Macro shooting - leaning in or hand focusing?

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Mark
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Hey everyone,

I’m hoping to get some advice on best ways to focus while doing macro photography. Should I be leaning in and out or should I be focusing with the lens barrel directly? I’ve heard people discuss doing it both ways, and I’m finding it difficult using the lens barrel technique on my 100mm macro. The DOF is just so thin! But I’m also worried that leaning out and in might be frowned upon, and I don’t want to get myself into bad habits.

Any advice is appreciated!

Mark
 
Do what suits you best, I use either method depending on the situation and (shock/horror) have even used autofocus at times
Depth of field is more to do with aperture then focusing, you need to keep it as small as possible I would say a min of f8, higher if you can
I use a defused ring flash and manual settings on the camera
 
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Focusing with the focus ring will change the magnification. So if you wanted a 1:1 macro shot yiu wild need to set your focus ring to 1:1 and move in and out to focus. If you moved the focus ring it would obviously not be 1:1 magnification anymore.
 
... oops.

Wrong thread...
 
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What is the "old lean in and out trick" please?

I am sometimes able to borrow my daughter's Canon 100D and like to shoot insects etc in the wild....

CommonDarter_0758R.jpg


^ Canon 100D DSLR, 18-55mm @ 51mm, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, f/11, 1/320.
 
The short answer to your question is whatever works for you. I always recommend my students to use a tripod when possible. However, there will be situation where this simply isn't an option. I very rarely use autofocus for macro work.

Hope this helps.

common_blue_des_ong.jpg
 
"Lean in lean out" is focussing by very slightly leaning towards and away from the subject to get it in focus, rather than trying to focus by turning the lens.

It is only really applicable where depth of field is very small, as in macro work. Depending on the situation and or the photographer it can be easier than turning the lens.

Dave
 
Tringa said:
"Lean in lean out" is focussing by very slightly leaning towards and away from the subject to get it in focus, rather than trying to focus by turning the lens.

It is only really applicable where depth of field is very small, as in macro work. Depending on the situation and or the photographer it can be easier than turning the lens.

Dave
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....Thanks, Dave, that's very helpful.

I find that a tripod gets in the way when stalking through undergrowth and foliage and also doesn't give me flexibility on composing my shot when the subject moves around.

On a DSLR, is it also a good idea to use Continuous mode on the shutter during a 'Lean In - Lean Out'?

If you're only using the central focussing sensor (Canon EOS DSLR) then I find it easier to use Autofocus and only override with Manual if it's not settling. autofocus gets me to base-camp or 'first base'.
 
Frowned upon, are you kidding? Lean in, by far the best way :)
 
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Lean in and out - manual focus (don't need the continous then) and manul f# (8 or 11)...
Bit hit and miss at first but you get to be a little steadier with practice and know whether your subject is in focus or not.... or just take loads and delete the blurry ones after... It is digital :D
 
Another for lean in and out :) I got into the habit when I was using a reversed legacy lens on manual tubes (stopped-down focusing, that was fun :p ): after getting auto-tubes and a few frustrating attempts in AF, I've went back to it. At least now I have wide-open focusing :)
 
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I recently bought a Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro from TP's Classifieds but the weather has been unsuitable for trying it out fully. However, as a result of this thread I also recently bought a Manfrotto MVM500A monopod with fluid cartridge foot and Manfrotto 804RC2 head. The point is that I have been practicing the 'lean in & out' (manual focus) indoors on the christmas tree decorations and this monopod seems perfect for it so far.

The real test will be out in the field photographing Dragonflies etc in the Spring.
 
RedRobin said:
I recently bought a Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro from TP's Classifieds but the weather has been unsuitable for trying it out fully. However, as a result of this thread I also recently bought a Manfrotto MVM500A monopod with fluid cartridge foot and Manfrotto 804RC2 head. The point is that I have been practicing the 'lean in & out' (manual focus) indoors on the christmas tree decorations and this monopod seems perfect for it so far. The real test will be out in the field photographing Dragonflies etc in the Spring.
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I use a shepherd's crook, which has a V in the top... happy accident. Quite useful for beating up nettles that get in the way too :)
 
nass said:
I use a shepherd's crook, which has a V in the top... happy accident. Quite useful for beating up nettles that get in the way too :)
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....I've already got one of those from Somerset! Oh dear, anyone want to buy a Manfrotto all-singing-dancing monopod? :D

I've marked my crook to match the same height at my wellies so that I can check water depth before wading. I guess you rest your lens where the tripod collar would fit. It's not variable in height or so good for panning though [says Robin, desparately trying to justify his spending on a new Manfrotto monopod!]

I'm not inclined to beat the undergrowth as it frightens away my subjects.
 
Hehe... great minds think alike! Errrr fools seldom differ :)
 
Rock back and forth like a mad man, that's what I do, neighbours find it strange though.
 
I haven't really tried the leaning in and out trick
Most of the time I use auto focus and quickly move the focus point to the insects eye with the joystick control on 7D and the focus on my 100L macro is very quick
I just find it easier for flighty subjects like butterflies maybe im a bit slow but takes me too long to focus manually and the butterfly is often gone :)
 
RedRobin said:
....What's the betting that he 'leans in and out'?
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Yes, Brian Valentine does use lean in and out.

On the other hand, Mark Berkery, another of my macro heroes, uses autofocus, as he explains about a third of the way through this long post (search for "auto" to get straight to the part about using autofocus).

I almost always use (moveable single-area contrast detect) autofocus, except when the subject is behind something the autofocus insists on locking onto, such as occasionally with a spider's web/nest, with the subject beyond/inside it.

Whatever works best for you.
 
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A BIG ThankYou, Nick, for posting that link to Mark Berkery's post - Stunning images and clearly a great guy in his respectful approach to the world of mini-beasts.

(y)
 
I haven't used a 100mm macro lens, only extension tubes and the MP-E, so barrel focusing has never really been an option for me. It's the rock back and forth technique I've always used. It's is much easier if you have some kind of support though. Tripods are pretty much out of the question for me (I'm not very good at getting up early, so most of my subjects are usually pretty lively) so try and find something to lean against for extra stability (as mentioned above, carrying a pole is a good idea) or there is a method of holding the leaf (or whatever it is your subject is resting on) in your left hand fingers and resting the tip of the lens barrel on your palm. This can often spook your subject and they are likely to fly off, but you will begin to learn which species this may work for (if you a shooting insects of course).

Practice is the key I think. You may struggle a bit at first but you'll get there. If you have the rocking technique sorted, you are pretty much covered for any other lenses you might want to use in future.
 
ChrisA said:
I mostly use the lean in and out. Main reason - auto focus can often pick up on nearby vegetation and whurr out.

Having said that sometimes do autofocus - and often maybe use rough autofocus to get starting point.
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....Yes, I find Autofocus sometimes gets you to base camp.

Also, if you use and hold the AF-ON button (with your thumb) to 'Back Button Focus' and use SINGLE SHOT, you can stop the AF system hunting.

Of course I'm not suggesting not to use the 'lean-in-out' technique.
 
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