Macro advice.

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Joshuashaw

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Joshua Shaw
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Wahey, I got the Sigma 105mm for my D80 for xmas and I am after some good links to tutorials regarding macro lens usage. Any help much appreciated folks. :)
 
Prob bugs interest me more as I have a couple of pet reptiles, but I wouldn't mind doing things random like electric boards and things like that, as I currently have a project in Photography at college which is in enviroment which I'm using abandoned buildings and run down mills as my shooting locations, so I'm going to be shoot machinery and things like that.
 
What should I be shooting in? I've used macro mode and let that pic my settings, but not matter what adjustments I make in manual focus, the picture is still ridiculously poor and I know most pages I've read reccomend shooting in manual
 
use the focus ring to wind out the lens as far as it will go You'll see some numbers on the lens barrel and these will show 1:1, set the aperture to f11ish ,shutter about 1/125 some diffused flash and away you go - move the camera to focus and don't use the focus ring on the lens as this will alter the magnification.
 
Joshuashaw said:
What should I be shooting in? I've used macro mode and let that pic my settings, but not matter what adjustments I make in manual focus, the picture is still ridiculously poor and I know most pages I've read reccomend shooting in manual
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For Macro I would step away from the pre defined modes on the camera and go to Manual mode. It may take a bit of learning (See other posts above for settings) but is worth it in the long run.

Also, don't expect great macro results quickly. I am finding that it takes a long time to get even passable results but as you shoot more you will come to learn what works and what doesn't.

Also, and this for me is quite important, I would steer clear of anything man made. I have taken some incredibly uninspiring shots of 'stuff I have lying around' in the past - in fact I gave up on macro completely a couple of years back because I didn' get out with nature.

Finally... 1:1 isn't everything. It's easy to just stick your lens at 1:1 and attack anything from that ratio, but look at your subject first, take a few lower magnification shots, and if needs be work your way into 1:1 if the subject makes it worthwhile.
 
hmm ill try and hunt out my some handouts i got from college on macro & mirco when doing applied techniques unit .
 
cammiedh13 said:
hmm ill try and hunt out my some handouts i got from college on macro & mirco when doing applied techniques unit .
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I'd be very greatful if you could scan these in or photograph them. I think I need some info on the lens specifically, the info in the actually box as far as using the lens is pretty poor, it states the individual parts on the lens, which I need to go through. I just don't get how there is an AF & M on the lens aswell as the camera. I am going to the Trafford Center tomorrow, you reckon there is any books out on specifically this lens or any on macro photography which would help?
 
Joshuashaw said:
I'd be very greatful if you could scan these in or photograph them. I think I need some info on the lens specifically, the info in the actually box as far as using the lens is pretty poor, it states the individual parts on the lens, which I need to go through. I just don't get how there is an AF & M on the lens aswell as the camera. I am going to the Trafford Center tomorrow, you reckon there is any books out on specifically this lens or any on macro photography which would help?
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There's not a lot to say about the lens really you just use it the same way as any other lens.Set both the body & lens to MF for manual focus or to AF for auto focus. For macro i find it easiest to use manual focus - use the focus ring on the lens to set the desired magnification (this is denoted by the numbers on the lens barrel) 1:1 is life size and the maximum magnification possible with this lens without the use of tubes, use manual settings on the camera - start with a shutter speed of 1/125 and aperture of f11 and diffused flash, focus the image by moving the camera closer or further away from the subject. Pratice on a ruler and you will see the effects of changing the aperture on the DOF.
 
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