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05/10/2003 10:52:25 AM · #1 |
I have a hoya set for my G3 and usually use them stacked. It allows me to get very close to very small subjects and even with only a 4x optical zoom, fill the frame on full telephoto. The only drawback is at that distance the depth of field is very very shallow and very hard to focus using AF. On manual focus the camera does not allow the macro setting so I can't get as close but does have a MF bracketing feature which does produce a sharp focus. Pros and cons......
Any suggestions regarding getting a better focus on macro shots would be helpful.
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05/10/2003 07:18:43 PM · #2 |
make sure you aren't closer than the camera can focus.
You'll get better focus at one end of the zoom than the other.
have plenty of light - I used to shine a work light on what ever
I was doing until I could get a focus lock (green light) and then click MF to lock that focus in and then light the subject correctly. |
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05/10/2003 07:40:02 PM · #3 |
I've found that when using macro attachments with my G2, depending on your distance from the subject, you can get away without using the macro mode on the camera, when you might otherwise think you need it.
Also, sometimes with the AF it's better to let the camera focus on something, and then just trust your eye to decide on something better by shifting the camera forward and backward to move the focal plane. I guess a macro rail would help here. Or you could go all out and try something similar to this guy Mark Plonsky at photo.net who uses all sorts of clever attachments on his G1 to get some outstanding macro shots. |
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05/10/2003 08:33:21 PM · #4 |
| Today I went and bought a Pentax 50mm F/1.4, a 58-49mm step-down ring, and a 49mm filter ring with the filter removed. Total cost $55 CDN (about $35 US). I glued the 49mm filter ring to the backside of the stepdown ring so that I could reverse-mount the Pentax lens on my F717 to try and emulate what Plonsky does at the link above. I don't have any solid shots yet, but I can get a decent DOF at about a 25 diopter rating when at F/8. I need to get an external flash but from what I've seen the setup will produce some very stunning macros for a very good price. |
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05/10/2003 09:03:46 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by lp30:
Or you could go all out and try something similar to this guy Mark Plonsky at photo.net who uses all sorts of clever attachments on his G1 to get some outstanding macro shots. |
Thanks for this link.
One other thing that might help is a hood for the LCD especially in areas of very bright light. This is where I have the most trouble getting a good focus.
Thanks for all the other tips I received here.
Message edited by author 2003-05-10 21:04:46.
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05/13/2003 12:37:14 AM · #6 |
Tested out the new macro setup this weekend...I only got one shot that I was somewhat satisfied with. The DOF at this level of magnification is hideously shallow. This spider is only about 2mm long, so the DOF is quite literally paper-thin here.
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05/13/2003 06:17:18 AM · #7 |
That's still a great shot. I'd be happy with that as a first attempt (in fact, it'd be framed and on my wall :-)
I too have a 50mm lens to use reversed (also inspired by Professor Plonsky's tutorial, this time on photoSIG) with my F707. Haven't had chance to really try it out yet but from initial brief experiments, I agree with you on the DOF - it is very shallow.
There is a technique which is alluded to in the article on Mark's site which involves stacking shots with slightly different planes of focus to increase DOF. There was an article about this on photoSIG, but since the upgrade to V2 of their software, they don't have the articles back up yet :-( If anybody else has a link to that tutorial, that would be useful.
Message edited by author 2003-05-13 06:18:07.
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05/13/2003 06:37:57 AM · #8 |
I wanted this on my page.
I'm new to this but can you change the f-stop.
under setting in plonsky's #3
"Use a small aperture (large F value) to maximize depth of field (the amount of the image in focus). The more magnification, the less depth of field. "
I think if you want more to show in the backgroung you need to increase the "F-xx" factor.
Just playing with that and adjusting the shutter to correct for darkness this may help. That just me talking. I have have only tried in regular more, not macro.
Hope that helps..... |
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05/13/2003 06:58:58 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I have a hoya set for my G3 and usually use them stacked. |
Not to hijack this discusssion, but quick question about stacking diopters...what order do they need to be in? I've tried stacking them and cannot get the camera to focus at all. I thought maybe I was trying to put them in the wrong order.
Thanks,
Shari
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05/13/2003 07:50:53 AM · #10 |
| The biggest number goes closest to the camera. E.g. +4 then +2 then +1. |
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05/13/2003 09:36:13 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by lp30:
The biggest number goes closest to the camera. E.g. +4 then +2 then +1. |
Thank you! Yup, I tried it backwards LOL.
Shari
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