6 hours ago, Ron19 said:

Will try to improve on this specimen when the new lens arrives after the 3rd of October.

 

Now back to photos! 

Mr Cricket on a flower!

 

22 hours ago, Ron19 said:

Will try to improve on this specimen when the new lens arrives after the 3rd of October.

 

Good to see you are getting a handle on your close-up images Ron , when you get some new glass I am sure you will be amazed . All about practice mate.

Ugly bug

 

This was taken with a fixed 50mm lens using the macro setting on the camera.

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On ‎9‎/‎21‎/‎2016 at 3:24 PM, Goompa said:

 

Good to see you are getting a handle on your close-up images Ron , when you get some new glass I am sure you will be amazed . All about practice mate.

As it turns out I have had a dedicated Macro lens for some time.

Two years ago my brother gave me a Sony 4.5 - 5.6 / 75 - 300 1.5 / 4.9ft Macro Manual Focus.

Didn't realise until during the week, had a try of it but had trouble focusing but that could be my eyes.

My 1st effort with it is a Marigold that I have just posted in the Flowers thread.

This handsome critter paid us a visit this morning.

 

 

4 hours ago, Ron19 said:

As it turns out I have had a dedicated Macro lens for some time.

Two years ago my brother gave me a Sony 4.5 - 5.6 / 75 - 300 1.5 / 4.9ft Macro Manual Focus.

Didn't realise until during the week, had a try of it but had trouble focusing but that could be my eyes.

My 1st effort with it is a Marigold that I have just posted in the Flowers thread.

 

In all due respect Ron , a tele-zoom with a macro switch is not really a macro lens as such. Sure it has the capability to take an image to some degree of a macro mage , but it does have limitations in the event of aperture and dof.

Capable of taking a nice sharp image and purposeful as a zoom as well the limitations are in the construction of the lens as it is not a true "Macro" lens. Image compression is a trade off for the dual purpose of the lens and a non-fixed aperture results in the camera having to use a slower shutter speed in auto to compensate for the smaller f stop. Stopping down a lens or having a lens with a smaller ap. or f stop increases the dof and as a result negates fall off. There is also the addition of distortion as a result of the engineering involved to make the lens a dual purpose unit , though can be fixed to a degree in post.  Your flower image looks ok , though as you may be able to see there is not a lot of separation from the background imo Just my opinion mate I am not an expert and I would enjoy @FracturedRabbit input to my argument if he would kindly assist .

Nonetheless Ron I am keen to see what you can deliver with your find , rule #1 the camera takes the image in the viewfinder , you press the button...........  I am just a hacker though , no credentials.

 

Cheers

Common or Lemon emigrant (Catopsilia p. pomona f-jugurtha)

Sony DSC-HX400V:  Exposure: 1/125 sec at f/6.3, Focal length: 215mm, ISO: 80              

When I try to think about macro (and most nature) photography, purely based of physics, it would benefit to have a large sensor and a sensor which manages to capture and differentiate smallest amount of light with a small aperture as possible in the shortest of the time possible. 

 

Real macro photography is different compared to trying to isolate the subject with a wide opening as the focus length is not enough for macro shots. 

 

Then again, It's great to hear other opinions and learn from them.

Not in Macro position ..

 

Olympus TG 860 - f/5.7 - 1/125* - iso 160 - 105 mm

2 hours ago, Goompa said:

 

In all due respect Ron , a tele-zoom with a macro switch is not really a macro lens as such. Sure it has the capability to take an image to some degree of a macro mage , but it does have limitations in the event of aperture and dof.

Capable of taking a nice sharp image and purposeful as a zoom as well the limitations are in the construction of the lens as it is not a true "Macro" lens. Image compression is a trade off for the dual purpose of the lens and a non-fixed aperture results in the camera having to use a slower shutter speed in auto to compensate for the smaller f stop. Stopping down a lens or having a lens with a smaller ap. or f stop increases the dof and as a result negates fall off. There is also the addition of distortion as a result of the engineering involved to make the lens a dual purpose unit , though can be fixed to a degree in post.  Your flower image looks ok , though as you may be able to see there is not a lot of separation from the background imo Just my opinion mate I am not an expert and I would enjoy @FracturedRabbit input to my argument if he would kindly assist .

Nonetheless Ron I am keen to see what you can deliver with your find , rule #1 the camera takes the image in the viewfinder , you press the button...........  I am just a hacker though , no credentials.

 

Cheers

I believe the standard definition of a macro lens is one that produces, at a minimum magnification,  a life size 1:1 image, and indeed a tele-zoom can't do that. A macro lens will let you capture very small objects, or parts of objects. This with an Olympus 60mm Macro:
PA280080 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

A macro lens will have a very limited depth of field, even stopped down, so to obtain more depth of field you can stack multiple images together. This is what you get at F4.5 (and you wouldn't get much more at F11)
OL101604 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

 

But take 40 shots, each focused in a slightly different place, and you can get this:
2015-12-10 12-26-32 (A,Radius8,Smoothing4)-Edit by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

 

For flowers, butterflies and similar sized subjects, you don't need a macro lens, just a lens that will focus close enough. These were taken with a 40-150mm lens:

OL109260 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

 

PC010028-3 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

OL130914 by Spike Tennyson, on Flickr

 

SJ's lens is a zoom lens with a close(r) focus feature, but not really a macro; but will get close enough for the larger objects like the above.

