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Here are my first shots at macro photography, it's great fun, and I think this will take up a fair bit of my time for a while as it's great fun...



some of you might notice the blue tinge above, I only realised afterwards that I shot this with the computer screen behind the flower oh well, these were really just 'playing with the new toy shots', next time...



Any guesses as to the flower?

Hi Sully,

No idea about the flower.. but I am sure someone will identify it!

This looks slightly fuzzy on my screen. Could I suggest that you use even higher apertures like f22 etc next time to increase your DOF. You may want to try manual focus as well.

I didn't know that the 24 105 could focus close like this.

Keep em coming.

Hehe magic tricks (a macro filter that goes on the end of the lens - about $30. not bad for a bit of fun) they are a bit blurry, particularly the second... but it was my first try! I do know the flower, I work with them, just curious as to whether anyone else knows them... How is the composition etc?

Not bad for a $30 filter....now try to borrow a proper macro lens (Tamron 90mm, Canon 100L) and compare

For a first effort: excellent.

And yes, a lot of fun.

What aperture were these shot at? Do you know where the sweet spot of lens is?

As Cameron has suggested, something like the Tamron 90mm might be an excellent choice for you: it's inexpensive, and bloody good.

Also, perhaps look into getting some extension tubes. Again, an inexpensive option, but a great way to get you learn and shoot more.

I'll vote for a Protea of some kind. Possibly the king.

A very good first attempt. but stop down more if you can. Use a flash to add more light if you need it. This will give you greater depth of field. Also put the camera on a tripod if you haven't already.

I second the suggestion of Tubes. This can be as simple as a toilet roll sticky-taped between the camera and lens, but I recommend the Kenko tubes for greater ease of use. You can also place one lens, reversed, in front of another to give you some amazing magnification. The results you get will depend on the lenses. Some combinations are brilliant, some don't work at all. Suck 'em and see.

I agree with all of the people here. It's a pretty good first attempt, but I think that you can make your focus a bit sharper.

aim54x wrote:Not bad for a $30 filter....now try to borrow a proper macro lens (Tamron 90mm, Canon 100L) and compare

But if I do that, i'll want to buy one!

Mr Darcy wrote:I'll vote for a Protea of some kind. Possibly the king.

I second the suggestion of Tubes. This can be as simple as a toilet roll sticky-taped between the camera and lens, but I recommend the Kenko tubes for greater ease of use. You can also place one lens, reversed, in front of another to give you some amazing magnification. The results you get will depend on the lenses. Some combinations are brilliant, some don't work at all. Suck 'em and see.

Close, but no cigar... The King has a huge flower, if you cup your hands together in a bowl shape, that's how big they are, roughly (if you have big hands). This is a Leucodendron, part of the same family as Proteas but quite different in a lot of ways. this flower is about 2 inches wide.

I have extension tubes, but hate using them because I cannot change the aperature with them as they contain no circuitry. A toilet roll certainly does not have this function!

gstark wrote:For a first effort: excellent.

And yes, a lot of fun.

What aperture were these shot at? Do you know where the sweet spot of lens is?

These were shot at f9 and f11 respectively, I will try a few different options when I have some time later tonight
Thanks all for the feedback

Josh

sully wrote:

aim54x wrote:Not bad for a $30 filter....now try to borrow a proper macro lens (Tamron 90mm, Canon 100L) and compare

But if I do that, i'll want to buy one!

I know....

Mr Darcy wrote:I second the suggestion of Tubes. This can be as simple as a toilet roll sticky-taped between the camera and lens, but I recommend the Kenko tubes for greater ease of use. You can also place one lens, reversed, in front of another to give you some amazing magnification. The results you get will depend on the lenses. Some combinations are brilliant, some don't work at all. Suck 'em and see.

I have extension tubes, but hate using them because I cannot change the aperature with them as they contain no circuitry. A toilet roll certainly does not have this function!

