Post your best Macro shots

[Kombi]

Rented a Canon 100L Macro for the long weekend . Was pretty excited to try it, took about 300 pictures while walking around the park and my backyard.

But when I reviewed them on the computer, I really didn't get much share worthy.
Most were OOF or at least part of what I thought I captured was.

Any tips or preferred setting people like to set up with there 100L?

couple that I think are share worthy
I would have liked more of the center of the pedal in focus in image below, would stepping this back to f/4 have given me that?

Canon EOS REBEL T2i
ISO: 125
Exposure: 1/2000 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length: 100mm

Captured pretty much what I wanted here, of course would have been nicer if it was 1-2 days ago when bloom was fresher

Canon EOS REBEL T2i
ISO: 2000
Exposure: 1/2000 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length: 100mm

[andnowimbroke]

With the macro lens set at 2.8, you won't have a lot in focus, and without being able to adjust the lens to the body with AFMA found in more expensive models, you will be lucky to get the part you want sharp. A tripod and manual focus with the live view screen is pretty common. If you need to shoot at a wide open aperture, you can stack photos together in Photoshop where you shifted the focus a little with each shot. The program takes the sharpest part of each photo and merges it into a single picture. There should be a thread or two with shots and descriptions. Sorry you had so much trouble the first time out. Don't give up on the lens though. It's a great tools.

[ddt0725]

@Kombi - I really like both shots, the bottom one is my favorite! I have yet to try photo stacking but have seen some fantastic results with using that method. If you give it a try, I would love to see the results!


Thistle by Denise Trocio ( www.dtrociophotography.com), on Flickr

[Joel Eade]

[QUOTE=Kombi;71718]
But when I reviewed them on the computer, I really didn't get much share worthy.
Most were OOF or at least part of what I thought I captured was.

Any tips or preferred setting people like to set up with there 100L?[QUOTE]

I am new to macro as well ... one thing I have found is, once you have the shot framed the way you want it, achieve final focus by moving the camera in and out rather than moving the focus ring. I like to move in and snap the shutter when I see the critical part of the image in focus. As already suggested, use as high an f ratio as possible because depth of field is very thin.

[Joel Eade]

Elm Leaf
1DMKIV + 180mm Macro

[Steph]

Bees in a Lavander field shot during a recent trip in southern France.

7D with 70-200mm 2.8 L IS II + 500D @ 200mm (so not really macro)
1/100 sec, f/8, ISO 800.




Cheers,
S.

[conropl]

Kombi:

At 1/2000 sec exposure time, you have room to bring that down and close your apeture to give more DOF. With a flash you can close your apeture even more for more DOF.

Also, with hand holding, the macro DOF tends to be so narrow that if you prefocus and delay taking the shot (or focus and recompose), then you are not likely be able to hold your focal plane where you intended. Any sway in your body or head will be moving the focus forward/back of your focal point. Macro is really made for tripods, but if you hand hold, then push the shutter button all the way down so the shot is taken as soon as focus is achieved - this reduces the chance that your body movement will move your focus point.

What I have found most effective is as "andnowimbroke" stated. Use live view on a tripod, blow it up 10x and AF or manually focus, then use a remote shutter release. I had to put in a +16 AFMA on my lens to get it to focus properly... so if your AF is not focusing where you think it should, then manually focus.

[Dave Johnston]

Just pulled the trigger on a non-L 100mm Macro.

Been missing out on this side of photography since I purchased my 5d3. Can't wait, and just in time for my road trip from SC to Acadia National Park in Maine!

I'll throw some shots on here when I get back.

Dave.

[Kombi]

What I want to do and what I need to do are often in conflict. Didn't get to play this morn but while mowing the lawn this guy stopped me.

ISO: 1600
Exposure: 1/80 sec
Aperture: 20.0
Focal Length: 100mm

He was kind enough to wait for me to literally run into the house and grab the camera.
so got a few of him

ISO: 320
Exposure: 1/80 sec
Aperture: 8.0
Focal Length: 100mm

ISO: 1600
Exposure: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length: 100mm


ISO: 640
Exposure: 1/80 sec
Aperture: 4.5
Focal Length: 100mm

Was also content to just do whatever he was doing to that dandelion while I got closer and closer
hand held, no flash, images not cropped or modified (third image has some mild colour boost)

Edit:
Thanks for the feedback so far- I will implement as much as I can.
My tripod is a bit cumbersome but will take it to the park later.
I do not have an external flash or remote trigger YET, just the pop up.
I do have a small mirror around, maybe I can play with that and redirect some light .
Denise- I too have seen the fantastic stacked images in this thread, however I am uncertain I have that ability.
I have Lightroom 4.1, Photoshop Elements 8 , and DPP...
I have full CS 1.3 from '04 on old computer that with effort I could see if it has it.

[conropl]

...My tripod is a bit cumbersome but will take it to the park later.

It was nice of the bee to pose for you. Nice shots.

If you are going to take your tripod out - and you have a center column - don't forget that you can flip the column around and hange the camera upside down under the tripod (at least most allow you to). This will let you get real low and right on top of things.

Have fun!