Who uses a tripod for Macro photography

[The Mighty2006]

Hi all,

I am relatively new to macro photography. I used th IXUS 70 to shoot some macros but now have the canon 400D with the f/2.8 macro lens. The shots from that lens are slightly out (operator shakes).

For some of the insect shots sure people must have used a tripod?? They are too good.

Advise would be good. Also what tripod did you use?

Regards,

[sunsetter]

I always use a tripod when shooting macro. With such a short DOF and small focus range I dont see how macro shots can stay in focus without a tripod or pod of some kind. Bracket shots also.

[Saralonde]

I always use a tripod for macro, can't imagine not using one. When you are that close camera shake is bound to play a part.

[The Mighty2006]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97123899@N00/1023764379/" title="Photo Sharing">http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1006/1023764379_09ca3612d5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0263" />

A shot of a landscape from ground level.


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1006/...09ca3612d5.jpg

F8
6mm
1/250 sec
ISO 80

[henryp]

A handy addition to a tripod rig is a macro rail which allows you to fine-tune the position of the camera relative to the subject. Two I like are the 4-way Velbon Super Mag Slider Macro Rail (I know -- silly name), and the Bogen / Manfrotto 3419 Micro Positioning Plate. You need two of the Bogen units if you want front-back and lateral control.

[ELAY]

I use a tripod for close-in work. I have a DIY macro kit (reverse-coupled lenses) with ridiculously high magnification, low depth of field, and small field of view, with the focus controls being almost useless.

So what I typically do is turn the tripod so that the flower i am shooting is roughly between two legs, with one leg facing back toward me. Then I tip the tripod up on the two front legs, and move it slowly in toward my target and back, continuous shooting the whole time.

Sort of a DIY macro rail to go with my DIY macro rig.

EL

[Sime]

Yep - I do... Manfrotto 190XPROB | He lays down flat... very cool

[Joe Hoetzl]

The only type of macro photography that I do without a tripod is aquarium photography.
However, the technique commonly used for this isn't exactly the same.
We typically place a flash over the top of the subject, use >f8 and 1/200 shutter speeds or faster. Following a fish around a tank is just not well suited for tripod based shots.

We get stuff like this:

[wulf]

If you can get a bright enough exposure you can use a faster shutter speed to avoid camera shake (and, for outside subjects, movement blur from the wind). However, when you have a tripod that can get near enough the subject, it can certainly be a handy tool.

Wulf

[velvet4269]

I'm probably in the minority, and definitely "breaking rules" but I have yet to use a tripod for my bug shots. I've just been playing with DoF/Apertures & manual focus. Of course, I'm also using the smaller of my kit lenses, which isn't really meant for Macro photography, but it works for me for now.

Some of them could be better - and I'm sure some of that would be if I used a tripod, but I also know that some of that would be Mother Nature co-operating & not sending heavy breezes my way