Macro works

[thkn777]

Hi,

i took a break now and then from the gardening today and tried to capture some insects and blossoms, first results are here:

- http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...amp;forum_id=7 (Fly with shallow DOF - if you don't like such pics, skip it)

- http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...amp;forum_id=7 (Flies again, wider DOF now)

- http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...amp;forum_id=7 (Bees - don't miss it - they look cuddly!)

I used my DL2 with Viv 28-105/2.8-3.8 & Viv 2x macro TC for these and got some keepers. In most cases I had to crank up ISO due to the wind and to get a decent shutter speed when the insects were moving, so there is plenty of things to improve - but especially for insects I got the feeling that I slowly get the hang of it.

What do you think?

Some technical stuff - for some reason the images are somewhat fuzzy, not really out of focus or just soft, there is another kind of blur with that lens/TC combo I never had before. On the other hand magnification is great and for the little money I payed the results are quite good - I really have to check different ISO's, maybe ISO 800 is not the way to go here. In maximum macro mode the lens/TC combogives a shadow when you use the flash, that's a drawback.

Best regards,
Th.

[mtngal]

I'm not crazy about the first series, but like the other two. Those two have some reasonably sharp pictures in them, and I love the pollen on the back end of the bee (made me laugh). Considering what you are doing, I'm impressed. I've been thinking about getting a TC to use for macro, too, but can't do anything about it just yet (it's called a new camera...).

[thkn777]

mtngal wrote:

I'm not crazy about the first series, but like the other two. Those two have some reasonably sharp pictures in them, and I love the pollen on the back end of the bee (made me laugh). Considering what you are doing, I'm impressed. I've been thinking about getting a TC to use for macro, too, but can't do anything about it just yet (it's called a new camera...).

Hey, thanks.

Yes, the first series is nothing to write home about in the means of sharpness etc. - I just liked that "fly-portrait" idea.

As for the other two series - some images are cropped (especially the portrait aligned) and from 6mp there isn't really much that's left after that action:sad: They are good enough to see the details one would almost never see just with the eyes and that's about it.

I am still way too slow when it comes to follow those insects, I haven't got some "inflight" shots yet etc. pp. - but I'll practise a bit more and when I really get a day with less wind and a good amount of sunshine I hopefully have some tricks under my belt to capture whatever pokes it's nose out .

Sleep tight! *yaaaaaaawwwwnnn*

[penolta]

I think the softness is due to the TC in the close-up range. Some people use an extension tube, which does not add any additional glass (Tamron made one expressly for the adaptall 90mm macro). I have had good luck with plus lenses, although stacking two or three can have the same effect. Most macros now are !:!; some 1:2 macros were provided with a matchedsupplementary (plus) lens to get to 1:1.

My opinion of the pictures is much the same as Harriet's.

[thkn777]

OK - next try --> http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...amp;forum_id=7

I changed postprocessing and think the more crispy look and the deconvolution effect works ok - any comments on that?

For the flies I used my Tamron 70-300 plus Vivitar 2x macro TC and tried a bit fill-in flash, but have a hard time to use it with reliable success so far. It IS a challenge maneuvering a 600mm macro at f/5.6...f/8 with my *ist DL2 (no SR!) but the first results look promising.

Best regards,
Th.

[thkn777]

Update: Ladybug pictures processed in a similar way... it really seems to work:

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...amp;forum_id=7

Regards,
Th.

[bigdawg]

Th...Be careful of over sharpening...Borderline on some of these...As for the softness a 2X TC with a digital camera will give enough lens distortion for edge softness most every time...I think you and I both just need more light so we can use a higher f/stop and get more detail..You with your macros and me with the Bigma and small birds. Still and all I wouldn't throw any of these out! Well done! Hope your garden does well!



Dawg

[Rodney9]

We have way to many flies here so I'm crazy about them either.
The bee and ladybird series are very good.

[brokenbokeh]

I've really been enjoying these macros, thkn777, and also your resourcefulness with the lens/TC combo.

I'm not a good person to comment on post-processing, so I won't :-). However, I can say that you have done nothing to lessen my pleasure while examining your photos!

[Gumnut]

i think i have a manual version of this convertor
it works the same with the focusing/macro ring
but with out the electrical conections
it has no name on it
it says it is an APK macro TELEPLUS MC7
i dont use it much
infact i have thought about taking the glass out and use it as a variable extension tube
however your photos have me rethinking this