How can I do more...

[cheguthamrin]

...close up using the 18-55mm kit lens only?

Got this one just now, the insect stood still, perhaps waiting for me, but the lens wont focus if I try to get any closer. Or is it that I have already set to macro mode?



Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV

At the same time, I get this result too...


Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 48 mm
ISO Speed: 450
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
ISO Speed: 450

[Major_Small]

Originally Posted by cheguthamrin

Got this one just now, the insect stood still, perhaps waiting for me, but the lens wont focus if I try to get any closer. Or is it that I have already set to macro mode?

Unfortunately, due to those pesky laws of physics, any lens has a minimum focal distance. Even your eyes. Try putting something about half an inch away from one of your eyes and focus on it. Anyhoo, if you want to get closer, you'll need either close-up filters, or if you can afford it, and it's worth it to you, a dedicated macro lens.

[cheguthamrin]

Originally Posted by Major_Small

Unfortunately, due to those pesky laws of physics, any lens has a minimum focal distance. Even your eyes. Try putting something about half an inch away from one of your eyes and focus on it. Anyhoo, if you want to get closer, you'll need either close-up filters, or if you can afford it, and it's worth it to you, a dedicated macro lens.

Okay... that makes sense.
Sometimes, I may have been too impatient with myself; not thinking of such common sense with the limited stuffs I got. Not needing the macro lens yet for now, I'll go for a few more close up shots to get it right, with the closest possible distance.

Thanks for the reply!

[Major_Small]

Not a problem - everything has it's limitations, and knowing those limitations will only make you better at what you do. As an aside, shooting through a magnifying glass does work, but it's very easy to lose quality that way. Still something you may want to experiment with one day though

[cheguthamrin]

...and I've added u as my contact in flickr

[Major_Small]

coolio, thanks - I'll add you as well. I don't really pay attention to my Flickr account though - I pretty much just upload and forget there.

[cheguthamrin]

Someone suggested me to crop to size; so this is what happened; still using ket lens;

Before


After


...and then I took a few more practice shots, this time using Sigma 70 - 300mm lens.

[cheguthamrin]

01 -


02 -


03 -


All taken with Sigma 70 - 300 mm
...and oh please feel free to comment, thanks!

[RittyRats]

the cropped version is better plus the latter three you added -- all terrific macros (not that I'm an expert)

[private]

For the first one, if the camera is having trouble focusing, take it off of AF and do a mnaual focus and see what happens...