hand held or tripod

[shiro69]

macro is something I would love to get into. I have a canon 100 and was wondering if most of you hand hold or use a tripod when taking some of these great pics?

[J1000]

macro is something I would love to get into. I have a canon 100 and was wondering if most of you hand hold or use a tripod when taking some of these great pics?

I think that things like the shallow depth of field (or perhaps its just an issue with sensitivity of focus with a macro lens), and small apertures (which lead to longer exposures) make it best accomplished with a tripod. You also might need to have a tripod that can get fairly low to the ground if that is where your subject will be.

[Roy Mathers]

I don't do macro personally but it seems to me that it's one photographic technique that screams out for a tripod.

[shiro69]

cheers for the replys , so how do you stop the insects flying off when setting the tripod up :lol::lol:

[ImRaptor]

When dealing with insects, tripod isn't the way to go. You want a good flash setup for that.
There was another thread with a very similar question here http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=679173

[shiro69]

thanks for the link off now for aread

[LordV]

I don't use a tripod - the nearest I get to that is using a bean pole which I grip in my left hand along with a bit of camera
Brian v.

[John_B]

shiro69,
For me its mostly hand held but there are times a tripod works great.

[shiro69]

I am hopping for a good weekend and will try and get some shots thanks for the advice :D

[Sharon S]

When I got the 100mm macro I used a tripod because I didn't think I could handhold it,but I soon dumped the tripod moved up to a mp-e65 which I handhold well so far up to 2x magnification,I will have to try Brian's (LordV) technique to hold on to a pole when I try the 3x and up magnification setting.

[maximus96]

i find it hard to lug a tripod around, get it setup, and inadvertently disturb the bug and have it fly away. hand holding the 100mm was ok with sufficient shutter speed, or you can always use a flash.

[gasrocks]

Monopod.

[nightcat]

Monopod.

Yep... monopod! Took some great macro shots last week at Botanic Gardens. The monopod worked perfectly.

[Cyclop]

It really depends on the situation and what I am photographing. I use both a tripod and monopod for best results.

[Here and There]

Hand held, unless a tripod is absolutely necessary. Now that I have a monopod I'll be using it as well.

[Triptoph]

If you're going to be shooting insects, you'll definitely be limiting yourself if you try to use a tripod. Monopod works okay but also a bit of a hassle unless you know the insect is going to be at a certain height to begin with. LordV's bean pole method would work better I think because you can 'adjust the height' more easily (you're just sliding down the pole with your hand... that sounds bad). You can also use your hand to rest the end of your lens on, then use your fingertips extended to grasp something that the insect is on. if it is on a rock, you touch the rock and your hand stabilizes the lens. If its on a leaf or petal of a flower, quickly but firmly grasp the stem of the flower/leaf under the insect. when you do this just the right way you'll find that most of the time the insect will stay put and accept the different movement that your hand makes... especially if its windy and the plant was moving anyways.

Hope that helps a bit.

[Warl0rd]

handheld for bugs, tripod for studio

[dima1109]

Same as everyone: tripod for flowers and studio, no tripod for insects. My problem with using a tripod for bugs is that with a relatively heavy macro lens (Sigma 105mm, I imagine the MP-E 65 is heavier), a flash, and a bracket, even a light camera like the Rebel XS becomes pretty heavy if you hold it in outstretched hands for a while trying to get the shots. I can't imagine lugging a tripod around with that setup. Plus, if you are using a flash bracket, not all brackets have a thread for a tripod screw (at least the cheap ones like the Delta bracket don't)

[annefernando]

I would definitely use a tripod where available. Specially in conditions where you want maximum exposure. Check out my blog post on macro shots for more information on basic macro shooting - http://annefernando.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/getting-up-close/

If you don't have a tripod, it would be advisable to look around for a place that you can rest your hand on - just so you are as stable as possible prior to the shot.

[yabbie]

I use a tripod for flowers and slow-moving/non-moving things, specially if it's going to be a long session. If it's something moving, then hand-held, with or without a flash. The weight of the flash, MP-E and camera can get a bit much in an awkward position after a few min, so a tripod is nice - specially at high magnifications. Even breathing can make me have to find a bug again at 3-5x magnification.

[Cyclop]

For best macro-shots, I always go with a tripod setup.

[montse]

I don't use a tripod - the nearest I get to that is using a bean pole which I grip in my left hand along with a bit of camera
Brian v.
it might be a silly question, i am new, what is it a bean pole?

[Baselerd]

Well if you are photographing insects there's no way a tripod will work. Just need to use a flash + fast shutter (+preferable small aperature for increased DOF)

[LordV]

it might be a silly question, i am new, what is it a bean pole?
Exactly what it says- a pole for growing beans up :)
I use a 3 section collapsable tent pole when not in my garden- pic below. I just grip the pole at an appropriate height along with a bit of camera
Brian V.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/75900442_47fd4f3814_o.jpg

[kristin6]

Wow, I loved reading this thread. I find it cool that there is a nearly even split of folks to handhold a opposed to using a tripod.

I own the Manfrotto 190xprob legs and I love that I can get it into just about any position. HOWEVER! I am finding that I can't get meeself into those same positions to compose the shot. Also, it takes a lot of time to get the tripod positioned, which requires deliberate thought. My personality is somewhat, "off the cuff," so its more natural for me to hand hold. I can explore the subject more creatively and from more angles this way. Hand holding has its pro's and con's. I shoot more creatively and come up with better compositions hand holding. Critters do not wait around for tripods to be locked into position. On the flipside, its difficult to properly focus at shallow DOF's. One mm of sway changes the focal length. I've tossed away hundreds of beautiful butterflies shots that included sharp butt's and burry faces.