Author Topic: Getting More in-focus with Macro shots. (Read 2405 times)

Em5 Pete · « **on:** April 12, 2011, 01:18:21 PM »

I happen to like macro photography, I have since I was 16, I always some way to get close. It might have been with close-up filters, or proper macro lenses. For my Canon F1, I had a Canon Bellows (Yikes..what was I thinking!)..

But, most of us, me included stay in the 6" to 24" depending on the lens.

I have a 55mm Micro Nikkor that focuses to 10" (1/2 life size in FF 35mm... BUT, with a 2x crop on the center, you get a FOV as if it where Life-size). If I get in real close, like 10" away, my DOF is very thin, even at f/11 or f/16, and the slightest breeze can move the flower out of focus.

A simple remedy, move back to around 24" with a 55mm lens (Remember a FOV of a 110MM lens) and still use f/11 and maybe ISO 400.
By doing this, your DOF will get much deeper (almost 2" deep) and you will have more in focus, as you imagined.

You will need to crop it later to what you really wanted.

I use thus technique often. Because I want more in focus...

Here is are 2 samples.

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cosinaphile · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2011, 06:38:36 PM »

great macro advice

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2011, 02:29:08 PM »

A few more using this technique, 55mm Micro Nikkor F/11, ISO 320, Distance was from 2/feet, to 4/feet, and cropped in post. I also used Neat Image for Noise Reduction, but not too aggressive. Just enough to smooth the large areas of the image, without distorting the finer detail.

with many of our members getting their garden all beautiful again, this technique will help you take great photos of your flowers etc...

These are from a tree behind my patio. The blossoms smell so good too.

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n2hhr · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2011, 02:49:45 PM »

Good tips.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2011, 03:35:26 PM »

Thanks guys, Feel free to post your garden photos here using this technique.. and any tips you may have for garden photography.

I am thinking of getting a 64 LED hot-shoe battery operated video light to light the flowers on dull days.

voyager · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2011, 11:20:52 PM »

This is really helpful, I throw away so many flower photos because of the focusing problems.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2011, 04:39:36 AM »

Here are some with the Olympus M-Zuiko 14-42 ED, (MkII)
Without anything else... It is so nice that this lens focuses down to just under 1 foot, even at 42mm. But I was further back and cropped these.

f/7.1 @ 38mm

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f/9 @32mm

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f/7.1 @39mm

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voyager · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2011, 11:26:41 AM »

Those are great, I'll have to try this out.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2011, 04:38:38 PM »

Garden Flowers with the Kit lens and on board flash

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You can do this....

device · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2011, 09:48:47 PM »

Are the 2nd and 3rd posts sakura? I just returned from Japan and took lots of photos of flowers but they look nothing like your photos! haha Anyway, great tips!

voyager · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2011, 02:55:18 PM »

Wow, nice use of the flash. Sometimes I wish I had one for my E-P1.

cotneye · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2012, 07:37:19 PM »

Just read through the tips and some of my cacti are blooming. Will see if I can try some of the same technique this weekend. I have this Makinon 80-200 Macro zoom and maybe it will shine for Macro photography. It was not so good for telephoto in my experience. In addition I will try my 50mm Olympus 1.8 lens and the kit lens.

Blaufeld · « **Reply #12 on:** March 29, 2012, 12:05:22 AM »

Quote from: M5-User on April 12, 2011, 01:18:21 PM

(...)

Very smart cropping - beautiful images, congrats!

adash · « **Reply #13 on:** March 29, 2012, 01:37:24 AM »

Quote

In addition I will try my 50mm Olympus 1.8 lens and the kit lens.

The kit lens is very good within its limitations. For blooming flowers etc. it is just perfect. Set to 42mm and get as close as possible.

cotneye · « **Reply #14 on:** March 29, 2012, 06:03:49 AM »

Will do, thanks! I will give it a shot Saturday with good light and then try to get some online this weekend.

cotneye · « **Reply #15 on:** April 08, 2012, 06:00:49 PM »

Stepped back a little was using my 4/3 kit lens 40/150 with a Macro spacer actually used the zoom to focus, set the ISO to Auto and set the shutter speed as fast as I dared then took these.

AA091791 by Picture J o e, on Flickr

AA091798 by Picture J o e, on Flickr

AA091804 by Picture J o e, on Flickr

AA091810 by Picture J o e, on Flickr

voyager · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2012, 06:33:45 PM »

What's a macro spacer?

cotneye · « **Reply #17 on:** April 08, 2012, 07:14:07 PM »

Well let me see ... here a picture is worth a thousand words.

Actually I think they are more commonly called tubes?

http://m43photo.blogspot.com/2011/11/macro-spacer-rings-for-four-thirds.html

I only used the two ends nothing drastic about 1/2" extra space.

Author Topic: Getting More in-focus with Macro shots. (Read 2405 times)

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