Author Topic: What camera/s do you use for what shots? (Read 253630 times)

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #450 on:** September 17, 2010, 08:58:26 PM »

Coins & Brum6y. I understand, I can lock the mirror up on my camera.

I'll give it a go.

*Brum6y* · « **Reply #451 on:** September 17, 2010, 09:01:34 PM »

Just remember your through-the-lens viewfinder won't work while the mirror is up.

Coinfucious888 · « **Reply #452 on:** September 18, 2010, 09:30:17 AM »

Hey Ubbie.....a few photos taken by this lens......

and finally, a link to a critical very high resolution set macro shot of a 1862 Gold Mohur Coin....

http://www.boomspeed.com/mugarinya1/1862_Gold_Mohur_O-1.jpg

Cheers.....

shyer · « **Reply #453 on:** September 18, 2010, 09:42:12 AM »

While mirror lock ups and tripods and remote release all have their uses especially in studio or indoors. For macro I use flash whenever I can as I then control the light tempreture(colour), amount and direction of light AND I freeze ALL movement for the few micro seconds the flash is transmitting light, vibration , movement no longer an issue even depth of field and low ISO is helped with flash.

For macro you can not go past a ring flash discussed earlier in this topic. However most people can not afford a range of flashes. Ring flashes are body and lens size dependant. Also diffusers are not practicle and they are still on same axis as lens which causes many new problems.

I suggest as a start point, 1 / 2 hotshoe flash/s with diffuser. Best if mounted on camera bar to get off axis flash to lens. Even a high power and a low power either side of camera. Radio control remote cheap flashes are available. Hot shoe also useable with normal lens as well and all gear is hand held

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #454 on:** September 18, 2010, 05:14:17 PM »

Beautiful photos Coins. Do know what the camera settings were & how far away from the beetle & butterfly the front of the lense was?

I assume you used a flash & a tripod.

Thanks for the advise Shyer, I'll look at various flashes. A page or three back is a picture of a macro flash setup I was considering, it is listed on Ebay.

The Ring Flashes listed on Ebay all have a maximum filter thread size of 67mm. The Sigma 150 has filter threadf size of 72mm.

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #455 on:** September 20, 2010, 05:47:14 PM »

I think I posted on the wrong camera thread so I've posted here as well.

Coins, Shyer, Brum6y et al

The Sigma 150 Macro lense arrived this afternoon. I whacked it on the camera (after reading the instructions which is rare for me) & took some shots an different setting and at different distances.

I took them hand held at various speeds down to about 1/30. The photos came out excellent considering it is a bit breezy & the light was going. I'm amazed at quality considering the hand held & slow shutter speeds. I even took one of Winston the cat in half light about 10 metres away & it came out.

I'll download a couple of photos later & post them here.

Now I better get a set of 4-Way Macro Focusing Slide Rails & one of those miniature Gorilla type tripods with a ball head & a set of flashes for Macro.

I wonder what else I need, any suggestions?

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #456 on:** September 20, 2010, 06:34:36 PM »

Here we go. A flower stament about a quarter of an inch long. Hand held shot about a metre away. I cropped the photo.
ps. Don't worry about the poor quality, there was breeze & I took the photos hand held

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*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #457 on:** September 20, 2010, 06:35:26 PM »

Here's Winston, the big slob!

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*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #458 on:** September 20, 2010, 09:35:06 PM »

This is a small Trout fly I tied. Again the camera was hand held about 45 centimeters away. The background is not the best as it's a bit of printer paper but, I used the camera's inboard flas (too lazy to put my better flash on) & I had a lamp directed onto the fly as well. The PSD version looks much crisper than this low quality JPEG version.

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Coinfucious888 · « **Reply #459 on:** September 20, 2010, 09:58:38 PM »

Flash, tripod, macro lens......I think you have all the necessary equipment. What you need to do now is plenty of experimentation in all sorts of environments.....the more you shoot, the more you will learn from it......

This one is taken from about 18 inches......iSO 200.....1/125....colour set to "vivid"....flash about 2 feet to the left of my camera.

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #460 on:** September 20, 2010, 10:28:29 PM »

Brilliant Coins. Do you remember the F setting?

