some early results with the new macro..What do you think!

[VinceW]

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/927/VWBee001.jpg
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/927/VWFly001.jpg
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/927/VWBee004.jpg
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/927/VWSpider001.jpg

Well after seening some of the shots posted on here, I spent some of the hard earned on a canon 60mm Macro. I use a Canon 350D - can't afford a real camera yet!! But I am quite impressed with results so far.

Please be brutal ..it might help be get some stunning shots soon!

Regards

VW

NB What a numscull!! Sorry for the multiple posts - trouble getting the photos to display properly.

[CT]

Difficult to judge any shot properly, let alone macro shots at this small size Vince. You can go up to 800 pixels maximum - longest side. :)

[VinceW]

http://www.luminaryphotoart.com/Flies/images/Flies18.jpg
http://www.luminaryphotoart.com/Flies/images/Flies22.jpg
http://www.luminaryphotoart.com/Flies/images/Flies26.jpg
http://www.luminaryphotoart.com/Spiders/images/Spiders09.jpg

Sorry CT I hope these copies are better.

[digitalfailure]

Starting look better, but still half the size your allowed to go to.

:)

I had the 60mm macro when i had a 20d, it's a fantastic lens and sharp as a tack !!

[CT]

For first attempts at macro Vince those are looking pretty good, although they could still do with being bigger. At these sizes you're not getting the detail which that new lens is capable of resolving.

You do know you have a free gallery at your disposal right here on TPF? ;)

[VinceW]

I am rapidly loving the 60mm Macro... glad you agree with me. Though I am still a relative newby to true macro photography the results seem to get better each time I go out.

[VinceW]

Hi CT

I have these pics on my pc in great detail, they are uncropped or tampered with. The gallery upload seems to want only 161k how do I get a decent size pic on here?

Regards

Vince

[CT]

Our Gallery limit is 160kb and 800 pixels on the longest side. Properly reduced in size, that's ample to show good quality pics.
First of all reduce the pic to 800 pixels on the longest side. Use Bilinear resizing for reducing size. ( (Bicubic for increasing the size)

Now save it as a jpeg and you'll get an adjustment box appear to choose the amount of compression applied. Adjust the slider till it's just under 160kb.

Now sharpen it in small increments using USM and then save it. That should upload to gallery and look just as it does on your machine.

You can upload bigger files to Gallery but the Gallery software automatically resizes them to our limits and quality can suffer a bit in the process.

[VinceW]

Finally managed thanks CT, Unforunately my laptop only has elements .. no indication of compression ratios here..had to resort to paintshop pro.

[CT]

LOL I still use PSP7 for most of my stuff.

[VinceW]

Thanks .. I think. I've now got a lovely job going through all my gallery photos and resizing them!!!

Anyway hope you enjoy the pics, any critism or advice would be welcome.

[Dave Scanlon]

excellent flying thingy
how do you get them to sit still ?!:thinking:

[VinceW]

Thanks, Its a matter of patience, the wife and I can often be seen lurking round the local wildlife trust places. The flying thingies seem to have favourite places to sit and rest. If you approach them slowly and at ground level they don't seem to fly away.

After all that, its probably just luck and persistence..these are easy, you should try orange tip butterflies or brimstone butterflies. Let alone the birds that are taken in the wilds!

[CT]

Pic 1 The point of focus is right on the head where it needs to be - it just lacks a bit more DOF.

Pic2 I like this one, but the POF is obviously more on his bum than his head. Generally speaking the head needs to be sharp with macro shots and it will still succeed despite the limited DOF.

Pic 3. I think you focused just behind the head?

Pic 4 Looks very soft.

Macro is extremely demanding. Expect to bin lots of shots for every one you keep, but be mercilessly critical. :)

[VinceW]

Some good feedback, and I must admit the compromise between DOF and exposure does seem a tough one to crack. The focus point is just camera setting, which I suppose is practice, I tend to leave my focal point at the centre point for most shots. If the critter stays there long enough I will move the focal point. Is this a good policy or would leaving all 7 point active better and relying on the camera to set DOF?

[CT]

I always use the centre AF point and a tripod - sometimes a monopod. I find with a well supported camera AF then works fine and I get that AF square on the head with no trouble. Trying to hand hold the 180 macro is a complete nono for me.

[VinceW]

Interesting issue, tripods and wildlife. My shots I suppose are opportunist shots, trying to use a tripod is difficult as the buggers don't stay around long.
I suppose that the dilemma of Macro photography .. stabilty..DOF.. shutter speed and ambient light. not to mention camera shake!

[CT]

LOL. Yep pretty well everything works against you. Try a monopod. :)

[VinceW]

Just been looking through a few threads in the critique section, seems that the answer to my prayers may be using a flash. NB all the photos are in natural light with no adjustment apart from the camera..I am only just exploring the merits of RAW.

[CT]

I like to take natural light shots when possible, but flash can be a big help. This is my flash setup.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/Macro_setup.jpg

RAW is the way to go. As Arkady would say - shoot jpegs if someone holds a gun to your head. :D

[VinceW]

Thanks, I take it the flash attachment and extension cord are standard of the shelf equipment?

[CT]

The cord is the standard Canon off shoe cord. The flash diffuser is the Gary Fong Lightsphere.

[VinceW]

Thanks..looks like I might be spending a bit more of the hard earned at some stage!!

I have Canon 350D + Standard Canon 18-55 mm + Sigma 28 - 300 and Canon 60mm EFS Macro with 580 speed light I think i have the numbers right!!

I have some filters and played with the +2 and +10(this was a disaster!!)

[busterboy]

Thanks..looks like I might be spending a bit more of the hard earned at some stage!!

Welcome to photography..:lol:

[MrEd]

Thanks..looks like I might be spending a bit more of the hard earned at some stage!!



yes and beware the other halves dont like it, especially if u tell them glass cost one price and they find out it costs another :bonk: involves hefty wedge being bunged out on pointless things like shoes and dinner out :gag: lol nah i kid but yep its a expensive hobby, you always have money for glass much like u always have money for fags if your a smoker........ :thinking: :)

[MrEd]

oh and yes flash is well handy for insects, but flowers can be so more pleasing with natural light, maybe get a reflector aswell, they arent mega ££££ for a small one