Thanks for taking the time to reply. Not something I have tried much and was experimenting with an eyepiece extension (given as a gift to help me) as I have severe astigmatism and have great difficulty in achieving a focus, I tried live focus and AF without success. Hence the use of a pin and dead moth. I will try harder - looked at some of your shots - great and an inspiration. Thanks again for taking the time.
No problems.
Im really wondering why you are relying on manual focus?? Whilst i dont suffer from your condition, anything less than full arms length, an its a blur for me! My eyes are getting old now, i need to wear glasses for close up stuff(within arms length). But, i dont wear glasses when im shooting macro/close up, i just use Auto focus all the time. Modern cameras have bloody good AF, so why not use it? Get to know your camera/lens really well, know that when you switch your camera on, choose your focus point in the frame, AF will focus rapid for you(your camera will beep when focus is acheived) then just shoot a single frame, refocus an shoot, refocus an shoot. Within a short space of time, you will get a few "keepers".
Using manual focus is time consuming, when you move on/step up to shooting images of live/moving creatures, you will not have the time to faff around with manual focus, because the bug/creature will have moved! Add your eye condition into the mix, an you will be making it really hard for yourself.
Practice, practice, practice...an more practice.
When the question of macro/close up is asked on forums...most will suggest that - "If your serious about shooting macro, then you must only use manual focus". I dont buy into this "old wives tale" at all. Ive been shooting close up/macro for 10 years now...my eyesight has got worse over those years...but for 99.9% of all the images ive shot over those years, ive used AF.
Sure, manual focus has its benefits, an probably works well for critical/serious focusing needs, but for the likes of you an I, who are just hobbyists, AF will do just fine.
Cheers about viewing some of my images...nothing wrong in looking for/finding inspiration...i do it all the time, viewing other peoples images.
