Help w/ G3 or G5 macro mode

[ADBtie]

I am very new to photograpy...I just bought a G5 and when trying to do macro shots in the macro mode all my shots are fuzzy. Do I need a tripod?

Can someone give me some base settings for macro shots...that is exposure, Fstop, shutter speed, etc.


Thanks,

Brad

[Sundance]

Hi there! Try this:

1. Choose P, AV or M depending on what mode you are comfortable with.

2. Make sure you have the flower icon showing in your screen by pressing the macro button (ie you are in macro mode)

3. Check the manual for the "distance from the lens" guidelines to make sure you are in the right ball park distance-wise. I can't remember the distances off hand, sorry.

4. Use a tripod and use the remote control to avoid any camera shake

5. Use manual focus to get the most control over your clarity of shot

6. Depending on what your are photographing, it may be sensible to turn off the flash and use a little exposure compensation to get the right exposure.

7. As to f stops and shutter speed just keep experimenting. It will all depend on your subject, light levels etc. Look at the screen before you take the shot and it will be obvious if the focus is off or the exposure is too much/little. Keep making adjustments until you are happy.

I'm sure there are other bits of advice from the wise ones on this forum, but my guess is that you are at the incorrect distance from your subject to make use of the macro focus, and thus your shots are out of focus as I imagine you are using auto focus and not manual?

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

[Deckyon]

Yes, Tripod, tripod tripod.

It will be extermely difficult for you to get any sharp photos without using a tripod. Even if you follow the plethora of information from Sundance (good job) and not use a tripod. For macros, the tripod is as necessary as the camera.

[ADBtie]

Thanks Brad and Steve!!! This gives me some hope!!

Is there a particular brand of tripod to get??

[Deckyon]

there are all kinds. I would recommend a Bogen/Manfrotto. they are sturdy, last a long time and have many different heads/attachments and are relatively innexpensive.

Also, Promaster has a new Professional series that has come out in the last year that is great, a good alternative to the more expensive Manfrotto.
http://www.promaster.com

[ADBtie]

Thanks you all very much!!! I got a tripod and got the wireless working but I still suck. How can I get a shot like this:

http://www.pbase.com/adbtie/adbtie

[JoseC]

ADBtie wrote:
Thanks you all very much!!! I got a tripod and got the wireless working but I still suck. How can I get a shot like this:

http://www.pbase.com/adbtie/adbtie

Can you show us one of your pictures?
I guess the autofocus dont focus properly.
Have you tried manual focus and focus bracketing ?
Also, at full zoom, dont try to be closer than 30cm otherwise you'll never get a good focus.
Jose C.

[submannz]

Set your Camera to AV is a must for Macro, because you need to control the DOF your are trying to achieve and then you don't have to worry about the shutter speed like you would in Manual mode.

Manual Focus is a must, with the MF enlargement it makes it much easier to then move the camera up and down and see if it is in focus then press the shutter.

I also purchased a +10 close up filter and wow what a difference and it also made it easier to get the focus right.

[phili1]

Not always you can hand hold the G3 - G5 I posted macro pictures go to it and see the two hand held shots.