Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

You can also get greater than 1:1 by using a reversed lens. I’ve previously used a reversed 24mm lens, that gives about 2:1 magnification, then you can also add extension tubes to that for even more magnification.

Some people also use a reversed 18-55 lens as a poor man’s MPE, but that’s beyond my skill level.

Dave

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

like Ken, I use an MPE-65mm lens that gets very very close up shots – your chap looks great and I love the colours :)

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

Last seen HERE

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

Oh I GOT to get me some extension tubes!! Does anyone know Santa personally?? ; P

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

Extension tubes work just fine. This was shot with with a 100mm macro and extention tubes
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6671177

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

Thankyou very much for the feedback guys.
I guess it’s not as bad as I thought lol.

I was actually considering buying a 4+ close up filter because I saw a project in a magazine using a normal wide angle lens and a close up filter. It basically gave a different perspective to macro shots as you get alot of background in it aswell.

I didn’t know you could use extension tubes on macro lenses. I don’t really know much about them anyways :) But I will look into that.

I might still consider getting the 4+ lens anyways and having a play

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

Great shot Bella…........Your lens is perfect for macro and is indeed a true 1:1 macro lens. I am guessing that the caterpillar in question is about 5mm in diameter as it takes up approx 1/5 of the image width. So I dont think you will get all that much closer without stepping up to a different lens. I use the Canon MPE-65 ….......this gives me up to 5X but the DOF really suffers unless you shut the aperture right down (f16)
Cropping will get that closer look but I try not do that so as to not lose any of the resolution.
The magnifying lenses that Orphie mentioned also works but it sometimes drops the quality a little.
The other thing you might consider is extension tubes which move the lens away from the camera body and thus magnify even greater, and as they have no glass in them they do not take away from the completed image as such.
Great shot by the way

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

Great shot. I see nothing wrong with it. I use a Quantaray 18-50mm with a +10 and +4 close up filters for most of my macros and a Sigma 70-300 DL Super Macro for the shots I can’t get close on.

But there are a lot of people here who do a lot of cropping to make it look more macro than it is. I very rarely crop.

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

thats a great shot! You use a 1:1 macro lens, so nothing wrong =)

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

ooo looky i did it :D

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

grrr….for some reason my computer is not letting me copy the shortcut for the image???

ummm…..http://www.redbubble.com/people/bellamia/art/1855299-2-time-for-lunch

Can you just go the that and have a looky?? :D

Topic: Technical Discussion / Is it me or my lens?

Hi guys. Im faily new to this world of DSLR photography. I have a great passion for macro but I can’t quite seem to get it right.

I have this photo of a caterpillar that I don’t think is as close as I should be able to get?? I see some macro images here of insects and go “WOW…how do they get so close”

I want to know if it’s my technique or just the limit of my lens?
I have a Tamron f2.8 90mm macro lens.

(im going to try and upload an image here so bare with me)

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

I have another one called Susan, but she only comes out on the weekends!!

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

lololololololol that tickled me :)

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

You named your tripod Kathleen?

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

This is my tripod Kathleen.

Topic: Technical Discussion / tripod or not?

I use a Giottos monopod, which will convert into a tripod if I need it too. Since I don’t own a fast macro lens at the moment, f5.6 is as wide as I can get my lens to go… so its a case of either winding up the ISO to an unacceptably high value or using flash if I want to attempt a hand held shot.

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

I have several. One is so heavy, I haven’t had it out in years. I have two that are table top versions and the one I use most is a Vanguard VT-154m. It’s light weight and easy to handle. The Jessops mentioned is a UK brand? My Nikon D50 came from England and had a Jessops card in it. This is not a brand I’m familiar with.

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

Thanks for the great response, all your comments have been a great help!

Matt :)

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

I use a jessops trusty rusty tripod and love it – I have got used to it and can alter the legs and higher the neck very quickly which I need to do for my fly shots. The lens I use means I have to be sat on their knee to take a shot and find the tripod is great for using mono too by drawing the legs together.

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

I got to agree with Ken and SandraRos the Manfrotto 55 looks like one fine tripod!

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

The movement on the Macro Focusing Rail’s thatI’m familiar with is called “rack and pinion. I don’t have the one in the link I sent but from the way Ken describes it I think this one does to.

Thought I’d pass on a link to some discussion I’ve had on tripods.
http://www.redbubble.com/groups/a-photographers-craft/forums/1669/topics/21846-tripods

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

The only thing I should have added is ….......(if money wasn’t an issue)

I probably should have bought the magfibre edition. All that weight can get a little awkward sometimes

Topic: Technical Discussion / What Tripod to use?

what a great question with fabulous feedback … i am just beginning to think of what tripod to get … this has been most helpful … thank you all ! >>> Gina