Flower macros, stacked versus selective

Phil_L

These pics are a by-product of my testing a KatzEye focusing screen on my D70. Sigma 150 f2.8 macro.

Tripod, diffuse light (hot house), apperture f 7.1, manual focus at ~1:1.3 and manual exposure.

Five pictures stacked:






First shot with focus on stamen as a comparison:



How do I like the KatzEye?
Just fine. Felt immediately at home with it.
(I still have a fully manual Pentax MX, now in honourable retirement)

CC welcome.

Kevin

just fine, thank you very much indeed

DaddyO

I get this and its nice work. Still I can't get past the bottom center. Is that a problem area? Michael

Skippy

Phil_L wrote:

These pics are a by-product of my testing a KatzEye focusing screen on my D70. Sigma 150 f2.8 macro.

Tripod, diffuse light (hot house), apperture f 7.1, manual focus at ~1:1.3 and manual exposure.

Five pictures stacked:
First shot with focus on stamen as a comparison:
How do I like the KatzEye?
Just fine. Felt immediately at home with it.
(I still have a fully manual Pentax MX, now in honourable retirement)

CC welcome.

Hi Phil, you can see there is much more detail in the first shot.
However, the shot looks more like a close up than a MACRO.

Have you tried it on something more extreme,
I'd like to hear what you think when trying to do extreme MACRO's
using the KatzEye.

Thanks for sharing your test and findings
....Skippy
.

Phil_L

Kevin wrote:

just fine, thank you very much indeed

Thanks bootie!

Phil_L

DaddyO wrote:

I get this and its nice work. Still I can't get past the bottom center. Is that a problem area? Michael

Thanks Michael.

The stack didn't include the bottom center.
Didnt actually think of it, was concentrating on the flower.

Phil_L

Skippy wrote:

Hi Phil, you can see there is much more detail in the first shot.
However, the shot looks more like a close up than a MACRO.

Have you tried it on something more extreme,
I'd like to hear what you think when trying to do extreme MACRO's
using the KatzEye.

Thanks for sharing your test and findings
....Skippy
.

Thanks Skippy!

You are right, I was using the term macro loosely!

I am finding the KatzEye very promising for real macro especially with the small viewfinder on the D70.

Unfortunately I am still having manual focusing problems with the camera due to a maladjustment of the mirror which reflects the image into the view finder.
Problem has nothing to do with the focusing screen itself.
There are seperate adjustments here for manual and autofocus. My AF system is bang on, but not much help here.

Will give you a better answer with samples when I get it sorted.

I don't expect any sympathy from Nikon with this , so I'll have to tweak the camera myself , which is a little nervous.

Awais Yaqub

I love this flower nice photos

Phil_L

Awais Yaqub wrote:

I love this flower nice photos

Thank you kindly Awais.:D

Phil_L

Skippy wrote:

snip..

Have you tried it on something more extreme,
I'd like to hear what you think when trying to do extreme MACRO's
using the KatzEye.

...snip
.

Skippy after sorting out the problem I think the KatzEye is excellent for macro.
A huge improvement for me compared to the standard screen, which apart from the difficulty in judging correct focus, was causing me to systematically back focus.

Here are some test photos with the Sigma 150 f2.8. Aperture 2.8 to make the focusing critical, manual exposure, hand held but stabilised by leaning on something solid.
All pics at 1:1 magnification.
Shot in RAW, summary adjustments in ACR including sharpening, saved for the web in PS2 without further abuse.


Focus on the tip of the leaf using the center split screen:




Focus on the tip of the leaf using the "matte" texture on the perifery of the screen:




Focus on the tip of the thorn with the center split screen (slight underexposure):




Focus on the root of the thorn "bundle" using the "matte" surface (slight underexposure):



HTH and FWIW

Phil