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04/17/2008 12:57:42 PM · #1 |
I don't have a "macro" lens.. Any tips for doing a macro type shot without that lens? Are macro lenses just adjusted so that they can focus on closer objects? i.e. How much do people zoom in on these bug shots in photoshop? How big is the bug actually in the viewfinder?
I guess all of the sudden I've asked a bunch of questions!
Thanks! |
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04/17/2008 01:04:50 PM · #2 |
No bugs!!! Oh...you're not asking about the macro challenge. :-)
Without a macro lens you can use extension tubes, diopter/closeup attachments (like a screw-in filter), or do a reverse lens hookup (I think there's a tutorial on that one). eta tutorial link ==> Reversing Lenses for Macro Photography
Most of the macros on here are achieved via the lens (meaning not all cropping in photoshop), in ref to one of your questions.
Message edited by author 2008-04-17 13:11:40. |
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04/17/2008 01:07:35 PM · #3 |
| With a true macro lens, one that goes to 1:1 magnification, an insect just under an inch long will fill the viewfinder at maximum magnification. Macro lenses achieve this magnification by allowing very close focus. It's possible to do this without a macro lens, but you'd still need some accessories. A 50mm lens with 50mm of extension tubes will go to 1:1 magnification. It's also possible to reverse a 50mm lens on the end of another lens to achieve more than 1:1 magnification, but this trick depends on the lenses involved, requires a specific double-threaded adapter and the high magnification and small working distances involved make for difficult focusing and extremely thin DoF. |
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04/18/2008 05:29:22 PM · #4 |
| And what about built in macro features of the camera? Is that too bad? |
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04/18/2008 05:39:50 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by marcusvdt:
And what about built in macro features of the camera? Is that too bad? |
Built-in macro feature of P&S cameras can actually be quite good, for a couple reasons:
- The sensors on these cameras are small, so even at say, 1:4 magnification something an inch (25mm) long will fill the frame
- The short focal length of the optical system means larger DoF for the same frame coverage as an SLR (note, not the same magnification!)
It's for this reason that my little Nikon 995 still sits in my desk drawer at work. It's perfect for those quick "documentary" macro tasks. |
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04/18/2008 05:46:01 PM · #6 |
Try just holding your normal lens reversed in front of the camera. I took this picture of a small (10mm) spider using my 50mm lens reversed. With a flash, I easily got away with the shake, and after a few tries I got it sharp and without stray light coming in (you have to get a tight fit between reversed lens and camera house not to let light in "the wrong way". Oh, it's very good to have a manual aperture ring when doing this...
Edit: here's the image //www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=653352
Message edited by author 2008-04-18 17:47:19. |
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04/18/2008 11:46:28 PM · #7 |
Well I ended up finding a close up filter that worked pretty well. It didn't fit my lens, so I held it in place, but the camera was on a tripod so really no problem.
Oh, and I was asking for the macro challenge, I just brought up bugs because thats the best example I could think of that I could visualize through my viewfinder with size and filling the frame.
Also, can I click my shutter on my D80 without the lens attached? i didn't realize I could do that. |
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04/19/2008 10:41:33 AM · #8 |
Yes, your D80 will happily take pictures with a lens attached if you just make sure that it's set to all manual mode (both exposure and focus).
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04/19/2008 10:53:36 AM · #9 |
My Canon S5 can focus with the lens touching the object, which is very handy. I don't have a macro lens for my Rebel yet, but with the 300mm zoom I can focus from about a foot away on something, giving me an extreme close up or macro, depending how close I crop it. It's actually come in handy when I see an interesting bug that is a few feet away.
Damselfly on flickr
This one was close enough that I would consider it a macro. (I should have use it in the water challenge, rather than the one I did enter)
Message edited by author 2008-04-19 11:01:36.
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