iso for compact macro

[Naturenutz]

Hi,just wondered what iso you guys use for macro.i have a half decent compact with macro modes.I am finding i am using iso 400 more than anything and using it in sports mode which i figured allows for movement.Anyone else find they are using a higher iso ,and any tips appreciated.
regards
vic

[MeadsMan]

Lower iso is generally the best idea.Your right to say the sports mode will help prevent camera shake,or motion blur,but at the same time it likely sets a wide aperture,which will reduce what parts of your photo are in focus.I would try macro mode,and just keep an eye on the shutter speed,and only bump up the iso to compensate for poor lighting conditions.

[Geoff F]

If it is a 'half decent' camera I would be thinking about moving away from the auto settings and trying to use a bit more manual input. Possibly try Av (aperture priority) and try an aperture of around F8 or F11 to give more depth of field. But watch the shutter speed as well.

The older compacts struggled at ISO 400 but it shouldn't be too bad with the newer improved versions, although as Meads Man said, the lower the better.

Learning about the acceptable balance between shutter speed and aperture will be a bit of trial and error at first but you should soon learn exactly what your camera is capable of.

But for macro photography, I would recommend a tripod, or possibly a monopod, which really will make all the difference. Even a cheap lightweight model will make a considerable improvement.

[Naturenutz]

thanks for your repliesand suggestions,the odd thing is my camera seems to have about a dozen settings of different modes.The macro mode is not one of them settings,it is a seperate area of the menu.So i cannot entirely be sure if it overides the 12 option modes(sport,night,indoor,portrait , landscape etc).i have just left it on the sport mode as i photograph insects which are often moving slightly. I may not need to choose a mode ,as macro may overide everything but i tried landscape mode,while using macro and it would not focus,not sure if this was just one of those odd times when things dont focus as you like or related to the 12 modes needing tobe correct. As it is a compact i cannot manually contol the macro zoom as far as i am aware.Also i have found the camera macro mode will not pick up a very small say 5mm subject,so i zoom in on my arm to the maximum approx 1cm max zoom from any subject,holding the zoom button down i get to within 1cm of the subject and shoot.Itworks but is inconsistant,you rely on your screen for the subject to become sharp,but it does allow you to shoot a subject that the camera will not normally pickout itself and i guess i am kinda manually overiding it .
Pics are good although usually iso 400 as insect are usually in the undergrowth with a dark background and surrounding,just trying to find out if anyone has similar findings

[squishy]

as long as i can get a shutter speed faster then 150/sec, i put the ISO as low as possible

usually around 100-200

[MeadsMan]

I am a little confused,as the zoom is more to do with composition and framing your subject rather than focussing,generally these are two very different things,it should focus at what ever zoom setting you use,unless you are indeed to close to your subject.With most compacts I have found they focus closer at the wider end of the zoom,you will need to experiment with this,but if you can still close focus at the top end of your zoom,this will give you a greater working distance.I think it may help quite alot if you mention which Camera you are using,as other users of the same camera can likely offer you good advice.