New Toys

[kipper]

Well I went to Vanbar today to buy a backpack and wanted to look at the 50mm F1.8D lense but they had none, so I had a look at the F1.4D and came out with that. How I don't know. I also picked up a few closeup filters aswell. Came out with the wrong stepping rings (reversed sizes )though, so I'll go back on Monday and exchange them and pick up a remote. Here are some of the results, can't wait to test the closeup filters on my bigger lenses. Will get better ones when I can afford them, these are just cheap Hoya ones.



50MM / 1.4D lense, I kind of liked this photo as it was a bit arty. Lack of DOF kind of isolated the Daisys (or whatever they are) and the accidental movement or wind blowing them blured them slightly to give a brushed look.

<img src="http://members.iinet.net.au/~darryl_m/Daisy.jpg">


The next photo was taken with the 18-70MM Kit Lense with a +2 and +4 closeup filter stacked on.

<img src="http://members.iinet.net.au/~darryl_m/YellowRose.jpg">[/img]

[gstark]

Kipper,

How is your AF set?

The second of these images looks to me as if it's set to closest object, where I would prefer to see the stamen in focus.

But otherwise, congrats on the new purchases; I'm sure you'll enjoy the 50 1.4.

I would enjoy using mine too if Leigh would ever give it back to me.

[Matt. K]

Kipper
Great colours and nice composition. Your images are a tad soft...maybe due to the wind blowing your subjects around or a slow shutter speed. You'll fine tune this quality thing as you go along. Well done!

[kipper]

Yeah I was trying to get the stamen in focus Gary. I really cranked the aperture down to about F20 with shutter speed around 1/160. I focussed on the petal and locked focus, and was hoping there would be enough DOF to keep the stamens sharp. Think tomorrow is another good weather day so I might go out there again, similar settings and focus on the stamen and hope there will be enough DOF.

[kipper]

Matt, I blame the fairly low shutter speed which was around 1/160 on the 2nd picture and the wind. We've had fairly good weather all week but there is always a constant breeze and our garden flowers always seem to catch it.

[Onyx]

Those dioptre close up filters certainly don't offer much depth of field do they? Nice first attempt though Kipper.

Your daisies have interesting composition (not the usual in the middle). White balance seems a bit too cool in that one. Dial in negative numbers (-1 or -2) if you're in Auto WB, or use the cloudy or shade setting.

[kipper]

Yeah the closeup diopters seem to make the DOF real shallow. Is this something you tend not to get with specialised macro lenses?

As for the daisies having an interesting composition, was trying a few shots with the rule of thirds.

[jdear]

I have yet to play with diopters - closeup filters. heard good things about them.



not sure it it counts, i used film. the print looks a lot more impressive - dodgy scanning from photolab + optimization for web.

ISO 200, around 1/125, f2.0 on 50mm f1.4 lens on extension tube. (rough guestimate)

Id love to finally get a d70 and have a play, see if i can get similar results. I love photographing flowers.

JD

[jdear]

how rude!

i didnt even comment on your images!

i love fast glass! I wonder what the image quality would be like in comparison with those hoya ones compared to the nikon 4T / 5T etc ones.


A big welcome to marcophotography! You'll find it extremely rewarding, and much like a curse. You wont be able to look at anything the same again! You will be poking around for strange details!

great first shots! Mine werent nearly as good when i first pulled out my extension tube. marco teaches you alot about aperture and DOF.

Try sticking the camera on manual focus, maybe buy a viewfinder enlarger, so you can see more and focus a little better.

Tripods are good to have, but when you start working so close to the ground they go out the window (unless you have a special tripod) - most of my photos are handheld these days - does limit me to a shaller DOF and 1.4 end of the aperture. - iso 200.

Very curious to have a play with a DSLR and macro.

when you get in real close, get a water mister and spray it on, it creates nice refractions, and really beautifies some flowers which are normally pretty boring.

i like the composition of the daisies. By pickig out a more green background - even shift them if they are in a pot to some grass or something, the flowers will stand out more on a plainer brackground. what magnification are those filters? - wind is a killer for me, and i wont take photos if i think its even a bit windy.

the 2nd photo is very nice - great colour, try focusing on the stamens - pollen part inside the flower, that is where my eyes first go.

keep up the great work!! look fwd to seeing more of your images in the future!

JD

[mudder]

G'day,
I don't know the first thing about macro photography, but that last one I really like...
http://www.jdear.com/images/flower1.jpg
For some reason it really grabbed my attention...

Cheers,
Mudder

[jdear]

Thanks Mudder

great to have photos appreciated.
Id love to publish some tips etc when i get my d70 for macro photos.
But nothing beats just playing around!

I might post some more on my webspace and then let other users look at them, although they arent really d70 related... yet

JD

[Matt. K]

Kipper...that is a lovely lens. get a reversal ring for your camera...it allows you to mount the lens reversed for extreme close-ups. Works very well. (As good as a dedicated macro lens).

[Raydar]

Kipper...that is a lovely lens. get a reversal ring for your camera...it allows you to mount the lens reversed for extreme close-ups. Works very well. (As good as a dedicated macro lens).

I’ve been thinking about doing that.
How much you looking at for one of the rings Matt?????

Cheers
Ray

[PlatinumWeaver]

Is it just me or is there a little bit of "chromic abberation" around some of the edges on the yellow flower?

[xerubus]

kipper... congrats on the purchase....

first shot: to soft.. but very nice bokeh...

second shot: good to see a different view ... most shots are of the center of the flower, nice to see an alternative...

enjoy your new toy.