g10 macro test drive, ...

[boki-san]

the sun made an attempt to show itself this afternoon, so boki spent about an hour & did a little naked walk-around, macro test with his new g10.

stuff in my backyard.

click on links above images, if you're curious to see them in high resolution, but be warned, some of them are huge, in order to reveal detail

1-
on mini tripod, 13.8mm, 1/320 sec, f 8, iso 100
blossom is ~1cm across
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552345628_7bHwM-O.jpg
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552345628_7bHwM-X2.jpg

2- stonecrop (which is delicious) preparing to bloom
on mini tripod, 6.1mm, 1/250 sec, f 8, iso 100
longest leaves are ~1cm long
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552358586_uuZK3-O.jpg
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552358586_uuZK3-XL.jpg

3- quartzite in heart shaped pool in bedrock granite
handheld, 21.5mm, 1/1250 sec, f 4, iso 100
quartzite is ~10cm x 17cm
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552403830_B6imZ-O.jpg
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552403830_B6imZ-XL.jpg

4- pediocactus (means 'plains' cactus, which is dumb because they are found in the mountains, and don't grow on the plains)
on mini tripod, 6.1mm, 1/400 sec, f 2.8, iso 100
front cactus is ~8cm in diameter, which is huge for a pediocactus
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552435157_3m5zQ-O.jpg
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552435157_3m5zQ-XL.jpg

5- lichen on bedrock
handheld, 6.1mm, 1/640 sec, f 2.8, iso 100
main clump is ~5cm across
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552403967_aFpE4-O.jpg
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552403967_aFpE4-XL.jpg

6- stonecrop detail
handheld, 6.1mm, 1/160 sec, f 2.8, iso 100
longest leaves are ~1cm long
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552404163_4ZpKX-O.jpg

7-
handheld, 6.1mm, 1/160 sec, f 2.8, iso 100
blossoms with ovaries are ~3cm long
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552387363_coz4d-O.jpg
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552387363_coz4d-XL.jpg

[boki-san]

two more, in a separate post, on account of the stupid '8 image per post' limit

8- paintbrush
handheld, 6.1mm, 1/320 sec, f 2.8, iso 100
main portion of 'blossom' is ~4cm long
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552372514_KbF9P-O.jpg
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552372514_KbF9P-XL.jpg

9- another paintbrush
handheld, 6.1mm, 1/250 sec, f 2.8, iso 100
main portion of 'blossom' is ~4cm long
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552387241_J3UZ7-O.jpg
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/552387241_J3UZ7-XL.jpg

[weezerfan84]

I have a g10 and it seems to perform very well in macro mode. I'm left a little undecided on the other modes. I'm used to how my DSLR performs, but maybe as time goes by things will get better. I thought that I could do without my DSLR and go solely P&S, but right now I just don't know if it's possible. I'll figure it out soon enough I guess. Just don't really have the time to use my DSLR, but when I do, it wows me!

[Glyno]

What confuses me with the G10 and Macro mode is this...
In autofocus, surely the focus beam is going to 'miss' the subject if you're really close due to it being alongside the lens.
What I'm trying to say is, I've seen the green focusing beam hit an area not on the same plane as the subject.
Am I making sense?
:confused:

[Glyno]

...or is manual focusing the answer?

[boki-san]

...or is manual focusing the answer?

i haven't fully sorted it, yet,
... but all these were shot with auto-focus, even the super close ones, with the desired result

here's another i shot yesterday, also auto-focus
(clothed, due to the possible proximity of other people)

mayfly, baetis - from head to end of tail filaments ~17mm
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/560989673_DfeDZ-L.jpg

original size http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/560989673_DfeDZ-O.jpg (http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/560989673_DfeDZ-L.jpg)

g10
# Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 1/640 second ===> 0.00156 second
# Lens F-Number / F-Stop = 5/1 ===> ƒ/5
# ISO Speed Ratings = 400
# handheld, ... obviously

[Jakpro]

I have had little success in using auto focus for macro. Usually have to use manual focus.

These photos are excellent and it is great to hear that they were auto focus. I will have to try harder!

[Chairman7w]

I think patience is key when doing macro. No quick snaps, take your time, plan it out, focus in, get lighting right... Come to think of it, that sounds like "photography", actually...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3541/3625628865_3f001dcd92_b.jpg

[laq]

ive had some issue with macro as well- with my old g6 and IS3 is was able to zoom in a bit and still get a good shot- also, i was able to move in and out a bit easier to get a solid focus- with the g10 i cant seem to get good consistant results- esp with insects, since i cant seem to use the zoom..its really my only beef with this camera.

[boki-san]

... I've seen the green focusing beam hit an area not on the same plane as the subject ...

i believe the green beam is only to better illuminate the subject for focusing when ambient light is not optimal,
and that it is not actually any part of the focusing mechanism.

because it is aside the lens, there is bound to be some major parallax when very close to the subject,
and so not hit the area you're focusing on.

your camera doesn't care, because it is focusing through the lens,
right on the crosshairs, right on the spot you're interested in.
as long as your subject is well lit enough for it to acquire focus,
the green beam is a non-issue.

[weezerfan84]

That mosquito should have been shot at ISO 80 or 100. You have a high enough shutter that you could have dropped your ISO. The G10 is pretty noisy above 400. I pretty much leave mine at ISO 80 and use it in the daylight or with my speedlite as much as possible!

[boki-san]

That mosquito should have been shot at ...
http://boki-san.smugmug.com/photos/153442685_BoXj8-L.gif it's not a mosquito

... should have been shot at ISO 80 or 100. You have a high enough shutter that you could have dropped your ISO. ...

i wanted to preserve the fast shutter speed, because i was shooting so magnified, handheld.

... The G10 is pretty noisy above 400. ...

no.
it's pretty noisy at 400.
it's pretty noisy, period.
one of my primary disappointments with it.

... I pretty much leave mine at ISO 80 and use it in the daylight or with my speedlite as much as possible!

i agree with you.
though i am still playing around with various ISO settings,
i have realized that for critical work, it must be set at 80 or 100.

... or with my speedlite as much as possible!

i hate the look with a strobe, and prefer available light, if at all possible.
obviously, strobes are a necessary evil.

[weezerfan84]

Overall, I just wasn't as impressed with the G10 as I wanted to be. Maybe the more I play with it, the more I will enjoy it.

[boki-san]

Overall, I just wasn't as impressed with the G10 as I wanted to be ...

me neither.
but it is what it is.

i wanted a POS with the mostest,
& would've preferred a nikon, but the p6000 was simply inferior.

it's a camera, ... it's not my last.
when a new model is revealed that gives me more of what i'm looking for, i'll switch.