Speckled bush crickets appeared today: also help required

[LindaB]

So today was the first day I was able to have a go doing macro with my new 40D, and the SBC's made an appearance - two of them :D

Am very pleased with the sharp focus with the camera, but had difficulty with the lighting/metering. It reacts quite differently to my 350D so a little guidance would be appreciated from those with the 40D please if you can. The subject was nicely exposed but the leaves are really glarey and I cant get rid of it - I know the sun was shining on them but they still seemed too glarey and has spoilt the shots really.

These are the shooting details, so you can advice/guide if you can.
I didnt have the Lumiquest Softbox on, I used my Stofen Omnibounce instead so that I could get there without disturbing the outer leaves too much (this method has always been fine on the 350D). Flash was, as always, mounted on camera.

I used the 'Standard' picture mode. Manual settings = F11, 200s, ISO 200. FEC was initially at +1 (and I think, cant be sure without rechecking, I put it at 0.) Metering mode was Evaluative.

I had the same trouble when I found some HF larvae but not as serious because the sun wasnt on them.

Anyway, here are some pics:

[skylab]

Lovely shots Linda. They remind me of convicts in old films.
Sorry don't have a 40D so can't help with the flash.

[LindaB]

Lovely shots Linda. They remind me of convicts in old films.
Sorry don't have a 40D so can't help with the flash.


Thanks Brian, yes they do look like convicts dont they :lol: They are so cute as well, even though they were munching holes in my poppy leaves lol.

Re the flash, no worries, I reckon I just need more practice with it and get the feel of what works best but pointers would help lol.

Thanks again :D

Linda

[LordV]

Good captures Linda.
I don't find any real difference between the 40D and 350D as far as flash use is concerned. I suspect at ISO200 in strong sun in M mode you may have been near normal or overexposing without the flash - did you notice the metering in the viewfinder ?

Brian V.

[LindaB]

Good captures Linda.
I don't find any real difference between the 40D and 350D as far as flash use is concerned. I suspect at ISO200 in strong sun in M mode you may have been near normal or overexposing without the flash - did you notice the metering in the viewfinder ?

Brian V.

Thanks Brian.

Yes, well I was looking at that and it always stays to the far left :confused: ie -2 and blinking. I did the FEC via the camera, not the flash. It always did that on the 350D too and I couldnt understand it then lol, but I could judge it better on 350D.

I tried some shots without flash but they were quite pale looking and the hairy bits on the leaves were very very light.

I was using the 60mm if thats any help

Linda

[LordV]

Thanks Brian.

Yes, well I was looking at that and it always stays to the far left :confused: ie -2 and blinking. I did the FEC via the camera, not the flash. It always did that on the 350D too and I couldnt understand it then lol, but I could judge it better on 350D.

I tried some shots without flash but they were quite pale looking and the hairy bits on the leaves were very very light.

I was using the 60mm if thats any help

Linda

Hmm- I suspect it shouldn't make any difference but I always change FEC on the flashgun- just find it easier to do. You may just need to find the best average FEC position for your setup but mine is the same for both my camera setups (350D/tubes/105mm and 40D/MPE-65). One problem with a camera mounted flash is the angle is much more likely to give you hot reflective spots on many subjects esp leaves but that should not have changed with the new body.

Brian V.

[LindaB]

Hmm- I suspect it shouldn't make any difference but I always change FEC on the flashgun- just find it easier to do. You may just need to find the best average FEC position for your setup but mine is the same for both my camera setups (350D/tubes/105mm and 40D/MPE-65). One problem with a camera mounted flash is the angle is much more likely to give you hot reflective spots on many subjects esp leaves but that should not have changed with the new body.

Brian V.

Ok, thanks for that Brian, yes I think I need to get more familiar with both. I rechecked the histogram via the camera on these shots and activated the highlight alert and strangely enough the exposure was ok and no 'blinkies' with highlight hotspots, so it may well have just been the sun as well - and maybe my eagerness to get shooting with the new cam and being careless.

Thanks for your help though :D

Linda