My first macro fun. C&C please.

[badrano]

I wanted to try my hand at some macro work, so I rented a macro lens for the weekend. The lens I got is a 105mm (only one they had left).

I'm curious to know why the pics (below) came out the way they did. For example in the fly pic, why is the abdomen more in focus than the head. I'm wondering why I couldn't get the whole fly in focus? I figure that the fly's head was a little closer than the abs. The pics are unedited.





Thanks

 

[JacaRanda]

Can you post your settings on the fly picture?


You may find this informative http://www.dpreview.com/articles/3064907237/depth-of-field-in-macro-photography

Sent from my iPad using PhotoForum

 

[sm4him]

These don't really seem very "macro." If you hadn't mentioned using a macro lens, I'd never have guessed it.

What were your settings--particularly, how were you focusing, and how many focus points?
What's the EXIF for these?

You couldn't get the whole fly in focus because generally with macro, you have an *extremely* thin DOF, and my guess is you weren't anywhere near stopped down enough. I use a Tokina 100mm macro, and with insects, I'm very often at f/29 and *still* don't get the whole insect in focus.

 

[badrano]

Call me stupid not dumb or what ever the saying is. For some stupid reason, the thought of DOF didn't even enter my brain.

Jaca, thanks for the link.

Looking at the settings for the fly pic, I was only at f3.8...gee, no wonder I have bad DOF.
Also, because of the size of my tripod with the legs fully retracted, I couldn't get that close to the fly. I was with in foot of the bug, but with some of the other pics I took, a couldn't get any closer than a foot for proper focus (unless I'm missing something). How close should you be able to get with a 105 lens?

Does it make a difference that the lens is an FX lens and I'm using a D7000.

 

[cgipson1]

Call me stupid not dumb or what ever the saying is. For some stupid reason, the thought of DOF didn't even enter my brain.

Jaca, thanks for the link.

Looking at the settings for the fly pic, I was only at f3.8...gee, no wonder I have bad DOF.
Also, because of the size of my tripod with the legs fully retracted, I couldn't get that close to the fly. I was with in foot of the bug, but with some of the other pics I took, a couldn't get any closer than a foot for proper focus (unless I'm missing something). How close should you be able to get with a 105 lens?

Does it make a difference that the lens is an FX lens and I'm using a D7000.

I shoot my 105 handheld most of the time.... and it will allow focusing up to about 6" or so from the end of the lens. (Nikon's site says 12" minimum focusing distance from the sensor, so that is about right.)

To get the full 1:1 magnification the lens is capable of, that is the distance you have to be at (using just the lens, and no tubes or other extensions).

DOF in macro is greatly reduced due to the minimal distances involved... which is why many of of use the smallest apertures we can without getting significant softness from diffraction. Usually anywhere from F11 to F22.

Many of us also use flash for macro exposures, as it helps greatly with both the lighting, and freezing any movement.

 

[badrano]

I shoot my 105 handheld most of the time.... and it will allow focusing up to about 6" or so from the end of the lens. (Nikon's site says 12" minimum focusing distance from the sensor, so that is about right.)

To get the full 1:1 magnification the lens is capable of, that is the distance you have to be at (using just the lens, and no tubes or other extensions).

DOF in macro is greatly reduced due to the minimal distances involved... which is why many of of use the smallest apertures we can without getting significant softness from diffraction. Usually anywhere from F11 to F22.

Many of us also use flash for macro exposures, as it helps greatly with both the lighting, and freezing any movement.

Thanks for the info. After I made that last post indicating a foot, I tried some other stuff and I realized I mis-spoke. I can get withing 5-6" as you stated.

As far as apertures, I'm assuming you're either in A or M mode. Probably more M mode so you can also set a proper shutter speed since a flash would be used??

I know there are specific macro flashes, but can you get away with using a speedlight like a SB-700?

 

[cgipson1]

I shoot my 105 handheld most of the time.... and it will allow focusing up to about 6" or so from the end of the lens. (Nikon's site says 12" minimum focusing distance from the sensor, so that is about right.)

To get the full 1:1 magnification the lens is capable of, that is the distance you have to be at (using just the lens, and no tubes or other extensions).

DOF in macro is greatly reduced due to the minimal distances involved... which is why many of of use the smallest apertures we can without getting significant softness from diffraction. Usually anywhere from F11 to F22.

Many of us also use flash for macro exposures, as it helps greatly with both the lighting, and freezing any movement.

Thanks for the info. After I made that last post indicating a foot, I tried some other stuff and I realized I mis-spoke. I can get withing 5-6" as you stated.

As far as apertures, I'm assuming you're either in A or M mode. Probably more M mode so you can also set a proper shutter speed since a flash would be used??

I know there are specific macro flashes, but can you get away with using a speedlight like a SB-700?

I usually shoot Macro in Manual mode.. just more consistent that way.

I have both specialize macro flashes, and a couple of SB-900's. I often use a single SB-900 on a macro bracket, with a diffuser. Works very well.