Macro Photography

[welshphreak]

Tried taking some macro photos of a housefly today with a standard A70 setup with not too impressive results. What would you suggest I use to get good results? I have the adaptor tube (finally) and was thinking of getting the canon macro lens or see if i could get some close up lenses.

[stduc]

Unless the light is very bright (sunlight?) then you will need to use manual focus. I have found it also helps to use AV mode and set the aperture to f8. You won't be filling the frame with average housefly though unless you get the adapter!

[welshphreak]

I wasn't expecting great results with an add-on lens. Im just curious as to what lans to get to improve them. I've seen kits containing a +4,+2 and +1 close up lens on Ebay for quite cheap. Are these any better or worse than the Canon macro lens?

[Servant]

Hi,

I'm not too sure about that expensive canon macro lens (I hear it's a double element [whatever that means] and I have no idea what diopter {strength} it is).

I just ordered a close up lens set today which you can find here: http://porterscamerastore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=07-1959&Category_Code=F2A

I decided on this set because it has a +8 lens included (the only one I've found anywhere). I don't see a name brand for these lenses so I'm taking a bit of a chance. I'll try and let you know how well they work once I get/test them.


Here's a FAQ with diopter/power relationships for anyone who's interested: http://wwwde.kodak.com/global/en/service/faqs/faq1601.shtml

You also might want to consider this Home-made macro lens: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=128758&username=amiga7

[stopbath]

A double element lens has two elements. Both elements work together to get the best image manipulation (in this case magnification.)

A telescope likely has two elements. One to elarge the image, the other to focus.

Diopter measurements are usually used for eyeglass, or binocular adjustments. When using an SLR camera without eyeglasses, a diopter adjustment will allow you to see the image in the finder, as if you had glasses on. I use a -1 diopter. Binoculars use diopter adjustment to compensate for differences between your eyes (if one eye is focuses different then the other.)

[Jerry Vanderberg]

In taking photos of insects, your biggest problem is depth of field. You can increase this to some degree by stopping down your lens diaphragm as much as possible (highest number). You will also have better luck getting most things in focus at the same time by taking a picture from above. With a head-on view of the insect, you are unlikely to get both the head and the rear end in focus at the same time.

[Servant]

Update: I got those leses that I ordered and have taken some preliminary test shots - here are the results...

Canon A70 without macro lens:
http://home.wi.rr.com/servantseven/quarter-no-lens.jpg

With all four lenses stacked (+15 diopter):
http://home.wi.rr.com/servantseven/quarter-plus15-diopter.jpg

BTW - the brand name (which was not listed on the web sight) is Sinex.

Can't wait to try em out on some creepy crawly critterz :-)

[welshphreak]

Thanks for posting those samples. They seem a really good buy. I know im just a little bit late replying I went away and forgot about this thread!

[atkinson1]

Wow those lenses are incredible. Post some pictures of some cool little insects and stuff if you take any! I took a photo of this black spider once with the macro function, and the pics looked pretty good. It was a camera that I borrowed from someone, not my canon one - but here it is anyway:

http://atkinson2.orcon.net.nz/spid1.jpg

[Servant]

Here's a little dude I found hangin' out at work tonight (he was real small - less than 1/4 in. long I think): http://images.fotopic.net/?id=1354877&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1

[atkinson1]

Wow freaky. Are those spiders poisonus? That one I took was from behind a window so I didn't have to get too close.