Help with macro lens/pictures

Hello;

These are my first macro shots of an insect, probably too agressive to be a newby in the macro world, but the bee was there. I like some of the details and colors, pretty close to the real thing ( I would say 98%), but I don't like that some areas are "out of focus" or blurred. I think that I had to use a smaller aperture to increase the DOF. But please you tell me, what do you think that I did wrong.

I'm playing with my new Canon f/2.8 100mm USM macro lens. The Efix is there so you can analyze the pict. data.

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Exif shows you shot at f2.3!!! you need f11-f13 to get decent DOF f2.3 is to narrow.
100 sec, well most use 160 - 200th sec.
Shots a bit dark. Use flash to fill in.
Apart from that very good shots.
Hope that helps you out, look forward to more of your work.
Edit. Read f2.3 as 3.2 sorry.

Hi Brian, thanks so much for your comments, very helpufll indeed. I'll try your suggestion and lets see what happens.

nice start. also agree on Brian suggestion. pretty new still myself and have learn alot thanks to gentlemen and ladies here helping me

Bill

Welcome to the forum Hector, an insect in flight for a starter is excellent going.

skylab wrote in post #3713466
Exif shows you shot at f2.3!!! you need f11-f13 to get decent DOF f2.3 is to narrow.
100 sec, well most use 160 - 200th sec.
Shots a bit dark. Use flash to fill in.
Apart from that very good shots.
Hope that helps you out, look forward to more of your work.

f/2.3? He doesn't have any lenses that go down to f/2.3?

Anyway, f/11 - f/13 is great for a large DOF but I personally prefer shooting at f/5.6 - f/8 more. f/11 can get pretty hard to handhold if you're not using flash.

opps

What has been suggested is good information... Remember that shutter speed is King with in flights....When hand holding it will sharpen everything that is in focus... The faster the better. Crank the ISO to 400. That will help do the trick... The Digic II in camera processor. easily lets you get away with the higher ISO speeds......... Take care.... Great beginning.....

Hi Hector,
Welcome to the forum - not bad shots for starters! - #2 shows some fairly sharp detail - hairs on thorax etc. - as Brian suggested flash can be very useful - not only does it brighten the subject it also helps to freeze motion.