The Kenko tubes fix this problem...they have circuitry to allow for aperture control and even AF (not 100% on IS, but I suspect so as well)

aim54x wrote: and even AF

But for macro photography, AF is probably less important, verging on unnecessary.

aim54x wrote:

Mr Darcy wrote:I second the suggestion of Tubes. This can be as simple as a toilet roll sticky-taped between the camera and lens, but I recommend the Kenko tubes for greater ease of use. You can also place one lens, reversed, in front of another to give you some amazing magnification. The results you get will depend on the lenses. Some combinations are brilliant, some don't work at all. Suck 'em and see.

sully wrote:I have extension tubes, but hate using them because I cannot change the aperature with them as they contain no circuitry. A toilet roll certainly does not have this function!

The Kenko tubes fix this problem...they have circuitry to allow for aperture control and even AF (not 100% on IS, but I suspect so as well)

Yes they also preserve IS (well VR anyway. who can say with Canon ) But like AF, there is not really any point with macro photography.

You didn't mention you had manual tubes. If there is no connection, they work on minimum aperture. You probably want to be there anyway (or close to it!) in order to get maximum Depth of Field. You probably want really bright continuous light though so you can focus successfully.

Mr Darcy wrote:Yes they also preserve IS (well VR anyway. who can say with Canon ) But like AF, there is not really any point with macro photography.

You didn't mention you had manual tubes. If there is no connection, they work on minimum aperture. You probably want to be there anyway (or close to it!) in order to get maximum Depth of Field. You probably want really bright continuous light though so you can focus successfully.

My thoughts exactly about the "IS". AF and IS/VR is not great for macro, but people ask for it (I will get at least one person a week complaining that AF in a macro lens is not fast enough - when used for macro, and at least someone saying "AWESOME" to IS/VR on the 100L (which is meant to be usable with IS as a macro) and 105VR (which is not recommended to use with VR)).

Mr Darcy wrote:
You didn't mention you had manual tubes. If there is no connection, they work on minimum aperture. You probably want to be there anyway (or close to it!) in order to get maximum Depth of Field. You probably want really bright continuous light though so you can focus successfully.

I am suprised, I thought they would stay wide open, as a lens would be before you take a photo so as to let maximum light through the viewfinder. How does this change with and extension tube?

sully wrote:

Mr Darcy wrote:
You didn't mention you had manual tubes. If there is no connection, they work on minimum aperture. You probably want to be there anyway (or close to it!) in order to get maximum Depth of Field. You probably want really bright continuous light though so you can focus successfully.

I am suprised, I thought they would stay wide open, as a lens would be before you take a photo so as to let maximum light through the viewfinder. How does this change with and extension tube?

I think your correct Sully (for Canon lenses), but Greg is a Nikon user (like myself) and by default, the Nikkor lenses without aperture rings (G lenses) have their apertures in the closed down state until you install it on the camera body.

Number one is the winner here.

aim54x wrote:I think your correct Sully (for Canon lenses), but Greg is a Nikon user (like myself) and by default, the Nikkor lenses without aperture rings (G lenses) have their apertures in the closed down state until you install it on the camera body.

If anyone is interested, I have found a solution for canon lenses, fire up the camera with the lens installed normally, select your desired aperature, hold down the DOF preview button while removing the lens and the aperature will stay in that position until installed next time, so you can now reverse your canon lens, or use manual extension rings.

Josh

sully wrote:

aim54x wrote:I think your correct Sully (for Canon lenses), but Greg is a Nikon user (like myself) and by default, the Nikkor lenses without aperture rings (G lenses) have their apertures in the closed down state until you install it on the camera body.

If anyone is interested, I have found a solution for canon lenses, fire up the camera with the lens installed normally, select your desired aperature, hold down the DOF preview button while removing the lens and the aperature will stay in that position until installed next time, so you can now reverse your canon lens, or use manual extension rings.

Josh

Thanks Josh I will try to remember that one