Frustrating Macro

S

Slobbit

Suspended / Banned
Messages
468
Name
Steve
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi All

Getting very frustrated with Macro....
I was trying to photograph a dead spider last night (The others always run away :)) I was wondering how I can get the whole thing in focus rather than just the focal plane.

Do I need to take lots of photos at different focus points and then stack them all together? Or is there a little secret to this dark art?

There are loads of photos on here with flys, wasps, beetles etc in full focus but I can't get one.

Anyone help?
 
Hi
50D with 100mm Macro L IS at 2.8 handheld.
I dialled in F32 and needed a 25 second exposure so will get the tripod out.

Is it photostacking that I need to do?
 
Slobbit said:
Hi
50D with 100mm Macro L IS at 2.8 handheld.
I dialled in F32 and needed a 25 second exposure so will get the tripod out.

Is it photostacking that I need to do?
Click to expand...
Well, why not try the tripod first?

As with any other photography, large depth of field requires a small aperture which requires a slow shutter speed. So use a tripod, and resort to focus stacking only if that doesn't give you enough DOF.
 
Slobbit said:
Hi
50D with 100mm Macro L IS at 2.8 handheld.
I dialled in F32 and needed a 25 second exposure so will get the tripod out.

Is it photostacking that I need to do?
Click to expand...

There's your problem F2.8 - try around f11 - f16 to get the desired DOF much higher than f16 and you start to lose sharpness - get some light on the situation to increase shutter speeds.
 
Thanks all for hints so far. I will try now with the tripod at f11 ish.

As far as the lights are concerned, I am hoping not to spend money at the moment getting light by the lens (ring flash and the like). Is there a good cheap alternative that anyone uses? I have a 580EXII and a YongNuo 565 so could adapt something I am sure.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
There's your problem F2.8 - try around f11 - f16 to get the desired DOF much higher than f16 and you start to lose sharpness - get some light on the situation to increase shutter speeds.
Click to expand...

Hi
Love your Macro shots especially the Hover_7848. How do you get so close? What lens do you use and did you use lighting?
Sorry to ask so many questions but I would love to be able to do it.
 
billybob99 said:
Yep light is your freind, this is shot F10 hand held tamron 90mm with a standard sony flashgun on camera with a cheap old jessops flash diffuser, bugs can be frustrating but youll get there practise practise and a bit more practise

Thanks billybob, just going in the garden now :)
Click to expand...
 
Keep focal plane in mind at all times, and try to position yourself so you can get as much of the insect along this plane. Side on shots rather than head on will get much more of the beastie in focus.
Also focus by rocking back and forward ever so slowly, rather than trying to twist focus ring for that final stage of focusing, with you shutter button half pressed. When you get the AF confirmation light on your focus point thru the viewfinder take the shot. A Flashgun helps So much too...
 
Slobbit said:
Thanks all for hints so far. I will try now with the tripod at f11 ish.

As far as the lights are concerned, I am hoping not to spend money at the moment getting light by the lens (ring flash and the like). Is there a good cheap alternative that anyone uses? I have a 580EXII and a YongNuo 565 so could adapt something I am sure.
Click to expand...

Try this thread: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=132158&highlight=macro+rig
Macro setups from people on here, everything from an empty milk carton and Pringles tubes to 'proper' equipment costing ££££. It's the results that matter, not how much your kit cost.
Getting close enough for macro results in the lens blocking light from the flash so getting the flash off camera can be a huge help. :thumbs:
 
If you have a 580EXII just get a cheap flash bracket and an off camera TTL cord. You might not even need that if your lens isnt too long and the flash can get past it without a shadow.
 
Bambi72 said:
If you have a 580EXII just get a cheap flash bracket and an off camera TTL cord. You might not even need that if your lens isnt too long and the flash can get past it without a shadow.
Click to expand...

Cheap Flash Bracket. Is that one of those things that screw into the tripod hole at the base of the camera? If it is, is there another hole where I can put my tripod plate?
 
Really appreciate all the advice guys :) Was playing yesterday, when I had time. I will put up some images in a minute for C&C.
 
These three are my first efforts. I will do some reading and practising and hopefully improve :)





 
I'm new to it all and Ive realised the journey is fun and all part of the learning process.I accept I'm where i am at now and some of my efforts are terrible but its all good in the long term. stay encouraged.
 
It can be frustrating to start with but I find anything from around f6.3 to f11 gives a really good DOF. I got this the other day at f6.3 with one of my Kenko extension tubes on with my 5D3 and 100 L macro, at 1/250 and ISO 640.
7336183606_3b581c4e6b_c.jpg
[/url][/IMG]

I shot this with my 7D and same lens, at 1/400, f10 at ISO800.
6864660336_2c261fdf55_c.jpg
[/url][/IMG]

But this one was with the 7D, same lens again at f2.8 (but can't remember the other settings) while hanging one handed from a tree using liveview and auto focus. You can see the DOF (or lack of it) with f2.8 as opposed to f10.
6841954794_8fdb6bca0b_c.jpg
[/url][/IMG]

All are Jpeg's SOOC and the only PP is a crop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top