr
New member
Ah- I think I understand. It sounds like you are expecting the lens to "zoom in" on your subject. If so, you are out of luck unfortunately. The lens is a fixed focal length- only zoom lenses can change focal lengths [aka 'zoom in']. To get more magnification you have to move closer to the subject, or get a longer lens (150 or 180mm macro lenses are available, at a higher price of course). Or you can crop the picture a bit on the computer, though you lose quality when you crop-- but you can get away with a little cropping as long as the picture is nice and sharp to start with.
As for the daughter pictures question-- I think what you're looking for is the ability to use that macro lens as a regular lens, and the answer to that is yes. If you stand further back from your subject the lens will still be able to focus (it can focus on infinity, or the horizon, or stars or whatever). Lots of people use the macro lens for portraits because it's very sharp and has that f2.8 minimum aperture so the background blurs out very nicely.
As for the daughter pictures question-- I think what you're looking for is the ability to use that macro lens as a regular lens, and the answer to that is yes. If you stand further back from your subject the lens will still be able to focus (it can focus on infinity, or the horizon, or stars or whatever). Lots of people use the macro lens for portraits because it's very sharp and has that f2.8 minimum aperture so the background blurs out very nicely.
CyboRob
New member
Yes you will have to stand way back to take a photo of your daughter, it a macro lens.
You can not zoom at all with that lens. Focusing on things in the tank can be very tricky if you don't have the right angle/s to shoot from.
Even then, just the shapes of your subject can throw off your intended focus point.
Stopping down is your best bet when you can not focus right on the spot you intend to shoot.
Your shots are going to be great with that lens.
Here a photo of an area about 5" by 3" stopped down to f22, I think it was. Scroll down to the bottom of the thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1103649
New setup so not much life in my tank yet.
Hope that helps.
Rob
You can not zoom at all with that lens. Focusing on things in the tank can be very tricky if you don't have the right angle/s to shoot from.
Even then, just the shapes of your subject can throw off your intended focus point.
Stopping down is your best bet when you can not focus right on the spot you intend to shoot.
Your shots are going to be great with that lens.
Here a photo of an area about 5" by 3" stopped down to f22, I think it was. Scroll down to the bottom of the thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1103649
New setup so not much life in my tank yet.
Hope that helps.
Rob
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