Try a different question then. Do you shoot hand held or on a tripod and manual focus or auto focus?
Dai
Hi Dai, I am sorry I was going to answer your email I then had a whole heap of computer problems. Due to the extreme DoF I tend not to use a tripod for most of my close up work, unless I am doing extreme work e.g. when I reverse a 50mm on the front of the G and focus is critical. When doing my landscape work I do use a tripod more, mainly as I tend to use the built in 3 stop ND filter, or add additional ND (so possibly "big stopper") or polar to slow things down.
I have used stacking on my DSLR but find it to be a bit of a pain, then I use a focus rail as it is the right tool for the job. I have occasionally used it with the G but only because it is already on the tripod.
Focus can be a bit fiddly, using the wheel control is a pain and frustrating, it is one of the known quirks of the camera. As is the general ergonomics of the back plate and being able to mash all the button with the palm of your hand. A trick to remember is that you can use the "S" shortcut button to the left of the eye piece, when the camera is set in manual focus, pressing this button and pressing the 4 way rocker to either the left or the right is another way to focusing. This is how you use the camera in the underwater housing and you cant use the back wheel. Depending on what mode you are using it can also be used to change aperture or shutter speed. I tend to use auto-focus most of the time, the reason for using close up filters is you get further away from the subject, so you don't scare them off, plus you can get light on the subject, the down side is you have a narrower area of operating, so a +2 dioptre close up lens will work from 50cm with the camera set on infinity down to possibly 40cm - AF should work without any problem.
. But seriously, if you take a look at the first of John's links in the reference section of the first post in this thread, you will see what a lot of people are using for a light source. Basically it consists of the camera attached to an external flash gun via off camera cord all mounted on a flash bracket (whether this is purchased or DIY cheapo like mine). This rig is not unique to the G macro photography but many examples can be found over in the full on Macro forum if you search something like "show me your set up". Keep it up. This is a great thread to play in.
