HOW TO DO: Close-Ups

[iKwak]

I started playing with a S50 (first camera) and when I try taking a close-ups shots of a rose, it comes out blurry.

I've set Macro to see if the close-up would come out nice and crisp but no luck.


Could someone teach me the basics on how to take close-ups photos? TIA>

[platinumdoc]

Try using a Tripod. You may want to try shutter delay to minimize movement, also (with a tripod).

[4walls]

Get yourself a G3 and then check out this method...

http://www.photography-on-the.net/fo...ht=super+macro

[Conk]

Originally Posted by iKwak

I started playing with a S50 (first camera) and when I try taking a close-ups shots of a rose, it comes out blurry.

I've set Macro to see if the close-up would come out nice and crisp but no luck.


Could someone teach me the basics on how to take close-ups photos? TIA>

First off I think it is important that you read what it says in your manual about the focal distance in macro mode. Anything closer than the minimum allowable distance will come out blurry.

[mike j]

Lighting is also very important, particularly for taking macro shots indoors.

Your subjects need to be well lit for the camera to focus properly, so try lighting your subject with bright indirect light - I use an angle-poise lamp.

[Don Schaeffer]

Focus is critical. Use the smallest possible aperture and a tripod or use a veryhigh speed exposure and focus very carefully. Depth of field will be narrow in macro.

[Gumbo]

Originally Posted by Don Schaeffer

Focus is critical. Use the smallest possible aperture and a tripod or use a veryhigh speed exposure and focus very carefully. Depth of field will be narrow in macro.

Wouldn't using a larger aperture give you more depth of field, so focus wouldn't be as critical?

[Don Schaeffer]

No, exactly the opposite. When you use a small aperature the interference effects from the edges of the light act as a lens like a pinhole camera. The pinhole camera lens improves the focus of the lens throughout the depth field. Pinhole cameras never have to be focussed because everything is equally sharp. Larger f-stop numbers signify smaller aperatures (like f8 is the smallest aperature on the A70. I think f3.5 is the biggest.

--Don

[Gumbo]

Originally Posted by Don Schaeffer

No, exactly the opposite. When you use a small aperature the interference effects from the edges of the light act as a lens like a pinhole camera.

D'oh, yup, you're right. Part of my brain still knew that smaller aperture was a larger depth of field, but for some reason it wasn't talking to the part of my brain that was doing the typing. One of those days...

[tekgik]

brace your arm on something steady and use the 2 sec timer, or if you have tripod use it. Heres a gallery of braceyourself-2sec method www.pbase.com/tekgik/ixus_i

[pradeep1]

Also, the focusing mechanism on these cameras use a contrast detection system. So find something contrasty to put in your little focusing rectangle....like a shadowed part of the rose or the pistils or something like that. A nice vertical contrast edge will quickly lock focus.

You definitely want to make sure you are within the proper focus distance.

Also, the focusing sensor is less sensitive to red than other colors, so remember that when photographing red roses or red Ferraris. You may want to use manual focus in that case.

I hope this helps.

[xounds]

i know this might sound like a dumbass question, but how do i find out what my focal distance is for my cam? im using an ixus 430..