Macro Tips ?

[Graelwyn]

Never done macro before, so hoping for some hints/tips/suggestions if possible?

This is the lens I will be using.

http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Can...28-at-x-pro-d-macro-canon-review--test-report

 

[reddeathdrinker]

A tripod (with swinging centre column) and good lighting

Remember to use the aperture to control DOF, and if you get really keen, a ring-flash.

 

[Deleted member 3428]

What equipment will you be using along with the lens? Do you have a flash?

 

[markta]

If you have an accessory flash like the 430 or 580EX, use a Stofen diffuser, aiming the flash head about 45 degrees away from the subject and dial in approximately 1 stop of (negative -1) flash exposure compensation (FEC), you should have adequate fill in to rid the subject of shadows and highlights.

If you don't, I can't remember offhand whether the built in flash has exposure compensation, but in any case, you will not have hardly any control of light harshness..

 

[Graelwyn]

What equipment will you be using along with the lens? Do you have a flash?

No flash yet. Just the camera's in built flash. I will only do this outdoors in decent light anyway most likely. Tripod and Canon 40D.

 

[DollyBuster]

A ringflash is of course ideal for macro photography. But it is also very expensive. You may want to start with something cheap and see where that gets you before you splash out on the big un:

 

[joxby]

Light is the main caveat, if you shoot at 1-1 mag or there abouts (insects/wotnot), you'll need to stop down to get worthwhile depth of focus.
F/16 is pretty much a start point, so you can imagine the light you need if you don't want long shutter speeds.
I can honestly say, it can be a bit of a fight without a ringflash or flash of some kind.
In your favour is working distance, 11cm is good enough to get some good light on your subject, without you or your equipment blocking it out.
The smaller the magnification, the less of a battle it is...
True macro starts at 1-1, that means the subject is reproduced on the sensor life sized, everything before that is close-up, not that anyone would want to split hairs or nothin.
Best bet - outside, plenty of light, tripod + waiting game.

 

[Deleted member 3428]

Trouble with macro is you need light as most of the time your lens is close to the subject and you end up blocking out available light. There are quite a few gadgets about now to diffuse an on board flash and reflect it over the front of your lens. I tend to shot 1/200 and around f11 although I'm still getting to grips with the new 40d too.