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #461 on:** September 21, 2010, 02:07:51 PM »

I took a few photos of bee/flies. It was a bit breezy & bright but I used a ballhead tripod & a remote (plugged in) shutter button.

They don't seem to look as good in JPEG.

My printer is printing darker than what appeares on screen so I uped the brightness on the printer a bit. The green is not quiet right so i'll have to adjust it. The attached photo is lighter than the printed copy. The printed copy (A4 size) looks OK.

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*Brum6y* · « **Reply #462 on:** September 21, 2010, 03:20:45 PM »

That's the way, Ubb.

Try all sorts of subjects, find challenges, overcome problems ... there's no easy way to get 'the vibe, your honour'. We here can help you with comments and advice, but we aren't at your shoot and you may be after a different shot than we might think of going for. Photographic objectives are very personal and experience is the way to hone your skills and find out what you don't like, what you do like and how to achieve it.

One lesson is: JPEG's aren't the greatest for high quality, but there is a 'quality' setting you can adjust when saving them. The trade-off is that higher quality settings mean larger file size.

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #463 on:** September 21, 2010, 05:28:59 PM »

Yep Brum6y. I photograph in RAW & save as a PSD file. I have to change the photos to JPEG to email or post here.

I found a grasshopper this afternoon but it was windy so I plucked the flower he was on & moved into a sheltered area where I held the flower (with grasshopper still on board) in front of the camera & tphotographed with my remotre, a bit fiddly but I'll work it out. I'm still working with F stops 2.8 looks much the same as 22 when I'm up close to the critters.

Heres the grasshopper, unfortunatley the background is the wall of the house & not natural vegetation.

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*smee* · « **Reply #464 on:** September 21, 2010, 05:31:34 PM »

Birdie , whatever you do , dont eat glasshopper he full of riboflavins and green

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #465 on:** September 22, 2010, 10:07:01 AM »

Smee. No way would I even contemplate eating a grasshopper, they are green!

HellWest'nCrooked · « **Reply #466 on:** September 22, 2010, 11:09:39 AM »

Hi Birdie........was thinking about Winston the other day and wondering if he is still in the land of too much food or if he had lost wait.
My three cats are skinnnnnny, never have had skinny cats but Miller Man just doesn't put on weight (now 10 months) and the other two are still youngin's March /April born.

SORRY off topic, good to see Winston...he's beautiful.

Westie

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #467 on:** September 22, 2010, 02:45:58 PM »

G'day Westie. Winston's not quiet as large as he used to be. The Commander In Chief has another cat, a female, called Mitzie, she's the cat from hell & hates Winston.

Whenever she spots Winston she trots over & gives him hell. Winston puts up with it & bolts of. I don't know why as he is twice the size .

Winston must have lost weight stressing out, also, as he refuses to use the kitty litter (too lazy) I chuck him out at night & he gets most disturbed & stresses out even more.

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #468 on:** September 22, 2010, 10:54:39 PM »

Fellas. Check out this macro flash. What do you think? I'm looking for a macro flash & this one comes with a 72mm adaptor ring which is the thread size of my Sigma 150 macro lense.
Ebay number 280555903996

shyer · « **Reply #469 on:** September 23, 2010, 10:06:27 AM »

Here is more detail on unit. read reviews

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.35846

lights like this are good for focus and set up however very restricted range over 100mm from lens they become useless very quickly. Alos very bulky. Where as flashes can be usable up to 42 meters.

Flash like this with $10 diffusser is more expensive however with over 100 foot range and usable with all lens. and on of off camera means off axis lighting

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.37534

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #470 on:** September 23, 2010, 10:22:43 AM »

Thanks for the advise Shyer. I have a flash like the second one & I have the diffuser I got from you a while back.

What do you know about Macro rails? I have discovered that focus is a sensitive issue when using macro lenses up close. I prefer to set focus to manual & move the camera in & out so, I thought a 4 way Macro rail would do the job.

shyer · « **Reply #471 on:** September 23, 2010, 12:00:20 PM »

I have used rails but never bought any, valuable in close work a centimeter or so from lens.. I find them only usable in static studio situations. No wind nothing moving. Ether is a good sleep agent for most insects.

