Tips for Macro

[Dylanlewis2000]

I recently bought a siggy 150 macro lens, and tomorrow is my first real day out with it. Does anyone have advice on getting the perfect shot?

Im interested in doing close ups, and want to get as close as i can to the action with out bee's and other insects flying away.

[marky_h]

Great purchase :thumbs: - absolutely love mine. It's the right sort of length to get some insect shots without disturbing them too much - you should be able to shoot from several feet away and still get good close ups. Use manual focus, and rock yourself back and forth to get the subject sharp. The DoF is very shallow on these lens, so I would suggest using f/8 or less - which means that in anything less than good sunlight, shots might start to be affected by camera shake unless you're a very steady handholder - and the 150mm is not light.

[Canon Bob]

Pretty much what Mark said. I've got the Canon 180 and have learnt that the most stable way to hold it is to clamp my elbows tight against my sides and then breathe very shallow. Don't be afraid to put the ISO up to 800 or more to keep the shutter speed fast.

It'll take practice but patience will pay dividends.

Bob

[erding]

Very good advise already given. What I found was that keeping the lens steady was the most critical things to achieve - Bob suggests a good technique or think about a monopod or tripod.

Tom

[pauld]

I have a 100mm with IS and have discovered that whatever handheld technique I use anything below 1/100 and I get shake - of course it could be age or the beer. A tripod is best thing I bought but even then not everything is perfectly sharp which I am beginning to realise...getting DoF right is vital:thinking: