Up Close & Personal

[Shelbyyy]

I've just started working with a new Macro Extension Tube. I'm trying to get the hang of it. I have my first ever "real" picture with it (meaning, I'm ignorning the mandatory coin shots) and I'd like some input. What can I do to make shots like this better?

This is a shot of a new flower bud, preparing to open.



Canon EOS Rebel XS
18-55mm kit lens
Photodiox Macro Extension Tube
ISO 800
1/60

I don't know the aperture or focal length because the extension tube I bought is cheap and is not electronic.

I shoot in RAW. This photo had no editing.

[CurlyCorry]

I would have liked to see more of the bud in focus..... tis too shallow.

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by Shelbyyy

I've just started working with a new Macro Extension Tube. I'm trying to get the hang of it. I have my first ever "real" picture with it (meaning, I'm ignorning the mandatory coin shots) and I'd like some input. What can I do to make shots like this better?

This is a shot of a new flower bud, preparing to open.

18-55mm kit lens
Photodiox Macro Extension Tube
ISO 800
1/60

I don't know the aperture or focal length because the extension tube I bought is cheap and is not electronic.

I shoot in RAW. This photo had no editing.

As Curly Corry said, the depth of field is shallow. I also shoot in RAW mostly to get the best exposure options in terms of dynamic range. But that isn't of much value in this situation.

I have extention tubes too. I didn't know they made ones that allow you to set aperture, but that is what you'll need to do, I think, to control depth of field better.

For my camera, I am able to use older, non-automatic lenses and turn off the auto functions so I can set aperture manually by taking the lens off of "A" and turning the aperture ring.

No such settings on my autofocus kit telephoto and I'm sure you don't have that option either. But maybe you can pick up an old 50 mm prime lens that will fit your camera and have the ability to set aperture automatically. I'm a Pentax user so I am afraid I can't advise you about the options for Canon, but check to see if you can use older non-auto lenses.

I'd try to get one with the maximum f/number possible; f/22 or f/32. Shooting with a very small pinhole aperture will give the highest depth of field. Some folks will tell you diffraction softens the images, but you can sharpen them back to f/8 levels with PSE.

Hopefully someone who knows more about Canon options can advise you.

[Shelbyyy]

Thank you both.

I don't know much yet, obviously. But I'll try to figure out how to get better!

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by Shelbyyy

Thank you both.

I don't know much yet, obviously. But I'll try to figure out how to get better!

Having thought a lot more about this, Shelby, maybe I would change my advice and the options available to you.

I see that you have a set of magnifying lenses. These can actually be stacked to achieve higher diopter values of magnification. They give more bang for the buck with higher focal lengths, but I bet if you stack them with your 55 mm maximum, they will allow you to do some interesting experiments.

If this subject or a similar one is still available, maybe you could post these to this thread. Using at least the +10 diopter and maybe that stacked with the +4 diopter and your kit lens at 55 mm, try taking a picture with the minimum f/number your lens will allow, maybe something like f/5.6, and then try another one at f/22. See what the difference in depth of acceptably sharp focus looks like for the two. That you can do by selecting "aperture priority" and allowing your camera to decide upon the shutter speed, increasing the ISO if you need to for purposes of the experiment, to get a decent shutter speed of maybe 1/60 or faster. The smaller the hole the light goes through, the wider the depth of field.

Then, if you can pick up a used, very cheap 50 mm lens, you could also get a ring that would allow you to attach that reversed to your existing kit lens. So you would have your kit lens as normal, screw on this ring to the lens, and then screw on the 50 mm lens backwards onto that.

This will give you a 1:1 macro capability, I think, with your kit lens at 50 mm with the ability to use a very small aperture like f/22 to get maximum depth of field. The problem I had with extention tubes is that I always needed a very long exposure, hence a tripod. Since the 50 mm lens can be for virtually anything, I think it should be very cheap. Just look at the aperture ring and set it to the lowest value... such as maybe f/2 or f/2.8, and then open it all the way up before screwing it onto the kit lens (backwards)

I have ordered a macro reversal ring like I'm talking about and I'll try this with my Pentax K100D. My kit lens has a filter diameter of 52 mm and my ancient 50 mm film-days lens has a filter diameter of 49 mm, so I'm buying a $10 ring (including shipping) that has male threads for 52 mm on one side and 49 mm on the other. Should take about a week to get it, and then I'll post some examples in your thread here comparing that arrangement with an expensive macro lens and also with extension tubes and the same 50 mm lens. So you might want to wait and see how that works out.

