Macro Photography Tips for Point and Shoot Digital Cameras
Much has been written on the topic of Macro photography for those photographers fortunate enough to own a DSLR with macro lenses - but what about if you own a compact point and shoot camera? Can you get great macro shots too?
While the results achievable with a point and shoot camera in macro mode probably won’t compare with a DSLR with a purpose built macro lens I’ve still seen some remarkably good shots with compact cameras (all three shots in this post were taken with compact cameras). Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of yours:
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Select Macro Mode - this is a fairly obvious first step but I’m always surprised by how many digital camera owners haven’t explored the shooting modes that their camera has. Macro mode is generally symbolized with a little flower and when selected it will tell your camera that you want to focus on a subject closer to your lens than normal (the minimum distance allowed will vary from camera to camera - consult your instruction manual to find yours). Macro mode will also usually tell your camera to choose a large aperture so that your subject is in focus but the background is not.
Use a Tripod - in macro photography a tripod can be particularly useful, even if you’re just shooting with a compact camera. Keeping your camera still not only improves your shots (getting rid of camera shake) but it allows you to play around with different settings without losing your composition.
Aperture - once in macro mode some cameras will not allow you to make many other adjustments but if you are able to play with your aperture settings it can be well worthwhile to do so. As we’ve covered in our Aperture tutorials, the main thing that aperture impacts is the depth of field of your shots. Choose a small aperture (big number) if you want a large depth of field with everything in focus or a large aperture if you just want your main subject in focus. In macro photography you’ll probably want a shallow depth of field so select the largest aperture available.
Focusing - I find that in macro photography it is helpful to have full control over focusing - especially when you have shallow depth of fields where it is all the more important to make sure the right part of your shot is in focus. If your camera allows manual focusing select this option and manually focus on the part of our subject that is the main point of interest.
Composition - remember some of the basic rules of composition like the Rule of Thirds. Make sure your image has a main point of interest and place that focal point in a smart position in your image in order to draw the eye of your viewer. Try to select a non cluttered or simple background for your main subject so as it doesn’t compete with it visually.
Flash - in many macro shots having some artificial light is important. The challenge with compact cameras is that most give you limited control of your flash. As a result choosing a good time of day when there is plenty of available light is probably your best bet. If you do need more light check to see if your camera allows you to pull back the level that your flash fires at. Alternatively you might like to try diffusing it in some way (tissue paper or cellotape over the flash for example). Another option might be to use some other source of artificial light or to invest in a reflector to help make the most of available light. Experiment with different methods of lighting your subject.
Take Your Shot - once you have your shot lined up and in focus take your shot. Make sure once you’ve taken it to take a good look at it on your LCD, zooming in to make sure that your focusing is sharp. Try shooting at slightly different apertures, with different compositions and focusing on different points of your subject to see what works best.
Macro Lens Attachments - some compact cameras actually have accessories available to help with macro/close up photography. These will enable you to enlarge your subject and/or decrease your minimum focal length. These might be worth investing in if you intend on doing a lot of macro work.
Self Timer - (this point was added as a result of comments below - thanks team!) when using my DSLR for Macro work I tend to use a shutter cable release and tripod to make sure my shots are completely still (to eliminate the small amount of camera shake from pressing the shutter). Most compact cameras don’t have cable releases but a simple way around this is to use your camera’s self timer on it’s shortest time setting which will similarly mean you have no movement of your camera when taking your shot (if you’re taking notice of the ‘use a tripod’ tip above).
PS: I’ve used the term ‘macro photography fairly loosely here. Technically ‘macro photography’ is actually when you produce an image where your subject is captured on your image sensor at life size (or bigger) with a 1:1 ratio.
In the case of most (all?) compact cameras this is not achieved and in fact ‘close up’ photography would be a better description. However as most manufacturers call their close up mode ‘macro mode’ I’ve used the term for the purposes of this article.
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Some great images on today’s post. The tips, as usual are great but the photos sell this one for me :)
There is some very good information about using P&S cameras to obtain macro or close up photography.
Some further suggestions:
P&S flash tend to due a poor job with macro photography and therefore I suggest carrying one or 2 white reflective cards to bounce the light onto the subject. With 2 cards you can get better lightening setups.
If outdoors do carry a wind break which could be 2 thin metal rods as hight as the highest flowees you plan to sueand some tight weave fabric to block the wind.
With macro and especially a smaller aperture the shutter speed will be slower and even very small movement from wind are no magnified with extreme close-ups.
Buy some flowers and set up inside your home to practice as you will have better control than outside. You can pre-position the background (out-of-focus) areas better.
