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Now I wish I owned a macro!

2

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 1,041 ✭✭✭K_user


    Also there is a fall off in image quality. So the number of "good" images will be reduced even further.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 47,975 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    i would beware of spending lots of money on macro gear; it can be a lot of money to spend on a very narrowly focused area (pun intended), which might not be able to sustain your interest.

    i'd say it'd be very easy to fall into the 'great, i'm taking yet another close up picture of an insect' stage which might not be able to sustain your interest. a lot of macro work tends to be of technical rather than aesthetic appeal.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,041 ✭✭✭K_user


    i would beware of spending lots of money on macro gear; it can be a lot of money to spend on a very narrowly focused area (pun intended), which might not be able to sustain your interest.

    i'd say it'd be very easy to fall into the 'great, i'm taking yet another close up picture of an insect' stage which might not be able to sustain your interest. a lot of macro work tends to be of technical rather than aesthetic appeal.
    Thats exactly it, I'm just exploring the enjoyment side of it at the moment.
    I'll wait to see if I'm interested in keeping it up before I'd part with cash! :D


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,087 ✭✭✭dinneenp


    My plan is useine over d summer m if novelty has worn off, sell it. Should het what I paid for it.
    Domt forget it's a very food portrait lens too & relatively small (well for 100mm and constant f2.8)

    If I sell it I'll buy a WIDE angle lens and try it out (10mm).


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,589 ✭✭✭✭Necronomicon


    i would beware of spending lots of money on macro gear; it can be a lot of money to spend on a very narrowly focused area (pun intended), which might not be able to sustain your interest.

    i'd say it'd be very easy to fall into the 'great, i'm taking yet another close up picture of an insect' stage which might not be able to sustain your interest. a lot of macro work tends to be of technical rather than aesthetic appeal.

    True, but I've found the Canon 100mm to be very diverse. It's a fantastic portrait lens, so you're definitely not limited to macro work only. I also faced this dilemma when I was contemplating a flash unit; I was worried that investing in a ringflash would be dangerous in case my interest in macro fizzled out, so I bought a speedlight and a ringflash adapter.

    So while I agree with the sentiment of your post, I think there are ways around it if you're careful with your purchases.


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  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 12,778 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zascar


    Can anyone tell me more about using one of those Tubes? I might give it a go.

    I found the Rail Slider if anyone is interested, only €20 http://www.ebay.ie/itm/110849694144#ht_2956wt_973


  • Registered Users Posts: 51,054 ✭✭✭✭Professey Chin


    Zascar wrote: »
    Can anyone tell me more about using one of those Tubes? I might give it a go.

    You mount them onto the camera then put the lens onto the end of them.
    You can get more expensive ones that communicate with the camera & lens afaik so you have your usual controls but the cheap ones mean you can only control the shutter speed on the camera. Aperture & focusing have to be controlled manually which can really be a pain in the arse (although it has given me a new found respect for the DoF preview button on my d90 :pac:)


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,250 ✭✭✭pixbyjohn


    You mount them onto the camera then put the lens onto the end of them.
    You can get more expensive ones that communicate with the camera & lens afaik so you have your usual controls but the cheap ones mean you can only control the shutter speed on the camera. Aperture & focusing have to be controlled manually which can really be a pain in the arse (although it has given me a new found respect for the DoF preview button on my d90 :pac:)
    These are the more expensive ones, automatic focus and aperture controlled by camera. I find manual focus is best for macro work.
    6953026057_e57dcb4bbc_z.jpg
    D80 with Autofocus Macro Tubes fitted by pixbyjohn, on Flickr


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,671 ✭✭✭DaireQuinlan


    I went on a bit of a macro bent a few years ago, when I had a fuji P&S. I reverse mounted a 50mm to the front, made for a surprisingly good combo...

    557355885_8eac9aa6dc_z.jpg
    Meet 'n greet. by Daire Quinlan, on Flickr

    1789338521_2ba7bd16a6_z.jpg
    Green Shield Bug by Daire Quinlan, on Flickr


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,171 ✭✭✭af_thefragile


    I have the 70-300mm macro lens but I need something bigger. Rather than spending a grand on a 100mm L lense, I decided I'm gonna get the extenders kit tomorrow and see how close it can get me!!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,171 ✭✭✭af_thefragile


    Zascar wrote: »
    Can anyone tell me more about using one of those Tubes? I might give it a go.

    I found the Rail Slider if anyone is interested, only €20 http://www.ebay.ie/itm/110849694144#ht_2956wt_973
    This video is pretty good explaining macro photography and extension tubes:


  • Registered Users Posts: 603 ✭✭✭Goolay


    Some great info in this thread! Got myself a 10 euro set of extension tubes off Amazon last week. They arrived a few days ago and stuck 'em straight on my nifty fifty :)

    Finding it pretty challenging to get anything sharp while shooting handheld.

    A few first attempts:

    Shell
    8DB5CEBE6C784581933D2FD78279A075-0000341111-0002911774-00500L-D2C72DBA8BB447929859B39B9FA06531.jpg
    Snail's Eye (NEARLY in focus!)
    923DD86B04534260BEF690FB26085BBE-0000341111-0002911778-00500L-DC350B447C1C46F7B17B7E2BAC949D23.jpg
    Cigarette Butt (not mine - filthy habit :P )
    8A04013C188E4BB69A13EF296689A666-0000341111-0002911785-00500L-6CB7F52D558645F4BBDC7EA84856B918.jpg

    Managed to get a bit sharper with a tripod:
    0D6F8B32233B4C21903E7987949D80A3-0000341111-0002911783-00500L-8A3BE2A77813485D89C9EA2DD6E72790.jpg

    Looking forward to experimenting more with it!


