to macro or not to macro

OK I rented a macro lens and had a love hate thing going on with it. I love closeups and macro shots, but found it very frustrating. It hurt my back being hunched over the tripod for 2-3 hours. But some of my shots were fun!

here are some of the shots:

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I love shot nr 2 and 3, nice and soft and abstract

Dont have a clue what you should buy, since I shoot macro with a compact myself....cheaper that way for sure
And extremely handy with swivel display, you DSLR guys are missing something there for sure

Like #1 &2. Thats part of the fun with macro-shooting - the difficulty
Most of us here do not use tripods but end up laying on the ground and in all sorts of other odd positions

brian V.

I think if you find yourself really intrigued by closeup/macro photography then buy the Canon 100 macro or similar Sigma 105 macro. I haven't spent to much time on this board lately but this is where I got virtually all my help and advice.

I don't think too many macro shooters here use a tripod. Not meaning you shouldn't, but it seems most that post here handhold or use a monopod or tall stick to help steady the camera. This allows you to still 'sway' in and out of your DOF.
It's certainly tricky but the rewards of getting a sharp image is just so addicting.

Was there a particular reason why you need to use a tripod for your floral shots?

no pain...no fun.
If it was easy everybody would be doing it... love the pain, it makes you appreciate the shots more.
I love the last shot best

Good start, I quite like #2 and #4 - nice curves and lighting, so well done.

As to tripod, few of us use them, too cumbersome. Shooting handheld does make it a bit harder, but like anything in life it takes practice and patience. Keep at it, you'll get better, and will become addicted like us.

Dave

randomgrafix wrote in post #4781310
no pain...no fun.
If it was easy everybody would be doing it... love the pain, it makes you appreciate the shots more.
I love the last shot best

Actually the last shot was my first ever with this lens.

I needed a tripod for these because It was in Dec and there are no flowers outside and inside I don't have lights (well photo studio lights) so in order to get any shot I needed the tripod.

I'm still thinking of the 100. My husband wants me to buy it because he said even though I was getting frustrated he said I still was having fun! I'm not keeping the 70-200 (not as nice of a lens as my 200 prime is) so I'm thinking of trading it for the macro.

I guess I'll have to keep looking around. My 2 main subjects are birds (which this spring I'm hoping to have saved enough for a 400) and flowers. I mostly putter around the garden, so I also buy funky plants every year to photograph. Plus I go hiking and take nature walks around our local mansions that have wonderful gardens!

If anyone has any non macro flower shots with the 100 I'd really REALLY appreciate it. I'll also be looking around a bit on the 100 thread in the lens archive and on pbase.

Thanks again everyone!!

gardengirl13 wrote in post #4798924
I'm still thinking of the 100. My husband wants me to buy it because he said even though I was getting frustrated he said I still was having fun! I'm not keeping the 70-200 (not as nice of a lens as my 200 prime is) so I'm thinking of trading it for the macro.

Try tubes first. The 100mm is a great lens but you my still need tubes for really close macros. I bought some manual tubes for $13US on Ebay.

I took some shots at home this weekend indoors.
Here's how the tubes perform with the 70-200 f4L.

But I'm not looking for real close macros, only close ups and some macro work. The 70-200 is no where near as sharp as my 200. I tested it all weekend long in different lighting, different subjects. The only thing that was better is low shutter speeds due to the IS. I don't shoot that range in low light so I figured I'd save the money and stick with my prime.

I tried tubes when I first got the camera and had fun, but got very frustrated with the lack of infinity focus. I'd be out shooting flowers and a great butterfly would stop near by but just out of range and I'd miss it every time. Getting closer would just scare it away.

Some nice abstract flower petal shots there GG, the ladybird was a surprise thematically.

The focus looks good on the ladybug with the eyes and the front part of the Electra nicely in focus, always tricky with these.

My favorite has to be the first one with the wet leaves, nice light and colour.

really like the flower shot. and yep it can get pretty annoying getting down low at time.

Bill

I still can't figure out how you guys handhold all your great shots!

gardengirl13 wrote in post #4800287
I still can't figure out how you guys handhold all your great shots!

Stop breathing

Turn up the ISO if you have to.

With a 100mm macro on a APS-C crop camera for example for reasonable sharpness handheld at infinity focus you need a shuter speed of 1/100/1.6=1/160 sec using the 1/f rule.

Now at life size the angle of view of the lens is about half what it is at infinity focus so the minimum shutter speed you need is 1/160/1.6/2=1/320 sec. Preferably faster.

I often use 1/400 or 1/500 if I can, 1/320 in I am in trouble anything below that is hit or miss.

Having said that for flowers I use a tripod if I can (location permitting, public gardens etc can be a problem), partly for stability and partly for composition control.

none of us use tripods..i never use them.

gardengirl13 wrote in post #4800287
I still can't figure out how you guys handhold all your great shots!

iso 100-200
fstop 8-16
shutter speed 200
learn to hold your breath..lol
learn good positions!

see how im leaning my right elbow on my right leg..using it as a tripod..below that is shot i got using this method