My first real macro shot..

00SS

I finally bought a real macro lens (the 70-300 'macro' doesn't count) :rofl
And well, it's my first attemp at ever shooting with a real marco lens.

In any event, I picked up a good deal on a Sigma EX 50mm f2.8 DG AF Macro :clap . It hunts a little with low light.. and getting light is a little tricky. But I am very pleased with this lens for the price;

f14 @ 2.5s


C&C more than welcomed.. thanks for looking
Devin

00SS

Couple more from the set
just using diff apetures.. testing 1 .. 2

#2


#3


#4


can you believe my cat let me take a macro (with flash) of his eye.. twice!!

00SS

i'm struggling a bit with the 1:1 - but here is a small jumping spider (don't know the technical name) that i found in my driveway. any thoughts ? tips? C&C welcomed

jsqueri

Wow, great depth of field on the first few. That's been my issue with my new sigma 105- very narrow dof.

Love the color on 1 and the texture on 2.

Your spider needs the same help my flies do. Tough getting that ultra crisp cloes-up you see so much of on this forum.

Nice start.

00SS

thank you.. and yes, i see all these shots here and think.. damn, i have a lot to learn (but also i need a better lens)

Lord Vetinari

Good start with the new lens.
When shooting near 1:1 it's fairly normal to use MF rather than AF. The camera will often have trouble with AF due to low light and thin DOF, even if it does lock focus it may not focus on the right bit of the subject. Easier to set the magnification you want and focus by moving the camera.
Brian V.

00SS

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Good start with the new lens.
When shooting near 1:1 it's fairly normal to use MF rather than AF. The camera will often have trouble with AF due to low light and thin DOF, even if it does lock focus it may not focus on the right bit of the subject. Easier to set the magnification you want and focus by moving the camera.
Brian V.

Yes, i noticed rather quickly that manual focus is the way to go... and f7 seems to be the sweet spot on this lens. I have a lot of practice to do, but feel i already am in need of some kenko tubes, as it just wont' get down to the detail i want :cry

Lord Vetinari

00SS wrote:

Yes, i noticed rather quickly that manual focus is the way to go... and f7 seems to be the sweet spot on this lens. I have a lot of practice to do, but feel i already am in need of some kenko tubes, as it just wont' get down to the detail i want :cry

Depends on the subject detail a bit but most people shoot 1:1 around F11 (often with flash) as a compromise between DOF and diffraction softening. F7.1/F8 will give slightly more detail but obviously less DOF.
Brian V.

00SS

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Depends on the subject detail a bit but most people shoot 1:1 around F11 (often with flash) as a compromise between DOF and diffraction softening. F7.1/F8 will give slightly more detail but obviously less DOF.
Brian V.

Thanks for the tip Brian.. i'll have another go at it soon.

Dalantech

Excellent first outing!

Paul Iddon

You made a good start. Macro is so intersting when you get into it.

Paul.

00SS

Thank you Dalantech & Paul, I must admit that macro shooting is very fun.. and frustrating at the same time. I find it extrememely difficult when shooting handheld at 1:1, they look great in the fiewfinder but when I pull them off the camera.. well not so much.