First Macro... please C&C? Using 55-200mm.... lol

[tmjjk]

I know these images are not great macro.... but that's why I am posting them, for you to help me get better .. thanks in advance
250mm iso 200 f5.6

 

[cgipson1]

They are not bad, for using a non-macro lens. Exposure is ok... color is good, sharpness is a little weak, but that is probably the lens as much as anything else.

 

[tmjjk]

Thank you! So now I think I am going to start researching macro lenses... any recommendations? Inexpensive recommendations? I want to learn as much as I can about all areas of photography. One day I am going to be great! I will be comfortable with calling myself a photographer .... feel like I am faking it now. But I feel like I am learning something everyday from this forum and reading and reading and reading lol.

 

[sm4him]

Those are really not bad at all. The only advice I can give is really more just telling you what worked for me--I found flying insects to be almost impossible initially. I started trying macro on inanimate objects, then on flowers. That--and annoying Charlie/cgipson non-stop with questions--helped me figure out the best shutter speeds, aperture, etc to get sharp results with something that doesn't move around too much. THEN I started trying to hit focus on things that wanted to constantly move away from me! I'm STILL trying to get that down!

Oh--and learn to use flash. Especially diffused flash, for the insects. That makes a lot of difference!

I just love my Tokina 100mm f/2.8. I got a really great deal on a used one at keh.com.

Before I had the macro, I used a set of Kenko extension tubes. So far, I've kept the tubes, because I could still use them as well, but I found getting a really good, sharp focus to be extremely challenging with the extension tubes. I haven't tried using them since I've gotten better with my macro lens, so I may give them a try this week and see if learning to use the macro lens will make it any easier to use the tubes as well.

The tubes are not a bad investment, imo, if you simply can't find any way to get a macro lens and want to at least play with it some. But make sure you get decent tubes, not the cheapo ones. It's hard enough even with the good ones to get really good, sharp quality images.

 

[tmjjk]

thank you... I know nothing about tubes... at all... so maybe that will be my lesson today I will do a little research and understand how they work. Thank you... and I will go back out today and try to shoot something using the flash to see the difference. After looking at your assasin pics and another thread with spiders..(ewww) I was inspired. I went outside and just started looking for the first bug I could find lol...

 

[macrolands]

Wow not bad.. good job bro
Detail, sharpness, exposure, composition all is OK

 

[tmjjk]

This chick thanks you I just ordered some extension tubes... Can't wait for them to get here..