I instead use a focusing tele convertor and / or macro bellows for the same close adjustments but now subject 10 cm from lens or more. By using a bright flash it allows F22 or so which helps increasing depth of field and flash freezes everything thus wind , hand shake or subject movement not an issue.

In regards to your cat I have had a few burmese and they are like dogs more than cats. They stress and wish to be near their PACK. While most cats prefer to be loners. Your attack cat is only getting away with the fact most males even desexed will not fight a female desexed or not.

You need to assert you are the pack leader and cats can not attack at will . Try this attack cat will soon learn to give the burmese space and normal behaviour will resume. Just start on lowest setting then work up to buzz that causes attack cat to stop unwarranted attacks. Close feeding with luzuries a good place to reinforce lesson.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25876

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #472 on:** October 05, 2010, 03:25:42 PM »

G'day everyone. I got the ring light in the mail today. It is very good. Rather than being a flash it is a permanent light and can be a full ring, bright side, left side top or bottom. It is designed for macro photography.

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*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #473 on:** October 05, 2010, 03:32:32 PM »

I also got a 4-Way Macro Focusing Slide Rail it is very good. Very precise adjustments when in manual focus rather than move the camera lense focus (manual) just wind the rail in or out or left or right for perfect focus.

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Coinfucious888 · « **Reply #474 on:** October 05, 2010, 05:11:35 PM »

Hi Ubbie, now that you have the equipment, post a few shots here for our C & C.

Cheers

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #475 on:** October 05, 2010, 06:53:33 PM »

Will do Coins. I've been very busy with Archery & fishing & haven't had a chance to do any photography for a while.

There are some little flowers out at the moment & I'll try & photograph some of them.
I'm also looking for caterpillers but haven't found any yet.

da_ewok · « **Reply #476 on:** October 05, 2010, 07:05:58 PM »

I won;t post here and take up room on the servers - but check out

The last photo here http://itaintalwaysmylife.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-favourite-photos-of-week.html

http://itaintalwaysmylife.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-favourite-photos-of-week-bees-in.html

and all of the above

Thought you might enjoy them - note the comments on the first link

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #477 on:** October 05, 2010, 10:15:28 PM »

Nice Photos Wokky. I especially love the bee macro shots. I'm finding bees hard to photograph, they don't stay still for long.

Coinfucious888 · « **Reply #478 on:** October 05, 2010, 11:24:13 PM »

Cheers

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #479 on:** October 06, 2010, 08:47:30 AM »

Excellent photo Coins. I'll have to keep trying with the bees.

What f. setting do you generally use?

da_ewok · « **Reply #480 on:** October 06, 2010, 05:38:28 PM »

Quote from: *Ubbie Max* on October 06, 2010, 08:47:30 AM

Excellent photo Coins. I'll have to keep trying with the bees.

What f. setting do you generally use?

Not sure if you are talking to me or not Ubbie

For my bees shots (on the blog) the 'F' Setting was 5.6, exposure 1/1250s, ISO 200, Focal Length 300mm does that help?

I had the settings all auto except for the flash

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #481 on:** October 06, 2010, 05:48:25 PM »

Thanks Wokky. The bees were excellent. I have a new Macro lense am still working out the best combinations of F settings, shutter speeds ISO etc. It's good to know what setting you, Coins and others use to get such good shots, I learn from such information.

da_ewok · « **Reply #482 on:** October 06, 2010, 05:51:03 PM »

Quote from: *Ubbie Max* on October 06, 2010, 05:48:25 PM

Thanks Wokky. The bees were excellent. I have a new Macro lense am still working out the best combinations of F settings, shutter speeds ISO etc. It's good to know what setting you, Coins and others use to get such good shots, I learn from such information.

By NO means am I any sort of expert - I use the analogy - give a monkey a camera and eventually he'll get something worth printing <-- that's me!

Those bee shots that you see http://itaintalwaysmylife.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-favourite-photos-of-week-bees-in.html involved a total of 1200 shots over a 2 hour period

so moneky - camera - good shot equals me!

Coinfucious888 · « **Reply #483 on:** October 07, 2010, 09:13:54 AM »

Quote from: *Ubbie Max* on October 06, 2010, 08:47:30 AM

Excellent photo Coins. I'll have to keep trying with the bees.

