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06/22/2007 01:38:29 PM · #1 |
Help!!
Ok here is my problem. When I try to take a macro or a photo close up, I will use as an example a butterfly. When I use my 350D Rebel XT in Macro setting and use the lense Quantaray AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 (I know not the best lense I can get but it was what I could afford when I bought my camera), I can not seem to get a decent clear photo the dof is way too short. I can get part of the subject in focus but the rest is all blury.
What I would like to know is how can I take a macro shot without using the macro settings and use the manual settings so I can adjust the dof.
Here is a photo of a friends he uses his XTI with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS ( which is on my wish list)he uses the macro setting on his camera
Here is a sample of my pathetic example
I did use a tripod to prevent a camera shake
If this does not make any sense forgive me
Brenda |
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06/22/2007 01:42:48 PM · #2 |
switch from the macro mode to aperture priority mode... (this is Av on a canon, right?)
anyway... set that to as high a number as you can while keeping the shutter speed under 1/100th at least. this should give you much more DOF for shots like this (ie, in bright daylight)...
in shade, indoors, etc, you'll need a flash, preferably with some soft of diffuser like a lumiquest ultrasoft or fong's lightsphere...
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06/22/2007 01:42:55 PM · #3 |
| Shoot in aperture priority mode and use a small fstop, that will increase dof. You might need to increase the ISO to make up for the loss in light. |
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06/22/2007 01:45:10 PM · #4 |
What/where is this "macro" setting you are talking about? On the camera or on the lens? My 20D body doesn't have a macro setting, for whatever that's worth.
In general, DOF in a macro is always gonna be extremely shallow, just because you are up so close. There's no way around it except to stop down to smaller apertures, which means longer shutter speeds and blur on anything that is moving. You can compensate with a higher ISO, but you pay a price in image noise for doing so.
Choosing your point of focus is critical. Don't use autofocus, do it manually. Whatever DOF you have will extend 1/3 in front of the point of focus and 2/3 behind it, so you need to "front focus" a little bit.
R.
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06/22/2007 01:48:47 PM · #5 |
actually these were taken with the same lens, i had a pretty decent DOF, with macro mode, if you have enough light try to increase your f/stop |
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06/22/2007 01:50:23 PM · #6 |
What I do is set the camera on apature priority, that way I can choose the apature that I want controlling the DOF, and the camera chooses the shutter. If the camera chooses a shutter to slow then you need to either crank up the ISO or open up the apature. Rule of thumb is at least keep the shutter speed to the equivalent of the focal lenght, so if you are at 100mm focal you should be at least 1/100s shutter. This is all relative because if it is a moving bug then things will change to avoid motion blur. Also depending on your metering choice and the subject you may need to use exposure compensation in this mode to get the right exposure. Tripod is good but hard to use w/ moving objects like bugs so I usually go handheld. hope this helps and you will have a lot that just don't make the cut, it's ok and normal, at least from my expierence!
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06/22/2007 01:56:27 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Choosing your point of focus is critical. Don't use autofocus, do it manually. Whatever DOF you have will extend 1/3 in front of the point of focus and 2/3 behind it, so you need to "front focus" a little bit. |
If you have the camera on a tripod, and if aren't shooting wide open or near wide open, and if the subject isn't in motion, and if the eyepiece diopoter is set correctly maybe, but if the center AF spot is chosen, the AF is faster and more accurate than manual in a case like the examples shown above.
Non-believers in AF? Stick a 300mm lens on your camera and shoot a full moon in AF and in manual. I have yet to get sharper than the AF can do for me in manual.
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06/22/2007 02:04:00 PM · #8 |
Wow, thanks everyone for the great responses. I will try these and see if I can get a better shot. Hummm, lunch time I just might have to go out for a drive a lunch and see if I can do any better.
thanks again
Brenda |
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06/22/2007 02:06:22 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
What/where is this "macro" setting you are talking about? On the camera or on the lens? My 20D body doesn't have a macro setting, for whatever that's worth. |
On the mode dial on your camera, I believe he's talking about using the auto "macro or closeup mode" turning the dial to the little flower icon ;)
-dave |
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06/22/2007 02:14:46 PM · #10 |
My solution has been to stand back and zoom in.
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