Flower against homemade background

[Liquid Cheese]

Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S7000
Exposure: 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 7.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200

I made one of those crazy boxes-with-a-hole-in-the-top, covered in black paper things today, and this is a photo I took. Any good?



It think the focus is in the wrong place, but I don't have a particularly fancy camera so I can't really alter this too easily, what do you think? Do you know any easy way of changing the focused point, if so where do you think it needs to be?

[clockdoc]

Hi,
According to a review of your Finepix S7000 you have manual focus but it can be a bear manually focusing a non-dSLR camera either through the EVF or using the LCD. The review also states that the camera has a Super Macro focus mode, from 0.4" to 7.9". Not sure what the Super is all about except that it focuses so closely. You may want to experiment with getting back from your subject and using the zoom (while still in macro mode) to frame the subject. You may end up with lots of out-of-focus images but will soon learn the zones of focus for your lens in thje macro mode. It appears that you auto-focused on the front part of the flower. No matter where you focus at f/2.8, you are not going to have enough depth of field to carry the fill diameter of the flower. You need to either change the angle to a more top-down view or use higher f/stops and slower shutter speeds. Don't be afraid to use the higher ISO's when you are experimenting. Noise ca be nicely cleaned up with software such as Neat Image. I look forward to seeing more of your macro work.

[Nicole]

I like the picture but for one thing. The petal just above the centre of the rose seems to lack the detail of all the other petals. I think that can often be a problem when photographing red things. At least it seems to be for me at times.

I like the composition though, and I just like how it looks overall. I think it was an experiment that turned out well

[Liquid Cheese]

Originally Posted by clockdoc

Hi,
According to a review of your Finepix S7000 you have manual focus but it can be a bear manually focusing a non-dSLR camera either through the EVF or using the LCD. The review also states that the camera has a Super Macro focus mode, from 0.4" to 7.9". Not sure what the Super is all about except that it focuses so closely. You may want to experiment with getting back from your subject and using the zoom (while still in macro mode) to frame the subject. You may end up with lots of out-of-focus images but will soon learn the zones of focus for your lens in thje macro mode. It appears that you auto-focused on the front part of the flower. No matter where you focus at f/2.8, you are not going to have enough depth of field to carry the fill diameter of the flower. You need to either change the angle to a more top-down view or use higher f/stops and slower shutter speeds. Don't be afraid to use the higher ISO's when you are experimenting. Noise ca be nicely cleaned up with software such as Neat Image. I look forward to seeing more of your macro work.

Thanks for the info. If I zoom in from a little further away, which macro mode do you think would work best? The supermacro that focuses at 0.4" to 7.9" or the normal (don't know the focal range). I was using a tripod so using a smaller apeture will be no problem, I did try using a smaller apeture but I just thought this one worked out a little better. I was rushing upstairs and downstairs, checking them on the computer, checking out which photos had worked well (they all looked good on the LCD), until I eventually got fed up and just chose this one. I'll upload an improved version tommorro. Thanks for the help, bud.

[clockdoc]

Hi,
As you move farther away from the subject, you will have to use the zoom to maintain the image size you want. There is also minimum focusing distance when you start using the telephoto end of the macro mode. For example on my Sony F707 it is 35.5 inches (13/16 in the full wide angle mode). Perhaps your owner's manual can help here. Use the tripod and Aperture priority. I would use the next to smalest f/stop. It has been my experience that using the smallest f/stop doesn't always produce the sharpest image. Recall too that depth of field comes towards the camera 1/3 from the point of focus while it moves away or back from the point of focus 2/3 the distance. Hope this isn't too confusing. If so, please let me know. As you said, it is hard to tell if something is in focus on the LCD. I have thought about hooking my camera up so that I can get a video output to a small TV. The larger image may help me to focus manually.

[Liquid Cheese]

I think I understand what you mean with the depth of field. So you are basically saying that more of image BEHIND the focal point will be in focus than INFRONT of the focal point.

I have used the zoom method to try and take some macro shots but they have been a little out of focus. Hopefully, the minimum focal distance is much closer than with your camera, as the zoom is not particularly grand during macro mode on this camera so I can't really fill the frame unless I am fairly close, however I don't have the manual as it is a friend's camera.

I'm going to go try and take some better quality ones.

[clockdoc]

You have the idea. Think of your scene as a loaf of sliced bread and you are focusing on a slice you pulled part way out that is about 1/3 from the front end nearest the camera. As you stop down the lens, more of the bread behind that slice will come into acceptable focus than slices in front in the 1/3 to 2/3 relationship. Experimentation and your owner's manual are your best guide to learning the limits of the macro/telephoto relationship. I have had many, many out-of-focus shots as well. Keep shooting!