macro mode in low light

[Naturenutz]

Hi folks, just been out with my camera and found some bugs to photograph but it was very late evening. Could,nt focus my digital camera in manual macro mode as i normally use and auto wasnt any better really. Is there anything i can do or is it just no good trying macro in low light . i have a didital camera not a dslr but it has macro and super macro. Ps can you use flash in low light macro mode. Im getting to know my camera but this has stumped me and i realise theres probably no way around it but you never know until you ask

[JennyS]

Does your camera have auto-focus assist?

Full flash can be over-powering for macro shots but if your compact lets you adjust flash output (think that's the right term) you're in business as that'll help with low-light shots.

[Jason Green]

To add to Jenny's point, also use as lower ISO as you can and bring down exposure compensation too if using flash with macro.

[Bruce Williams]

If you are able to use manual flash then a very effective way of fine controlling flash intensity is to use between one and several folds of white kitchen towel held over the flash by a thin elastic band. I have used this technique with some success on my Canon A650. It will work with TTL auto flash but not quite as reliably. Another advantage of this technique is you get a flash diffuser thrown in for free .

You will need to do a few trial shots each trip to determine the number of folds of kitchen roll required to meet the light conditions etc. I found that a good start point on my A650 was manual 1/60s at f/5.6, manual flash with a double fold of kitchen roll. If too bright I would first fine tune by closing down the aperture then if necessary add more folds of kitchen towel. If too dark I would reduce number of kitchen towel folds.

The following comments are only true for macro: 1/60s may seem worryingly slow, however when ambient light levels are low exposure will be dictated almost entirely by the incredibly short duration of the flash - effectively freezing motion. You will not be troubled by blur. However using forced flash at 1/60s is likely to produce blur in bright, sunny conditions.

Bruce

[Naturenutz]

Thanks for shedding some light on the subject, excuse the pun . cheers folks

[Naturenutz]

its an olympus 9000 u , it has a macro and supermacro mode . it has auto flash ,fill in flash and red eye flash in manual and normal macro but not in super macro. As stated above it appears the flash is too powerful for macro shots and i dont think it has auto adjust . I may try the kitchen towel sometime. It often shows the flash needed sign in low light and wont focus. ive noticed it has a limit on the minimum size of object it can focus on,which i guess is normal. anything below say 7 or 8mm it has trouble picking up,but hey 8 mm isnt bad in my eyes,but i have noticed some aphids photographed on here etc,i guess they use a manual dslr ? or they have a better focus . but in general im very happy with it . Cheers . Ps this is a normal digital camera not a dslr,but ill get a dslr sometime hopefully.

[acherontia]

Blooming 'eck what a can of worms this is and how many solutions are there?

My initial reaction to the original post was

1- Sack it off

2- How patient is Bruce?

Having said that the reading through was educational but-

I maintain that the key to successful Macro photograpohy is.......LIGHT.

Indirect/diffused is the best so if you can employ a slave or two all the better because the flash on top of your camera is only useful to fire off something more effective...........unless you are lucky enough to afford a twin light system that does the job.

In any case ,as in all photography, light is the key.

A

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by acherontia

Sack it off