Need tips on focusing

[PhotoNewt]

Originally Posted by lputman

These are really nice PhotoNewt, so delicate and you've captured that well. They remind me of the tissue paper flowers I made as a child in elementary school.

LOL, these was a convenient subject on the backyard that I used to show DoF for this discussion. Aside from conversion from RAW to JPEG and a little sharpening they are almost straight from camera.

Nothing really special, but thanks.

[Stryker]

OK, ladies and gentlemen, I put some of the ideas and tips above into practice and came up with some good (at least they are good for my skills) photos. Here are two I am proud of, until I get better at this. I tried to maintain as small an aperture as I could, so I had to go fully manual on these.

Aperture: f/16
Speed: 0.003 (1/320) sec
ISO: 450

I used Photoshop Elements to resize and clean up a bit.





I'd appreciate any critique/comments on the same. I know I have a long distance to go, so I will take any help I can get.

[Major_Small]

I would call those good shots. One more thing to add to this discussion is to keep the effects of diffraction in mind. Anyhoo, is there a reason you needed 1/320sec shutter speed? I wasn't there, so I don't know, but it seems to me that you could probably have squeezed out a lower ISO or smaller aperture.

[Stryker]

Thanks for the compliments, Major. That article of the effects of diffraction is quite good. However, as the author notes:

Even when a camera system is near or just past its diffraction limit, other factors such as focus accuracy, motion blur and imperfect lenses are likely to be more significant. Softening due to diffraction only becomes a limiting factor for total sharpness when using a sturdy tripod, mirror lock-up and a very high quality lens.

Since I am using none of the last three, I guess I should concentrate more on getting the focus right. I am getting there slowly, with tips and help from all you guys here.

Regarding the shutter speed, it was slightly windy and I thought I would use a faster speed to negate the blur effect caused by the wind, especially since my lens does not have VR built into it. I already have shaky hands and putting the wind into the bargain will make life more difficult. I will try this exercise again with a slower speed, smaller aperture, lower ISO combination and post the result here.

[Major_Small]

yeah - your logic makes sense. I didn't know if the wind was blowing or what was going on, but when you have a reason to bring up the shutter speed, you have a reason to bring up the shutter speed.

[clockdoc]

Hi Stryker. You have received some excellent advice from others in the group. Here are a couple of thoughts that have helped me. Try using a monopod (or even a cutoff broomstick) for extra support. You don't need an expensive one with a ball head to get started, A cheap one from Wal-Mart will get you going. I have used a "hiking stick" with good success without even attaching the camera to the screw thread. I turned the plactic locking disc/nut up high enough to cover the screw threads and press the base of the camera on top of the plastic disc. You can also use your free hand as a support base for the camera. Adjust focus (once you get close using auto) by rocking your body in and out as someone else has suggested.
Another thing to try is shooting with your lens at the telephoto end of its range with the camera in Close-up mode. In my D80, this activates only the center focus bracket. By being a bit farther away from the subject you will gain a little more depth of field. Then crop for the best composition.
I think you did a great job on your bee shots! Keep shooting!

[photoshopabuser]

Nice shots here. I like #2 though because of the cleaner look. You composed the first one a little too dead center and there are some distracting elements competing with the subject. You nailed it in the second shot though. Nice stuff man!

[ni2sml]

Originally Posted by Stryker

I thought I would use a faster speed to negate the blur effect caused by the wind, especially since my lens does not have VR built into it.

Bear in mind that even if you had VR it won't stop subject motion. It'll help reduce the effects of shaky hands if you're handholding, but it won't do anything about the flower being moved around by the wind.

In this case the faster shutter speed is the way to go. Nice shots!

[Stryker]

Thanks again guys!

@clockdoc, I just might try the cut-off broomstick suggestion, it certainly appeals to the miser in me! I know if you want to be serious a tripod is a necessity rather than a luxury, but I am taking these photos for my own pleasure and maybe to impress my wife and justify the cost of the lenses! Anyway, once I learn to get the basics right I am definitely going to buy a good tripod. Oh and another thing, none of the macro lenses will autofocus on my D40, it is all manual.

@ni2sml, I am aware that VR won't do anything if the subject is moving. Just mentioned it because since the lens isn't VR and I am not exactly rock steady hand holding, a faster shutter speed would reduce the effect of both the shake as well as the wind moving the subject.

[ni2sml]

I have the same problem with shaky hands. VR would definitely be helpful for me, but right now a cutoff broomstick is more in my price range.