Bring a cooper plumbing pipe to use as an outdoor vase. See article
http://niels-henriksen.blogspot.com/2007/08/copper-vase-method-of-nature.html
Niels Henriksen
I found the tips in this article very useful and have used all of them to improve my “close up” digital photography.
Since technically, macro photography requires at least a 1:1 ratio on the sensor, I think it is actually easier to get true macro shots on P&S because of their smaller sensor size.
It’s very difficult with a point and shoot because in real life photography (as opposed to me arranging things in the background), it’s very hard to get the depth that you want. And the subject has to be very near - literally in front of - the camera if good depth is to be achieved. I don’t know about others but the several digicams ive had before canon powershot 300, sony dsc w10 and p43, fuji something and ixus something, never gave me great macro shots. So I just gave up.
By the way, do you think buying the Leica D-lux (approx £400/$800) would give much better pics than a £300/$600 high end digicam?
These are great tips! Honestly, I’ve haven’t done much in macro, but would like to try more. Here’s a picture of a rose that I took that I really do love though:
http://www.amatterofmemories.com/2007/02/kaitlins-been-spotted.html
I think that there could be a misunderstanding in the Aperture section: “In macro photography you’ll probably want a shallow depth of field so select the largest aperture available”. It would be good to remind the new readers that a larger aperture means a small f/ number (the first time I read it, I understood the opposite).
Good tips. Thanks :-)
I use macro photogtaphy to take photos of my old black & white photos and also colour photos. Since I have to put the photos on a horizontal surface, on a table or even on the floor, I cannot use a tripod but need to hold the camera. I take extreme care to avoid camera shake when I push in the shutter button. I cannot use flash either because of the reflective surface of the photos. I have taken quite some successful shots with my three digital cameras, Canon Powershot A50, Nikon Coolpix 57OO, a brdge camera and a Pentax Optio A30. How can I use a tripod? I might probably need a vertical photo holder stand as well. Please give me some suggestions. Thank you.
Hi!
This is a suggestion for Maung TINT (Mister:
You could try to “stick” the photos to a wall with some adhesive-putty like Bluetack(there is also a white version of it which will probably be even better because, depending on the wall’s material, it can leave tiny stains on it if left too long). This way you won’t even need a tripod.
A piece of advice: Be careful when you actually stick the photo, because if you use too much bluetack it can sometimes be noticed (you’ll have to press just enough so the photo won’t fall or stick the photo to a piece of paper and the paper to the wall).
Hope it helps!
Maung: I have a tripod that can hold the camera so it looks downward. It can’t go very far to the ground, but if you had a surface that was nearer to it. I’m sure you could find one of these if you look around.
Any suggestions on a good point and shoot digi camera for macro photography?
I searched all over for ideas on macro untill I came across
a web site that sold magnetic lens kits for point and shoot
digital cameras. These are great and they make them for almost any camera. Mine is a Fuji Finepix J10 so I bought a
.45 wide angle lens that is 2 part, you can unscrew the
outer lens and use the macro lens. It is acualy a wide angle with macro inable. Just peel and stick the self adhesive ring to your camera and your ready to go. Mine costed $48.90 including tax. Not a bad deal if you are taking numerous macro shots. I also used a old camcorder lens and held it in place, not as good but it worked. God Bless All. Regards Brad.
Brad, pls. let us know what this web site is!!! this is exactly what I would want to avoid spending lots more money (I don’t have) on a better-quality (DSLR) camera.
Sorry, I thought there was only one, by your email, but after a Google search, I find there are several, so no need to respond. What a neat idea!!
Great Mark I thought it was the best, when I got mine WOW what a dif.!!! They are real nice. did just what I wanted to do. Good luck and hope you have a great spring & summer. God Bless. Regards Brad.
Oh yea I got mine at 5 Diomonds camera, very good service and they make 2 basic lens kits one small and one large most need the small one. Brad.
There are other places that sell the cheap china junk plastic, The one I got is all metel construction, very nice!!!
5 Diamonds camera is not a name I recognize. Is it a chain, or a local store? What country are you in?
I’m in the USA and they ship all over, it is a internet store. Just do google search and e-mail them and they will take care of you or you can call them, tell them Brad Landry sent you, they will give you a real good dael.
Take care and God Bless. Regards Brad.
transformed@grics.net
Oh yea they are in NEW YORK
http://i30.tinypic.com/11jc36x.jpg
This is one of many pics I took with my little cheap camera and the mag lens I was telling you about.
Regards Brad.
http://i30.tinypic.com/11jc36x.jpg
with my magnetic lens. Regards Brad.