Macro using new light tent - 1st try

Cameron

I just built a cheap PVC-pipe light tent and tried taking a few quick shots tonight to test it out. The lighting was provided by two clamp lights above and to the left/right of the tent. Here's one of the images - what are your thoughts?

Derno

i think itd be a lot better if you could find away to make more of the ring in focus

itd be a great shot, im not really feeling it

botanist

CSwinton wrote:

I just built a cheap PVC-pipe light tent and tried taking a few quick shots tonight to test it out. The lighting was provided by two clamp lights above and to the left/right of the tent. Here's one of the images - what are your thoughts?

I've built the same thing : (the do it yourself lightbox) congrats, it's a ton of fun :

Larger DOF for sure, you should be able to swing f/10+ with a tripod. i normally (depending on the lens of course) shoot at f/10-f/14 on my macro lens.

Cameron

botanist wrote:

I've built the same thing : (the do it yourself lightbox) congrats, it's a ton of fun :

Larger DOF for sure, you should be able to swing f/10+ with a tripod. i normally (depending on the lens of course) shoot at f/10-f/14 on my macro lens.

I did shoot others with more DOF - and I was using a tripod. Here's one at F16. Better?

Skippy

CSwinton wrote:

I did shoot others with more DOF - and I was using a tripod. Here's one at F16. Better?

I prefer this second shot to your first, there is more of the ring in focus.
You can definitely see the difference ....... Skippy (Australia)

pjb923

I agree that more depth of field is needed, but in my opinion the 2nd shot has gone a little too far.

In the 1st shot, even with only a small portion of the ring in focus, you can still see all the detail you need. The pattern is the same all the way around the ring, so it's not necessary to get the entire ring in perfect focus. I also like the angle better in this shot.

By moving up to F16 you now have the less important and highly reflective inside edge of the ring in focus and it calls attention to the reflections of your light tent.

I think I would prefer a DOF somewhere between the 1st and 2nd shot.

botanist

CSwinton wrote:

I did shoot others with more DOF - and I was using a tripod. Here's one at F16. Better?

It's better, but like PJB said it might be too far?

When I'm not sure which DOF to use, I use them all lol So I start at about f/7.1 and move up to f/14 or so one step at a time. But I'm crazy...

Higher DOF is definitely preferred, had there been an inscription on the ring I think f/16 would have done us nicely here.

Awais Yaqub

wonderful i like 2nd version most

Cameron

Thank you everyone for the comments and suggestions - I appreciate it! I'll shoot some more this weekend with the tent and see how it goes.

Now where did I put that ring... Just kidding - the wife would kill me.