First attempt with macro lens.

Dave66 · #1 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 06:49 PM

Hi All

I have just bought myself my first macro lens. I got the Sigma 105mm. After trying it out around the house for a few day's I took it out on my lunch break today. So here's my first attempt with it. In my defence I forgot to take either my tri pod or mono pod and as i was on my lunch I couldn't kneel down so I'm quite pleased with this picture. There were quite a few shakey ones too.

Cheers

Dave.

Bruce Williams · #2 (**permalink**) 26-02-2010, 07:06 PM

That's a pretty good shot Dave - particularly as a first attempt. Perhaps most importantly the eye is in focus and shows interesting detail. The antennae also show good detail which can be quite important in identifying woodlice.

Bruce

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 27-02-2010, 08:53 PM

Evening Dave,

Very good! I'd be happy with that. As for support, when I'm using my lens I don't bother. Hand-held is good enough I find.

Practice helps enormously with getting used to the DoF, and with Spring being around the corner you'll have no end of opportunities! A great time to get a new lens

Take care,

Jason

Dave66 · #4 (**permalink**) 27-02-2010, 09:13 PM

Thanks for the reply's lads. I'm certainly looking forward to spring and using my new lens. We have lots of different terrain up here so I'm hoping to photo lots of different species. I think our spring might be a few weeks later than yours but when it arrives Argyll is a beautiful place but to quote my 14 year old daughter "ah summer, what a lovely day that is".

cheers

Dave.

squishy · #5 (**permalink**) 28-02-2010, 05:55 PM

I disagree with Jason.

I use my tri/monopod for all macro at 1:1 or similar magnification. I suppose handholding is easier when you use flash, but I much prefer natural light. If you do you flash, you might be interested in getting (or making) a diffuser, just to make it a little less harsh.

Geoff F · #6 (**permalink**) 28-02-2010, 08:06 PM

Yes I would also say always use a tripod for consistently sharp photos.

Your depth of field is usually very shallow and often only 1/2 inch so it is difficult to hand hold and manually focus without some 'in and out' variation especially when the shutter speed is low.

I know that handling a tripod can be difficult in dense undergrowth but I frequently only have the legs at half splay and you soon get the knack of lifting the tripod before moving it; and always have the legs pointing backwards when moving forwards.

If a bit of flash is necessary, I find that I can usually get away with the basic 'in camera' flash if I remove the lens hood and keep my focusing fingers underneath the lens. I prefer to use manually set flash to keep the aperture and shutter speed at a suitable setting and adjust ISO as required. It does take a bit of time and experimentation to work out your best flash settings but after a while it becomes second nature to you and you can usually get perfect settings every time.

Dave66 · #7 (**permalink**) 28-02-2010, 09:33 PM

Thanks for the info. I wish I had steady enough hands to not use a tri pod but I think I will be using it more often than not. The tri pod i have has a centre column that pivots so it's not bad for getting the camera into tight spots. I also have a cable release which means i won't knock the camera when taking the shot. Thats the plan any way. We'll just have to wait and see if i come up with any good shots this spring and summer. There's a small Loch near me that has a lot of dragonfly on it. I think I'll just go and watch them for a few hours first to try and work out the best place to set the camera up.

Anyhoo, thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.

Dave.

Geoff F · #8 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 07:01 PM

To start with, I always used a cable release but have found that if the shutter speed is reasonably high, say 1/200, it didn't make any difference.

So after a few test shots I decided not to bother with it unless I am using a slow speed; and that does make those quick manually focused shots a lot easier.

Jason Green · #9 (**permalink**) 04-03-2010, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squishy

I disagree with Jason.

I use my tri/monopod for all macro at 1:1 or similar magnification. I suppose handholding is easier when you use flash, but I much prefer natural light. If you do you flash, you might be interested in getting (or making) a diffuser, just to make it a little less harsh.

I don't use flash that much either. I tend to drop the exposure compensation down a couple of stops and that bumps it up to an OK-ish shutter speed and take ten/twenty photographs so at least one will be half-way decent.

I tend to take a lot of my images amongst the grass/under leaves where the awkward angles involved preclude mono/tripods and other support equipment when the insect isn't likely to hang around. I usually then try to support the leaf or other medium to reduce shake.

Don't forget I use a prosumer and, whilst my photgraphs crop sufficiently to get in close to the subject, those of you who use DSLRs with 1:1 magnification may have more issues with handshake and critical focussing

Acutipuerilis · #10 (**permalink**) 05-03-2010, 06:02 PM

Just to add my tuppence' worth, I also never use a tripod, and I tend to go for the titchy things. I've got a DSLR with 105 mm macro and usually with full set of extension tubes and maximum zoom... and as a result, also an external flash, because the inbuilt one can't reach the right angle! The distance to subject is about 8-10 cm, and I'm usually photographing things in a box on the ground, so I just use my fingers, knee, elbow or some other contortion-relation manoevre to make it stable. It still takes a few shots to get right, usually, but is much more reliable than trying to do it with tripod, simply because the beasties generally don't stay still. Ever. They're evil, I tell you.

I did use a tripod in the days when I spent time on hoverflies etc., but in the end it was too awkward for little or no benefit. But maybe that's just me.