Will using macro lens helps?

[Eskimo]

I've took some flower pics and some r out of focus when I get too near to the flowers. Does using close up lens helps? if so, what close up lens should I get? eg +1,+2...etc etc


http://sgl.per.sg/photo/botanicgarden

[oops]

I feel kind of stupid even answering this since most of what I learned I learned right here. Maybe most have gone on to D30's and I'm all you've got.:)

Your shots WERE in focus, but not where you wanted or thought when you took the shots. There has been a lot of info in this and other forums but I can tell you now that macro is a whole art form with the G1. These folks have taught me a lot and I have learned a lot by looking at my pics and seeing exactly where the focus ended up. I have managed some super macro shots and havn't used my macro lens set yet. The G1, when you get it right on, is really right on.

The best advice I received and used was shoot for maximum DOF. This means AV mode at f8 and expect to use a tripod in low light (arn't they all!) situations and make SURE "macro" is on. Or, and this is where I have nailed some great shots, manual focus to the minimum, small aperture, and study the LCD for the best focus. Move your tripod to get the sharpest image. This takes practice and patience, and I am short on both, but when you nail a couple with consistent results you will be writing the next response to the same question. I took a flower macro where not only was the flower in perfect focus but the hairs on the ant I didn't notice could be counted one at a time.

Another approach involves using the digital zoom by turning RAW off, checking focus with digital zoom in the LCD, turning RAW back on, and taking the shot. I have found that once I mastered the "study the LCD" method I didn't need that many steps. I still get fooled about half the time and end up taking three or four shots of the same subject when in doubt. Hope this helps.

[dbookbinder]

The problem is that the focus system needs to be able to differentiate, using contrast, between what's in focus and what's not. Another thing you can do, if the zoom technique doesn't work for you, is temporarily put a high-contrast object at the point you want to focus on, set the focus, remove the object, and then take the picture. Many people have said that a business card works well for them.

[Mike K]

I agree with the principals that were described by opps. DOF is a critical issue that you will have to balance when doing macros. A small apeture and a tripod are important; set the focus to manual and use the closest focal length and anjust focus by moving the tripod. This is much finer focus than the focusing steps available by the camera. Digital zoom can help with screen enlargement for manual focus (in JPEG, SET and zoom buttons together).
Another issue is do you use wide angle to get maximum DOF and closer to your flower? Sometimes you will find the perspective distortion from WA setting to be distracting, but often when you get 2.5 inches away from your flower (approx. min. focal length at WA), your camera may start to block some of the light and slow down your shutter too much. Thus you can back away (to about 6.7 in at full zoom, min. focal length) and use zoom without reduction in image size, but zoom will decrease DOF. On the other hand the in increase in additional light may make up for the DOF by speeding up the shutter, reducing movement blurr. If there is absolutely no wind, and you are using a tripod, well shutter speeds won't be a issue.
A close-up filter can help make the image larger, and moves the camera closer. I have had the best luck with a B&W +5 filter. I find the image quality noticable over the Sunpak lenses. A smaller diopter lens like +1 or + 2 hardly makes a difference. However, the close up lens will reduce the focal length and bring you closer to your flower, again making lighting more difficult. I found the largest image using the Lensmate with the +5 filter to be at full zoom; image size is almost 2x as large as without the filter and the min. focal length is about 3.5 in.
Regards, Mike K