[Shelbyyy]

I'll definitely be trying the stacked filters. Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be fantastic, so I'll be out and about trying new settings.

For some reason, I've never tried adjusting my aperture. I knew I could, I just never did. (I've only had my DSLR since the end of January.) I've also been pining after one of the lens reversal rings, and tomorrow is payday, so I'll see about buying one!

Whatever pictures I manage to get tomorrow, I'll post!

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by Shelbyyy

I'll definitely be trying the stacked filters. Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be fantastic, so I'll be out and about trying new settings.

For some reason, I've never tried adjusting my aperture. I knew I could, I just never did. (I've only had my DSLR since the end of January.) I've also been pining after one of the lens reversal rings, and tomorrow is payday, so I'll see about buying one!

Whatever pictures I manage to get tomorrow, I'll post!

That's the spirit! .. But hold off on the reversal ring because the type I'm talking about will also requre another lens... a used lens and a cheap one albeit.

I'd suggest trying your filter magnifying lenses at 55 mm at minimum and maximum aperture as an experiment, aperture priority letting the camera set the shutter speed, and either use a tripod or up your ISO until you can get a shutter speed of 1/60 or at least 1/30.

Lense reversal per se isn't going to be of too much help because you still won't have control of your apeture. If you pick up a second 50 mm lens (and you would buy the reversal ring after you buy that lens because you have to know it's filter diameter), I think you can wind up with a 1:1 macro lens system with your kit lens attached to your camera that will enable you to have control of aperture.

I will check all this out with my own kit lens and an old 50 mm lens if you give me a week or so. Wouldn't want you to waste your money.

[Shelbyyy]

I went out today and played around with aperture and shutter speed. I got absolutely nothing! Everything was either too bright, too dark, or out of focus. Out of the many shots I got, here are three that are relatively okay...What do you think?



1/125
f/13.0
36mm focal length
ISO 400



1/400
f/13.0
55mm focal length
ISO 400



1/20
f/25.0
42mm focal length
ISO 400

I can definitely say I understand the aperture/shutter speed romance a little more. I just need a little more time to get things into focus! I need to get over myself and get down in the dirt and plant my elbows and just get dirty. I was a little rushed today, so I was just snapping and snapping and not focusing enough on the sharpness.

But, I'll get better!

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by Shelbyyy

I went out today and played around with aperture and shutter speed. I got absolutely nothing! Everything was either too bright, too dark, or out of focus. Out of the many shots I got, here are three that are relatively okay...What do you think?

I can definitely say I understand the aperture/shutter speed romance a little more. I just need a little more time to get things into focus! I need to get over myself and get down in the dirt and plant my elbows and just get dirty. I was a little rushed today, so I was just snapping and snapping and not focusing enough on the sharpness.

But, I'll get better!

I'm just learning, like you, Shelby, but I do know what I like, and I like all three very much.

In the one of the dandilion, the pistols? (don't know my stamens from my pistols), the brown things that are curly on the ends, are in sharp focus but what I take to be new petals in the center, or maybe the stamen, is a bit soft.

But when I just went back and looked at this again, that didn't strike me as much as it did initially; I was stuck by the great colors and the clarity of the brown things with curled ends. Like a yellow explosion of color.

The subject in first one is seems acceptably sharp in its entirety to me and I like the rule-of-thirds positioning and the counterpoint with the more blurred one on the right and the presence of a bud. And the colors are all muted and pastel. To me this all works very well.

The third one is nice visually, but I think it also shows the cycle of life with the subject gray and at the end of its cycle against a colorful background of younger flowers.

I really enjoyed all three!

[Jo.T]

Hi, the first thing i notice is your ISO at 400 it will let more light into your camera and could be part of the over exposure problem, always keep your ISO at the lowest level (100)only change if you need faster shutter speed(shooting fast moving objects) or if you need more light(night shots ect). im not sure what priority you used, my guess it is manual, try aperture priority set the f stop you would like and the camera will set the shutter speed according to the light, in your camera settings find auto focus, set your AF area mode to center point then you can move your focus point to where you would like to focus on and be sharpest. when you focus generally you will get one third in front and two thirds behind the point, with macro this can be mm. Dont be scared to use auto focus till you work out what you are doing.
Not sure what soft ware you are using, the first pic you should be able to pull back a bit in levels and bightness / contrast. white is always hard to get right.
your are on the right track keep shooting and have fun