A fly for Ladybird

[torque22]

Had 5 mins in the garden today, but it was too windy to get any decent pics. Just managed to get most of this fly and thought Ladybird might want to see it.

I only just got the fly all in focus (or not) the eyes are a bit iffy. Picture taken hand held on shutter priority, my favorite. stopped down to f7 I like blurred backgrounds and always attempt to get the DOF as small as pos around the subject.

The new EF12 extension tube is taking some getting used to.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee112/torque2/Macro/flysm.jpg

[torque22]

The depth of field preview does not really help me. Anyone got any tips on how I can ensure that the whole of the subject stays in focus, but the background is blurred.

[Ajophotog]

Dof in macro is very narrow by the nature of the magnification so don't worry about blurring as it will anyway. Use manual f:11, shutter @1/200, iso 100 or 200 and use flash, diffused if possible. Manual focus moving the whole camera in and out to focus and you should be fine. Give it a go Chris.

[torque22]

Dof in macro is very narrow by the nature of the magnification so don't worry about blurring as it will anyway. Use manual f:11, shutter @1/200, iso 100 or 200 and use flash, diffused if possible. Manual focus moving the whole camera in and out to focus and you should be fine. Give it a go Chris.

I have n't tried Manual yet...do you think I'm ready?

F11? why did I spen so much money on an f 2.8 macro lens?
whats it good for?

OK I'll give it a go.

[Ajophotog]

I have n't tried Manual yet...do you think I'm ready?

F11? why did I spen so much money on an f 2.8 macro lens?
whats it good for?

OK I'll give it a go.

If you use F2.8 in macro your DOF will be paper thin and if your close down beyond f:16 your shots will be soft caused by diffraction so f:11 is a good mid point for you to start with. When using you camera for shooting normal portraits f2.8 is good for blurring backgrounds. In darker areas or needing faster shutter speeds 2.8 is great as it allows more light into the camera meaning you can use faster shutter speeds. I don't know if you have any photography books Chris but all this is explained better than I can in them. Hope this helps in some way.:gag:

[Slapo]

The F2.8 is actually great if you want to use the lens for something else than macro and one other thing - unless you use DOF preview, the aperture is fully open, and in theory you should get more light in, resulting in a brighter image in the viewfinder.
Whether it is actually noticeable, I have no idea at all, since I don't have such lens.

Nice shot, the lighting could be more diffused, but it's not such an easy thing to do.
My latest diffuser got sort of destroyed, but I have a new one working in a different way.
Not tested on small shiny subjects well, though.

[torque22]

The F2.8 is actually great if you want to use the lens for something else than macro and one other thing - unless you use DOF preview, the aperture is fully open, and in theory you should get more light in, resulting in a brighter image in the viewfinder.
Whether it is actually noticeable, I have no idea at all, since I don't have such lens.

Nice shot, the lighting could be more diffused, but it's not such an easy thing to do.
My latest diffuser got sort of destroyed, but I have a new one working in a different way.
Not tested on small shiny subjects well, though.

Using the DOF preview just makes the image in the viewfinder go rather dark, I don't find it particulary helpful.

I have taken the advice onboard from the King of Ultra Macro photography, Ajophotog. So if possible tomorow I will try some manual shots of F11, see what happens.

I don't have a diffuser but Ajophotog has sent me instructions on how to make one with kitchen roll.

[Ladybird]

Awww! it's like the one I had in my garden!!! Much better picture though! :p

[torque22]

Ladybird
I had gone out to photograph a butterfly "for a change from hover flies", but by the time I got outside it was gone and this fellow was in its place, which reminded me of your pics I had seen the day before.

I had taken some nice side shots too but because of the wind, they were blurred.

[novicesnapper]

Great detail on the fly - fab colours too. I looked at your gallery. What the heck is the strange beastie in sm_white_copy? Ugly creature!

I'm new to this and am still in auto mode too. Manual's too scary at the moment as I don't understand it. Hopefully soon.

Helen

[torque22]

Thanks for the reply helen.
here is a link to another thread of mine (my first time on full manual) which has much better photos.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=32618

You will get lots of help and advice on here.
PLease get your camera out of Auto asap, experiment with it, and don't be afraid of your manual or doing anything wrong, thats how we learn.

The white thing in the thread you refer to turned out to be an empty carcase of a shield bug, which had out grown its skin.

[torque22]

Helen, what camera & lens have you got?

[novicesnapper]

Thanks for the reply helen.
here is a link to another thread of mine (my first time on full manual) which has much better photos.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=32618

You will get lots of help and advice on here.
PLease get your camera out of Auto asap, experiment with it, and don't be afraid of your manual or doing anything wrong, thats how we learn.

The white thing in the thread you refer to turned out to be an empty carcase of a shield bug, which had out grown its skin.

Ahh thanks, it did look a bit other worldly!

I have a Nikon D40X with a kit lens: AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 GII ED. Hubby's macro lens is a: Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8 G IF ED. He also has: Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 D prime and Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR 2 IF ED DX.

Helen

[torque22]

Sounds like your hubby should be able to get you up and running without using AUTO.
I have gone the canon route. 400D, EFS 60mm macro + EF12 tube, EFS 17-55 f/2.8 IS, EF 70-200 L f/4 and just orderd a copycat handgrip from hong kong for £30. Oh and today my 580EX II flash arrived so i need to spend about 3 weeks learning how to use that as well now.

So much for digital free photo's (its cost me a fortune so far) and so much to learn.

[novicesnapper]

Sounds like your hubby should be able to get you up and running without using AUTO.
I have gone the canon route. 400D, EFS 60mm macro + EF12 tube, EFS 17-55 f/2.8 IS, EF 70-200 L f/4 and just orderd a copycat handgrip from hong kong for £30. Oh and today my 580EX II flash arrived so i need to spend about 3 weeks learning how to use that as well now.

So much for digital free photo's (its cost me a fortune so far) and so much to learn.

Hubby's a novice too so we're learning together. He likes his toys so has to have the dog's dangleys, but fortunately likes to share hobbies with wifee hence my lovely new Nikon.

We bought from Hong Kong, much cheaper than in the UK - typical. He bought me the SB600 speedlight flash and a spanglier model for himself and the manuals for the flashes were bigger than the camera manuals - go figure!

Helen

[torque22]

Hong Kong, lol...thats where all my kit has come from too. Thanks to Ebay.
Why do we get so ripped off in this country?

[novicesnapper]

Hong Kong, lol...thats where all my kit has come from too. Thanks to Ebay.
Why do we get so ripped off in this country?

Yep ebay it was for us too. When someone is selling proper gear for far less and they pay the import duty and tax for you as well, it's a no brainer. We tried gear out in the camera shops first then went straight onto ebay.

I'm sick of being ripped off in this country too. I make jewellery and I buy most of my consumables and some of my tools from the States - it's far cheaper even with the import duty and tax than buying it here!

Helen

[torque22]

Digital Rev?

[novicesnapper]

Digital Rev?

yep you guessed it

Helen