Question on my new 100mm f2.8 L IS USM.

[Soumendra]

Just had 15 mins to spare after lunch at 4.30pm and thought of doing a casual test of my brand new 100mm 2.8mm L IS USM Lens.
Saw 2-3 flowers on the roadside and thought of trying them.

So, clicked few shots, but I was not happy with the results at all.

Most of my settings used while testing was (It was 4.30pm evening),

1. f2.8 , ISO 100, Aperture Mode, AI FOCUS , Spot Metering, Standard Picture Style, All AF Points . Also tested with Center AF point only,
2. f4 , ISO 200, Av, AI ONE SHOT, Evaluate Metering.
3. f8 , ISO 400, Flash ON, Av , AI FOCUS, Spot Metering and Evaluate Metering, Center AF Point and ALL AF Points also.


Lens Settings :
1. IS On
2. AF and also tried with MF at 1:1 .
3. 0.3m-0.5m , since I was trying to go AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE. Was sleeping on the road , but alas, the AF dint focus it at all, when I was going that close, less than 0.2m. Even at 1:1 at MF, the subject only gets clear when more than 0.3m , but not less than that.



I clicked some pics and you can see them here [Download it. All are directly from the camera, so you can see it and analyze the EXIF],
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5128006/Stupid_1st_test.zip

. [All should be deleted, but I just uploaded, so that you can know, where Im going wrong. ]

One important question,
1. I can do the same Close Ups with my 18-55mm IS Lens also, then whats the meaning of the term MACRO in 100m f2.8 L IS USM MACRO ?
2. Why cant I go that close?
3. One of my photographer friend uses the same lens and he gets very very close. No idea, how!


Now, let me know, where Im going wrong!!

I know for Macro, we need to use as small as aperture , but since my tripod is in transit, I was doing handheld.
So,with smaller aperture, I will try later.

For now, I need to be clear, where Im going wrong or Im just missing the power of the lens.

While reading all the reviews and features, it was all pretty clear, but hands on, Im getting confused, since I have no experience with Macro genre before. :?

[OsmosisStudios]

Sorry, but Im NOT downloading a zip file for images. Host them somewhere and link back.

[Soumendra]

Ok one example here,
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_RP2OviHcZsI/TO...in%20focus.JPG

[OsmosisStudios]

There's no way for me to tell from that image: its FAR too small.

That being said, there is some technique to be learned here. I dont think youre using your macro lens properly. For a lark: put the lens in manual focus, set it to 1:1 (closest focus) and look through the viewfinder. move the camera in adn out from your subject until it is in focus.

[ElCapitan]

Are you sure you can get the exact same photos with you 18-55? Try shooting an image with your 18-55 at 55 and get as close as possible and then retake the same image with you 100mm and see how much closer you can get. I have a feeling you will be surprised.

That macro lens is going to give you a 1:1 life size reproduction. However, in order to get that 1:1, you have to be focused at the minimum focus distance which is 1 foot.

Another thing, is that glass is going to be much better than your 18-55, which I am assuming is the kit lens.

So to sum it up and answer you main question, it's all about the focusing. Try following these steps.

1) Turn autofocus off and put your camera on a tripod, otherwise you are going to need a really fast shutter speed.

2) Look at the window on the lens that shows your focus distance and set it at .31m (1:1). If you are shooting by hand, then steady yourself and move closer or further back until you find the right focus. This will be tough because you are seeing such a pencil thin depth of field, so just try to find the part that you know needs to be in focus.

3) To get everything else you can in focus, use a higher aperture. Of course if you are shooting by hand then you are going to have to decide if you go with a higher ISO to get a high enough aperture and fast shutter speed or do you go with the lower aperture so you can use a lower ISO.

4) Click away! Getting really close shots with a true macro lens can be tough, especially when shooting handheld. You pretty much need a tripod. There is also a really cool tripod head you can get that allows you slide the camera closer or further away so you can focus on just the right part of the subject and keeping that 1:1 ratio. Also try focus stacking to get your entire subject in focus. Focus stacking isn't the easiest thing to do and PS does just an ok job of doing it, so you may have to get special software to get really good focus stacking pictures. Of course you could always blend the images yourself, but it can take a while.

Hope that helps!