My new toy arrived yesterday. A macro lens. I feel like I'm on a huge uphill learning curve with it. Any tips/advice on macro photography very much welcome please. Some amazing macro photographers on here.
Yay!! You'll love it!! Just keep practicing and you'll have so much fun. I love using it (thought haven't lately) for portraits and for architectural details. And you can use a tripod to get interesting shots of details of flower's elements.
@taffy My lens can switch between macro function and being a prime lens.... haven't tried the prime lens part yet. I couldn't get it focus automatically for me am now also figuring out my manual focusing. Hope youre having a good time away still.
@newbank I have my last talk tomorrow -- 11th talk in 9 days. Whew...will be relieved to have this behind me, but it's really been a wonderful trip. I'm now with two old colleagues/friends/former students (actually, they are quite young, so 'long-standing' is probably better) and we are doing the workshop together tomorrow and then going to Barossa Valley which is a wine center. So vacation is only 16 hours away!
@taffy I see that you mentioned using a macro for portraits... I was trying to be arty today with my macro filter but the camera would not take a picture if I was not doing really close up; i.e I tried to see what it would be like looking at a view and in the out of focus. Is there a setting I need to use or do you go really close for macro portraiture and architecture. I have a Canon40D and am wanting a Macro lens for Christmas. not sure which one and with all the research I am wondering if I ought to upgrade the camera first?!!
@callymazoo i just use it to get a reasonable closeup of someone's face (or a pet's face) and not have to stand so close. Mine is a 105mm macro, so I used it at 105 basically and not in a macro mode.
@taffy so if I have a lens that is 18-55 for example but it has a close up setting that is not the same as a macro lens is it? I am a little confused when people talk of macro as I thought that that would go a lot closer than a basic lens with closeup option or is that classed as macro?
This is really lovely. I love your shallow dof. I usually use my macro lens on manual focus to get the bit that I want in focus. I also use a tripod if I can to get a clearer photo. I think this is an amazing first attempt Ruth. I love my macro lens. Fav
@callymazoo I use the canon 60mm macro and as @taffy says, a true macro lens can be used for portraiture as it throws the background out nicely. There is a canon 100mm macro which means you don't have to get so close to what you are photographing (eg insects) so you don't disturb the subject so much, but that lens is bigger and heavier than the 60mm. There are other makes of macro lens of varying sizes. I suggest you look at any of the photo magazines that are doing a test and review on macro lenses or start a thread in the discussion tab.
@shepherdmanswife@taffy so do you do portraits with the lens in macro setting? My new lens is 45mm 2.8 I knew it was good for portraits from reviews. Assumed that was from it being in the none macro setting and using the aperture wide open. Is this common way to have macro lenses? Having used it briefly today I can see a tripod will be very useful. Either of you got recommendations on make to look at? When I've looked sometimes I'm overwhelmed. I only have a Csc so it doesn't need to cope with heavy lenses. Thank you.
@newbank The macro lens I have doesn't have a macro setting. It is a macro lens, but you can use it as it is for portraits. If you had a 60mm prime lens instead of a 60mm macro lens, I guess the difference would be that you wouldn't be able to get really close with the prime and so couldn't do macro work, but I may be wrong. Perhaps @taffy can help!
@sm61ffy thanks. I could see from of my other shots just how narrow the depth of field was and thought I'd have to up the aperture to get more detail. Lots to learn and play about with.
Lovely shot. Just keep on going like you are. You are doing a great job with your new lens. My only advice is to try out lots of perspectives and camera angles. You will be surprised by what you can do.
You have got the hang of this already! I'm still learning. The depth of field is so narrow so you have to chose the focal point precisely. I always use a tripod and the lowest ISO for maximum quality. With the 2x crop on a 45mm (giving it a 90mm equiv.) you should get some great flower shots. Mine is 50mm with a 1.5x crop (75 mm equivalent) . I would have to get too close for most insect shots - looking forward to see how you fare.Roll on Spring!
Congrats on making the PP with this lovely capture. I love using my macro lens, and one of the things I like best is playing around with the dof and focus. One can get some interesting effects.