reccomended settings....

[snapper27]

what type of settings work best for the macro bumble bee type of shots I see here.

I use a 90mm tamron. As far as f-stop, shutter speed.

Does everyone use manual focus for these?

thanks.

[Mannytkd]

I can't speak of anything for the D20,(i wish i had one) but as far as macro goes it would be down to personel preference and with a macro lens like the one you've got you probably can't go wrong. The only advice i could give you is just go and practice as often as you can, you can do all this in your own garden and home. I have a G6 and all i did was practice and learn with no help at all. Take a look at the '....ladybird feasting...' in this section and all i do is adjust as i go, i lower the output of the flash and most of the time decrease the exposure and i find that gives me a good balance even on a sunny day i use this sort of setting, one-the flash will get rid of shadows and two-if there is any breeze the flash will freeze most movement. Other people will probably have there own settings for the kit you have....

Good luck,
Karl.

[JoseC]

I can't speak of anything for the D20,(i wish i had one) but as far as macro goes it would be down to personel preference and with a macro lens like the one you've got you probably can't go wrong. The only advice i could give you is just go and practice as often as you can, you can do all this in your own garden and home. I have a G6 and all i did was practice and learn with no help at all. Take a look at the '....ladybird feasting...' in this section and all i do is adjust as i go, i lower the output of the flash and most of the time decrease the exposure and i find that gives me a good balance even on a sunny day i use this sort of setting, one-the flash will get rid of shadows and two-if there is any breeze the flash will freeze most movement. Other people will probably have there own settings for the kit you have....

Good luck,
Karl.
I second that.
Jose

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

With macro I find apeture is the tricky part. DOF is a lot more shallow with a macro shot than it would appear with a shot of a person standing 10 or so feet away. For example I shoot sports at f/4 exclusively and it's perfect for me, but f/4 is too shallow if I'm shooting a close up of a bug. Really you just need to look at, and judge the situation based on it's dimensions and what not. If your taking picture of a flat flower and you want the back ground blurred out then f/2.8 would be perfect, but if this flower sprawls out in different directions and depths, then an apeture of f/5.6 or f/6.3 would be better.

The below picture was shot with a 100mm f/2.8 macro lens that I had for a day or two. ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/400th.