there are lots of really awesome macro bug shots on 365... and i'm wondering what your go to aperture is for shooting 'em, assuming light isn't an issue... i originally went with the largest aperture (have i got that right? 2.8) possible, but with such a small dof, i didn't feel i was doing the bugs justice... today i experimented with anything between 7 and 10... wondering what others do?
I'm usually between F8 and F16. Larger than that the DOF is a bit too shallow, and smaller than that starts getting a little soft with my lens. I do use F16 quite a bit with macros.
@northy - A lot of macro lenses stop down quite a bit farther than regular lenses so that you can get a greater depth of field. Mine will stop down to F45, but it's noticeably softer stopped down that far.
If you are using extension tubes or similar you will find that the depth of focus is very small. Only a thin slice of the photo will be in focus. To counteract this stop down to f16 or so to extend the area in focus as much as possible. Even so it may only be 3 or 4 mil in depth when you are real close. This will mean that you will need to have a s l o w shutter speed or need to ramp up the iso.
Just experiment till you get what you want. Good luck - Oh and you will probably need to use a tripod or bean bag to hold the camera steady. Cheers
they say around the halfway mark is the sharpest area for many a lens so around that f11 to f16. My macro lens with 2x converter is already at f7.0 but it goes out to f45.0. I tend to fire off a few at f7 with no flash, then a few at f16 with flash and then f22 with flash. Even go out to f45 with flash.
But then I scored for Xmas last year a Macro Ring Flash and it is a gorgeous bit of kit. So I think my goto is now f11 and f16.
Not sure about the Canon, but my Nikon 105mm is sharpest at f/4, but there's little difference between f/2.8 and f/8. Sharpness drops off a lot from f/16 onwards. I usually shoot f/8 or f/11 because DOF is so ridiculously narrow even at f/8.
Depends how close I can physically get lol. Some I do f/2.8 so it gets focus pretty much only on the insect and I love a shallow DOF... sometimes I do f/5.6 (ish) cos it just gets that bit more around the subject and also allows for that slight movement they may give just before firing lol.
tx everyone... guess it's good to know that i am not in the minority in using smaller apertures for greater dof on bugs... i am using a macro lens... but for shooting bugs, no tripod... 'cos it's too cumbersome... as long as its bright daylight, i seem to be fine in getting a sharp image, even at f/10 or so... and the dof seems to be enough to get the full bug in focus...
@northy - even in bright sunlight Northy, I learnt last year that the inbuilt flash can be your friend. I was afraid before 365, but now I fear no flash!
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
Just experiment till you get what you want. Good luck - Oh and you will probably need to use a tripod or bean bag to hold the camera steady. Cheers
But then I scored for Xmas last year a Macro Ring Flash and it is a gorgeous bit of kit. So I think my goto is now f11 and f16.
Edit: looked up the data for the Canon 100mm - check the MTF data - http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/489-canon_100_28_5d?start=1
tx everyone... guess it's good to know that i am not in the minority in using smaller apertures for greater dof on bugs... i am using a macro lens... but for shooting bugs, no tripod... 'cos it's too cumbersome... as long as its bright daylight, i seem to be fine in getting a sharp image, even at f/10 or so... and the dof seems to be enough to get the full bug in focus...