What f. setting do you generally use?

Taken more than a year ago. From memory:

ISO: 200
Exposue: 1/125
Distance: Approximately 2 feet
Colour temp: Set to "vivid"

CHeers

Coinfucious888 · « **Reply #484 on:** October 15, 2010, 07:31:21 AM »

Hi Ubbie.....check this one out. Taken recent trip to Perth.

Very willing subject, did not move at all. It is a whopper, will measure at least 12 inches from wing tip to wing tip.

http://www.boomspeed.com/mugarinya1/Giant_Moth_2.jpg

Cheers

*smee* · « **Reply #485 on:** October 15, 2010, 07:35:13 AM »

its from moths that size that they get moth balls

shyer · « **Reply #486 on:** November 03, 2010, 02:29:01 PM »

Just found this set this bloke also has some great tutorials.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/4284416840/in/photostream/

Home page to get more info

http://abduzeedo.com/beautiful-macro-photography-brian-valentine

Coinfucious888 · « **Reply #487 on:** November 03, 2010, 03:23:07 PM »

Thanks shyer.......

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #488 on:** November 03, 2010, 03:33:56 PM »

Good stuff Shyer. He certainly takes great macro photos.

I think I've worked out how to replace boring skies with good skies in Photoshop Elements. I have to test it out & practice.

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #489 on:** November 03, 2010, 11:52:47 PM »

I'm so excited!

I finally worked out how to replace a boring sky in Photoshop Elemnts. I spent ages following the instructions in the Photoshop Elements 8 book by Scott Kelby but couldn't get it done.

I then tried something else & found that his instructions used an incorrect command. So I used the correct command & here ya go. not the best picture but godd for learning on.

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*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #490 on:** November 03, 2010, 11:55:21 PM »

The sky, above, is not the original. I photgraphed this sky at another time.
The rocks etc look blury but I'm experimenting with other bits & pieces of Elements. The RAW version has much mor clarity.

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #491 on:** November 17, 2010, 03:58:19 PM »

I've been busy macroing, I'm still learning but getting a bit better.

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*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #492 on:** November 17, 2010, 03:59:53 PM »

Here's a little spider. He is about a half an inch in size.

What about the fly above, he's blowing bubbles!

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*smee* · « **Reply #493 on:** November 17, 2010, 04:02:06 PM »

now try feeding the fly to the spider and post macro shots of the devouring process please

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #494 on:** November 17, 2010, 04:13:16 PM »

Good idea, now why didn't I think of that.

*Brum6y* · « **Reply #495 on:** November 17, 2010, 06:40:16 PM »

Quote from: *Ubbie Max* on November 17, 2010, 04:13:16 PM

Good idea, now why didn't I think of that.

Well, you can't be expected to know everything straight away - it's just part of the learning process.

Hang around Smee and he'll learn ya lots!

da_ewok · « **Reply #496 on:** November 17, 2010, 07:19:39 PM »

Remember I'm the camera carrying monkey

But what do you think?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EfPNXWyQqR4/TNqBINdz0wI/AAAAAAAABao/xX7csk2vfRM/s1600/Bees%252C%2BEden%2BPark%2B20101102%2B%252836%2529.jpg (zoom in and check out the bees face!)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EfPNXWyQqR4/TIo-fc-fX5I/AAAAAAAABPc/A_b5U9LKahU/s1600/Eden+Park+-+Kangaroo+in+Silhoette+20100910.JPG

Remember the monkey/camera bit

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #497 on:** November 17, 2010, 10:47:03 PM »

Great shot of the bee Wokky. I find it very difficult to photograph bees as they never stay still long enough.

I like the kangaroos silhouetted against the skyline, great shot.

da_ewok · « **Reply #498 on:** November 23, 2010, 11:13:50 PM »

Another photo http://twitpic.com/39g0x1

Of the 150 shots I took - only 7 were worth saving - this is one of the lesser ones - I'm being Very protective and saving the best for my blog

Sad but true

*Ubbie Max* · « **Reply #499 on:** November 23, 2010, 11:21:17 PM »

Good shot Wokky. I like the silhouette style photos.

News:

Author Topic: What camera/s do you use for what shots? (Read 253630 times)