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01/06/2006 02:49:38 AM · #1 |
Friends tomorrow I am going to take some flower picture at a local flower show. I have some questions relating to this:
What is the best lens for flower photography? Especially for close-up shots?
And
Will you mind to share any other tips?
Advanced Thanks,
Rudra :o)
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01/06/2006 02:56:48 AM · #2 |
Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro........
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guess I'm no help ;) |
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01/06/2006 03:00:50 AM · #3 |
..don't forget a macro flash.
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01/06/2006 03:35:52 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by DanSig:
Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro........
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guess I'm no help ;) |
I agree.... Great lens for this type of photo, and it is not as expensive as a "L" lens. |
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01/06/2006 03:47:53 AM · #5 |
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon
Tip... be steady or use a tripod.
Tip #2... take alot of shots
Tip #3... then take more.
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01/06/2006 04:38:53 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by PERCOM:
Friends tomorrow I am going to take some flower picture at a local flower show. I have some questions relating to this:
What is the best lens for flower photography? Especially for close-up shots?
And
Will you mind to share any other tips? |
I suggest you look through the site's floral gallery and see what has been used. Not all shots have included what lens was used, but you should be able to get an idea.
(it doesn't have to be a true 1:1 macro either - I use my Tamron with good success imo)
Tips? If done in natural setting, don't shoot when sun is overhead or 2 hours either way (harsh). Reds are a booger! Under-expose them. I use my camera's spot meter, and meter the subject and if shutter speed is say 1/125, meter elsewhere until you get say 1/160 or 1/200, lock the exposure, re-compose and shoot. (bracketing your shots will work too if you have the settings at full stops, not 1/3 or 1/2 etc.)
Wide-open for minimal depth of field, play around and shoot 20 pics of same shot, varying the f/stop.
Then Photoshop the daylights out of them. 
My florals are far from great, but like the effects I get, especially with dark/blacked out backgrounds.
(poke around in my portfolio in the recents/temp folder and in the florals/plants folder) |
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01/06/2006 04:43:03 AM · #7 |
| im using a nikkor 105mm f2.8 macro lens. im so happy with it, actually my favorite now. |
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01/06/2006 05:00:06 AM · #8 |
For my film N50 (soon to be used on my own d70s which is on its way to me as I type this) I have had good success with my Sigma 70-300mm DL Macro. One huge advantage this has over my only other flower-photography experience which is my trusty Coolpix 5400 (not that I haven't had a BLAST taking some very nice flower pictures with that) is that you don't have to get right on top of the flower to photograph it; you can be a few feet away and use the macro setting, successfully filling the frame with a sharp image with great bokeh. Nice for butterflies too; they'd always take off before I could get close enough with the Coolpix.
What is this 'macro flash' of which you speak? :) I sense an expenditure in my future. I have a nice-ish flash but I genuinely do not think it would do well at macro work. Who knows, though; I've never tried it. |
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01/06/2006 05:41:14 AM · #9 |
At least D50's built-in flash works surprisingly well with macros.
Taken with MF 50mm/f2.0 & Nikon BR2 reverse ring. Just set the flash to manual mode. |
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01/06/2006 05:41:42 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by rachelellen:
What is this 'macro flash' of which you speak? :) I sense an expenditure in my future. I have a nice-ish flash but I genuinely do not think it would do well at macro work. Who knows, though; I've never tried it. |
It's a specialized attachment that mounts to the front of the lens and deploys either a ring light or two 180-degree opposed small units to produce relatively shadow-free, soft illumination at close-up distances. I doubt there are many of them in use on DPC. They are expensive and very specialized.
R.
Link to the Novoflex System: these folks are one of the most highly-regarded manufacturers of various extreme closeup solutions on the market. Canon and Nikon both sell closeup lighting systems as well.
Message edited by author 2006-01-06 07:20:29. |
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01/06/2006 05:43:38 AM · #11 |
Original poster says he's shooting at a flower show "tomorrow"; so I don't know if he has time to get a new lens. He currently has for his Nikon the Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED and the Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6G.
Of the two, the 18-70mm lens is a far more likely candidate for flower photography.
R. |
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01/06/2006 07:12:09 AM · #12 |
Depends on the shot you are going for...you can shoot macros with any type of lens..it doesn't have to be a macro special lens.
I would think that 18-70 would do well enough until you can try some lenses out..I shot the macro below with my 17-55 2.8
Plus the zoom gives you more options for composition. :-)
Message edited by author 2006-01-06 07:12:26. |
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01/06/2006 08:00:42 AM · #13 |
Brad, you have 51409 visits to your profile!!??? Wow!
(sorry, carry on!)
Message edited by author 2006-01-06 08:01:14. |
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01/06/2006 09:35:18 AM · #14 |
Although I am not familiar with the lenses that you have - neither of the specs on them is optimum for macro. It appears the slower Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6G is actually a bit better, it has a better reproduction ratio with 1:4, although your closest distance will be nearly 5 feet. The Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED has a max reproduction ratio of 1:6, which is worse, although your close focus will be 15 inches. I'd say it is a toss up depending on your light.
Message edited by author 2006-01-06 10:21:25. |
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01/06/2006 10:36:22 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by rachelellen:
What is this 'macro flash' of which you speak? :) I sense an expenditure in my future. I have a nice-ish flash but I genuinely do not think it would do well at macro work. Who knows, though; I've never tried it. |
It's a specialized attachment that mounts to the front of the lens and deploys either a ring light or two 180-degree opposed small units to produce relatively shadow-free, soft illumination at close-up distances. I doubt there are many of them in use on DPC. They are expensive and very specialized.
R.
Link to the Novoflex System: these folks are one of the most highly-regarded manufacturers of various extreme closeup solutions on the market. Canon and Nikon both sell closeup lighting systems as well. |
A less expensive alternative is to use the off-camera cord and hand hold the flash.
Message edited by author 2006-01-06 10:39:51.
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01/06/2006 09:41:56 PM · #16 |
A tilt-shift lens would be really good if you could get one for Nikons.. here's an article about the Canon one:
//www.fredmiranda.com/TS-E90/
Message edited by author 2006-01-06 21:44:06.
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