Confused about Zoom...

[RichardCrosby]

Firstly, hello at all!!

This is my first post, and I hate it to be something that I have to ask for from the community, but my next post will be something I've photographed, promise

I've just started in photography and have done a lot of research into Aperture, Shutter speed, f-stops etc, I understand the principle of how the camera works (I think). I have just bought myself a Fuji Finepix S9500. Gorgeous camera, takes some wonderful shots.

Without getting too sidetracked, my question is this: When I want to take some close up photography (such as taking a snap of a dragonfly) getting close to it is hard to do without the sods flying off. Now when I zoom in, I get all kinds of limitations such as a higher f-stop, and focusing becomes more difficult on closer shots.

I've seen so many nice shots off Dragonflies and their eyes, and just wonder how people manage to pull them off...

Thanks

Richard,

[PHugger]

Timing is everything........

Early morning is cold and the critters like dragon flies are slow (catatonic).





PCH

[daft_biker]

Originally Posted by PHugger

Timing is everything........

Early morning is cold and the critters like dragon flies are slow (catatonic).





PCH

It certainly helps. Being sneaky and moving slow also helps as they're easily spooked.

Wish I could find more of them! Only ever seen one Clicky

[RichardCrosby]

So that was something that you have taken? If so it's an excellent shot. Would you care to explain how you did it? I mean, you must have been very very close to it right? Or did you zoom right in? hehe

Richard,

[candleman]

i'd say its most probable that you'd get a dead one and stick it in place with a pin... then snap away..

its tough to say.. i lived in south africa for 18 years.. sometimes they just dont move so you can get close.. others are skittish.

for a shot like posted above i doubt very much it would be done with a zoom lens.
the very narrow DOF indicates a macro lens. (very small f number).. something a massive zoom lens doesnt achieve .. unless you spend incredible amounts of money.

so basically. you have to get close... (but thats just my humble opinion)

[Tiberius]

Originally Posted by RichardCrosby

Now when I zoom in, I get all kinds of limitations such as a higher f-stop, and focusing becomes more difficult on closer shots.

Due to limitations of design, most zooms get a slower aperture when you zoom in. You can get zooms that have a constant aperture across the range, but these are quite expensive.

I've seen so many nice shots off Dragonflies and their eyes, and just wonder how people manage to pull them off...

Macro lens.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by RichardCrosby

...when I zoom in, I get all kinds of limitations such as a higher f-stop, and focusing becomes more difficult on closer shots. ...

Look at what's written on the front of your lens:
f=6.2-66.7mm 1:2.8-4.9
This means that the zoom lens has a focal length range of 6.2mm-66.7mm, and that the maximum aperture at 6.2mm is f/2.8, and at 66.7mm, it's f/4.9. That's your limit.

Also, in the specs, for focus distance:

• Normal: 50 cm to infinity (high speed shooting 2m to infinity) (W) 2m to infinity (in high-speed shooting mode 4m to infinity) (T)
• Macro: 3 - 10 cm (W) 3 - 90 cm (T)
• Telemacro: 1 cm to 1 m

So, your minimum focus distance also gets larger with zooming.

[daft_biker]

Originally Posted by RichardCrosby

So that was something that you have taken? If so it's an excellent shot. Would you care to explain how you did it? I mean, you must have been very very close to it right? Or did you zoom right in? hehe

Richard,

Thanks, yes that was as shot I took. I normally use a dedicated macro lens - a Canon MP-E 65mm. The shot I linked to was taken at 1:1 magnification which gives me a working distance of 101mm between the end of the lens and the subject so yes, I had to get close to it. With the lens I use there is no other choice - believe it or not that dragonfly was shot with the lens zoomed right out! (it's a special macro lens)

I'm not familiar with using the camera you have but I'd probably try to use it in the middle of the zoom range and avoid the wide end due to the distortion that you usually get there and the focus issues you are getting at the long end. Hopefully you will get a reasonable working distance between you and the subject and get you high quality results. Knowing how close your camera can focus is important so try to get familiar with that too.

A big part of the challenge of wildlife photography is the field craft required to find subjects and be able to get close enough to photograph them....see finding cold ones and moving slowly tips. You'll need patience and a bit determination.....and luck of course

[RichardCrosby]

Well thanks everyone,

That cleared a lot of things up for me! Im going to try a few more things today and see what I can come up with. The information about focal distance was very interesting as well

Look out for some pictures in other parts of the forum ^^

Richard,