Leopard Gecko-Close Up Advice

[Kyna]

Hi-

I am finding the best way to learn on this forum besides read, read, read, read, read........is to post pics and have people tell you how you SHOULD have had your settings. So in order to help me learn my settings better I thought I would post some pictures I took of our new family member Clementine the Leopard Gecko.

These were all taken on the "macro" setting on my camera. It is a Canon Rebel XS with just the stock 18-55 MM lens.

1.

2.

3.

In this last one and in several others where I had it on either auto or macro only the closest part of her body is in focus, which I realize is because of the F setting/depth of field. But on close shots(which I wanted to show her pretty eyes) can you get ALL of an item in focus with just a standard lens?

Thanks in advance!

 

[lyonsroar]

^yes.

Your aperture on the last photo if only 5.6. Bump that bad boy up!
or get further away and crop in

http://www.flickr.com/photos/0-60photography/5266880380/
^^clicky

 

[Kyna]

So just to take me step by step if you don't mind.........I should have it in AV mode right? And then bump up the F number? Or am I completely confusing multiple settings?

Disclaimer:Just got my camera 2 weeks ago

 

[lyonsroar]

So just to take me step by step if you don't mind.........I should have it in AV mode right? And then bump up the F number? Or am I completely confusing multiple settings?

Disclaimer:Just got my camera 2 weeks ago

Yes. AV mode.

Experiment with different settings: f5.6, f8, f10, f13, etc.
don't change anything else in the camera, just the f#.

Then pull them up on your computer and see the difference.

I didn't know the XS had a macro setting...

 

[clanthar]

But on close shots(which I wanted to show her pretty eyes) can you get ALL of an item in focus with just a standard lens?

Thanks in advance!

With the kind of magnification you see in the 3rd photo it may be impossible to get ALL of your critter in focus. Changing lenses won't help; DOF is a function of f/stop and magnification. Magnification is a function of lens focal length, distance to subject and sensor size. A lens change and then a compensating distance change that keeps the magnification the same will keep the DOF the same. All you can do is use a smaller aperture.

Decrease the magnification and you can get a lot more DOF quickly -- then crop the photo.

Joe

 

[Kyna]

Ok this may seem like a stupid question but if you crop the photo does it lessen the quality of it? Due to increasing the pixel size? Or is that not a huge concern with photos taken at this size?

 

[lyonsroar]

Ok this may seem like a stupid question but if you crop the photo does it lessen the quality of it? Due to increasing the pixel size? Or is that not a huge concern with photos taken at this size?

I believe it does. You will notice pixilation, etc.

What ISO are you shooting at? Tripod or no?

 

[clanthar]

Ok this may seem like a stupid question but if you crop the photo does it lessen the quality of it? Due to increasing the pixel size? Or is that not a huge concern with photos taken at this size?

Yes the crop lowers the image quality -- photography is a compromise. The best photo is the best compromise. If you want the entire gecko in focus you may have to compromise. Start with the smallest f/stop and go from there.

 

[Kyna]

And thanks for the info!

 

[Kyna]

The camera chose an ISO of 400. No tripod at this moment but from reading this forum I am aware it needs to be one of my next purchases

 

[clanthar]

Stop letting the camera choose the ISO -- that's your job.

 

[lyonsroar]

The camera chose an ISO of 400. No tripod at this moment but from reading this forum I am aware it needs to be one of my next purchases

Choose your ISO manually to combat grain.

I find ISO 200 to be good with the XS.

However, with the lower ISO, your exposure times will be longer so you'll need more light to combat that.

 

[Kyna]

Stop letting the camera choose the ISO -- that's your job.

I know I was just taking them on manual settings to get an example of what I was looking for and what the camera was doing "wrong" that I should be changing.

Thanks!

 

[Ratman667]

I would say start by picking the stuck shed off her nose.

 

[3bayjunkie]

use a tripod. set the f/stop as high as you can with still a fast shutter speed. try 1/500 or higher. and also i would do it outside because it just doesn't look good inside on a wood floor.

its good to have the background blurred like you do, but outside would be better for sure.