Spider ID Please

Hi Folks,

Anyone know what this guy is called ? Thanks in advance -

Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Also, on closer observation, it is clear that some parts of the spider and sharp whereas places like the head are blurred.

What's the best setting to get a sharp efefct across the spider? Would this be a problem with my lens?

luvdodo wrote in post #3848329
Also, on closer observation, it is clear that some parts of the spider and sharp whereas places like the head are blurred.

What's the best setting to get a sharp efefct across the spider? Would this be a problem with my lens?

Usually if you focus on the eyes or head, the other parts of the subject can still be out-of-focus without having to worry about it looking like you missed focus. However, if you want the entire thing to be in focus, you'll have to stop down to gain more DOF. Try shooting at f/11 or smaller...although for larger subjects, it's rather hard to get the entire body in focus unless you use a smaller magnification.

Another way is to focus stack. In a nutshell, this is basically taking several shots of different focus points of the subject (generally shot at like f/8 ) and then merging them together to get an entire subject in focus later in the post-processing. It works a lot like HDR, but the process is a bit different. Ask "LordV" for help with focus stacking if you decide to give it a try. He's a pro at it.

EDIT: Oh and by the way, the spider looks like a young Rabid Wolf Spider, Rabidosa rabida, to me.

Mrvile wrote in post #3848372
Usually if you focus on the eyes or head, the other parts of the subject can still be out-of-focus without having to worry about it looking like you missed focus. However, if you want the entire thing to be in focus, you'll have to stop down to gain more DOF. Try shooting at f/11 or smaller...although for larger subjects, it's rather hard to get the entire body in focus unless you use a smaller magnification.

Any suggestions on what AF points need to be used? Would it be all versus just the center one? I guess all with a combination of F/11 would make it a lot better?

Mrvile wrote in post #3848372
Oh and by the way, the spider looks like a young Rabid Wolf Spider, Rabidosa rabida, to me.

Bang on...I looked uo those words and foudn some pics on google and you are absolutely right. Looks like you've spent a lot of time of spiders ?

I wouldn't use AF with macro at higher magnifications...stick to manual focus. It's the most accurate. And if you do use AF, don't use all the focus points - the camera will just confuse itself.

And as for my ID...check out this site: http://bugguide.net

Mrvile wrote in post #3848578
I wouldn't use AF with macro at higher magnifications...stick to manual focus. It's the most accurate. And if you do use AF, don't use all the focus points - the camera will just confuse itself.

And as for my ID...check out this site: http://bugguide.net

Thanks for the inputs and that's a fantastic site