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 12,778 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zascar


    What sort of shutter speeds are they taken at?


  • Registered Users Posts: 603 ✭✭✭Goolay


    Zascar wrote: »
    What sort of shutter speeds are they taken at?

    Hiya,

    Snail pics: 1/500

    ciagarette butt: 1/250

    Leaf: 1/80

    cheers


  • Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 12,778 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zascar


    Sorry forgot to ask aperture also? Seems like there is too much depth of field almost! Cool shots though, keep us update on your progress, I might get one myself!

    Can you link to what you bought on Amazon?


  • Registered Users Posts: 603 ✭✭✭Goolay


    Yeah, they're all wide open at 1.8. Once you go above f4 they're completely overexposed. This particular set of extension tubes require lenses with apeture rings. I think the main problem (if there is one) here is that I'm using all the tubes together at once so it's crazy-magnified to use the correct scientific terminology. Going to experiment with different combinations.

    The set I got was: This one

    Add £3 GBP for shipping


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,250 ✭✭✭pixbyjohn


    7395745676_0833ba6702_z.jpg
    1cent by pixbyjohn, on Flickr


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,671 ✭✭✭DaireQuinlan


    Goolay wrote: »
    Yeah, they're all wide open at 1.8. Once you go above f4 they're completely overexposed.

    That's probably because you're setting the aperture on the body. These tubes don't have the little lever necessary to transmit the set aperture to the lens to stop it down, so if the lens is wide open at f/1.8 and you set f/4 on the body it'll overexpose by two stops. You're better off setting the camera to use the aperture set on the lens (if you can do that with your camera body) and use aperture priority, metering stopped down, or just use manual and chimp.

    Most macro I've done has been just using TTL flash to provide the illumination, with the shutter speed set to sync speed or less, and the aperture set to f/16 or so to get some DOF.

    The reason TTL metering (either straight metering or flash) is useful in macro is because you get quite dramatic fall off as you approach 1:1. At 1:1 the lens is extended to twice its focal length away from the sensor, so you're losing 2 stops or so. You have to compensate for this yourself if you're metering externally and shooting manually.


  • Registered Users Posts: 603 ✭✭✭Goolay


    Thanks Daire.

    Meant to say underexposed! Yes that's it, have to set aperture on the lens as on the D90 I don't think I can change on the body. In manual or A mode I'm just getting "f.EE" where aperture would normally be on the LCD


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,171 ✭✭✭af_thefragile


    I got myself the kenko extension tubes today!

    Now can't wait to take some nice close up macro shots!

    Although I'm a little worried if the weight of the 70-300mm lens + the extension tubes would damage the camera when its on the tripod??... Mines only a plastic bodied Canon 600D...


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  • Registered Users Posts: 51,054 ✭✭✭✭Professey Chin


    id say youd need some support anyway. I always have my lens supported even with just the 50mm


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,924 ✭✭✭Nforce


    This thread encouraged me to get off my behind and to dust off my macro lens (not literally,thankfully:p).

    Anyhow, this is the result..

    46C7D37722334E8D948AAA2C64877B5D-0000321957-0002912063-00800L-64875DCDEC1C45F891648B60C3A6D98D.jpg

    1627FC9828D34E34B37BB64034A8C706-0000321957-0002912064-00800L-056463F3EF7448979753FA7092C422E5.jpg

    My lens is fully manual and I was holding the camera(rather shakily),instead of mounting it on a tripod which would have helped immensely with the focusing :o.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,171 ✭✭✭af_thefragile


    id say youd need some support anyway. I always have my lens supported even with just the 50mm

    How would you support it on a tripod?


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,087 ✭✭✭dinneenp


    some recent enough ones:
    watch-the-sunrise-belle-and-sebastian.jpg

    U2-The-fly.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,171 ✭✭✭af_thefragile


    Finally got CS6 so here's a pic I took a few weeks ago... Hopefully there should be more to come soon!

    56135A4FC5FB489B9F834C62BCAEABD8-0000321471-0003026906-00800L-2533D76DFE0B43EEB1DB2CCEBDE5C295.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 481 ✭✭Faing


    a fellow boardsie is getting me a set of tubes (thankyou pixbyjohn) so I have been wondering, is a lightbox necessary for doing some of tthe incredible macro shots that you guys do? I have been looking to make one tonight and they seem easy enough. In the meantime I took a couple of pics of a toy car on the kitchen table.

    1218021D3D314100A2E2A176A60EA30B-0000357485-0003027106-00800L-F84559BD103843E3A45971BBA2897EF5.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,250 ✭✭✭pixbyjohn


    Buy a white laundry basket >
    8031164782_baf92d7686.jpg
    Pop_Up_Laundry_Basket Image from the web
    Makes a nice light box


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,632 ✭✭✭SuperWoody101


    I would also like to try out macro, would I be better off buying a marco lens or the tube? I use the d90 and have a 18 - 50mm, 18 -105mm, 50 - 200mm & the 70 - 300mm. Photography is still very new to me so any help would be great.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,087 ✭✭✭dinneenp


    pixbyjohn wrote: »
    Buy a white laundry basket >
    8031164782_baf92d7686.jpg
    Pop_Up_Laundry_Basket Image from the web
    Makes a nice light box

    Great tip. I know nothing about light boxes.
    Would you just use it for a white background or shine a light against it with object inside etc.?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,924 ✭✭✭Nforce


    dinneenp wrote: »
    Great tip. I know nothing about light boxes.
    Would you just use it for a white background or shine a light against it with object inside etc.?


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055335115

    :)


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