1 hour ago, Ron19 said:

Your last comment, bullshit.

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A rather abrupt, and given your position, surprising,  response to Goompa very politely pointing out that your lens is probably not a true macro; which it isn't.

54 minutes ago, FracturedRabbit said:

A rather abrupt, and given your position, surprising,  response to Goompa very politely pointing out that your lens is probably not a true macro; which it isn't.

 

 i hid it.... Long day for Ron? 

 

I must try and use my macro lens more, trouble is every time I do the wind or even a breeze seems  to come up.... 

Best time for macro is early in the morning before the leaves stir with the wind. Which is why I don't take as much as I could....

9 hours ago, FracturedRabbit said:

A rather abrupt, and given your position, surprising,  response to Goompa very politely pointing out that your lens is probably not a true macro; which it isn't.

 

9 hours ago, FracturedRabbit said:

A rather abrupt, and given your position, surprising,  response to Goompa very politely pointing out that your lens is probably not a true macro; which it isn't.

I am sorry but this appears to be taken the wrong way and was my comment to Goompa's last comment which was "    I am just a hacker though , no credentials. " This comment would not be out of place amongst mates in Australia and is meant as a compliment.

8 hours ago, samuijimmy said:

 

 i hid it.... Long day for Ron? 

 

I must try and use my macro lens more, trouble is every time I do the wind or even a breeze seems  to come up.... 

I am sorry but this appears to be taken the wrong way and was my comment to Goompa's last comment which was "    I am just a hacker though , no credentials. " 

13 hours ago, Goompa said:

 

In all due respect Ron , a tele-zoom with a macro switch is not really a macro lens as such. Sure it has the capability to take an image to some degree of a macro mage , but it does have limitations in the event of aperture and dof.

Capable of taking a nice sharp image and purposeful as a zoom as well the limitations are in the construction of the lens as it is not a true "Macro" lens. Image compression is a trade off for the dual purpose of the lens and a non-fixed aperture results in the camera having to use a slower shutter speed in auto to compensate for the smaller f stop. Stopping down a lens or having a lens with a smaller ap. or f stop increases the dof and as a result negates fall off. There is also the addition of distortion as a result of the engineering involved to make the lens a dual purpose unit , though can be fixed to a degree in post.  Your flower image looks ok , though as you may be able to see there is not a lot of separation from the background imo Just my opinion mate I am not an expert and I would enjoy @FracturedRabbit input to my argument if he would kindly assist .

Nonetheless Ron I am keen to see what you can deliver with your find , rule #1 the camera takes the image in the viewfinder , you press the button...........  I am just a hacker though , no credentials.

 

Cheers

I made a comment with regards to your comment " I am just a hacker though , no credentials."

My comment was " Bullshit " which I would hope you being Australian would realise is meant as a compliment.Some members have taken this as a put down to you but that is certainly not  meant to be that way.

I hope you didn't take offence and if you did , I am sorry. 

9 hours ago, samuijimmy said:

 

 i hid it.... Long day for Ron? 

 

I must try and use my macro lens more, trouble is every time I do the wind or even a breeze seems  to come up.... 

Not a long day at all, you  have taken this the wrong way completely.

No problems from my end , never got to see your reply post so I guess I can figure it out from the after posts , We Aussies have a different way of communicating , thanks for your apology Ron but not required in the least .

Yes Ron was stating that I am not a " Hacker " in his reply to me stating I am  .

 

Thanks FR for your posting and for helping me explain things a little clearer ,sometimes I just get confused and cannot elaborate to well .

Some great images on your page as well ,

 

Cheers

About this photo it's not a macro one ; taken with my Oly TG 860 today at 9.38 am

 

Oly TG 860 - f/5.7 - 1/125* - iso 160 - 105 mm ( the maximum I can have with this camera )

I suppose it gets a little too boring me posting the same style of images on this thread , but truth be known it's really all I have ...

I guess I have cornered myself in this genre and becoming stagnant in developing a broader view in photography ....

So many images to take , so many subjects to enjoy , so little time to give to it all ...

I am going to take a break from here guys ... but leave a few images for you to enjoy .  I am going back to learn the Art of Togging !

 

Cheers

 

Headfirst

 

 

Scales

 

 

Grumpy

 

 

Take care Guys .......

Well Goompa, sorry to hear, you are taking a break, I think we all enjoy your contributions to this thread.... I am sure I speak for most of us, to please consider changing your mind! 

Frank Sinatra had a song about this couple " Let's Do It "

 Fractured Rabbit makes excellent comment on Macro.  I am using a 100 2.8 as my most used lens. I have a 180 3.5 macro I use for butterflies and an MPE 65 for extreme macro.  The latter is difficult but I can use it even hand held with a lot of patience.  You really need to develop technique for macro.  Best for me, is to get focused as best I can and then sway back and forth (tiny body movement) and try to time the shots.  A full frame camera helps as you have the option of pushing the ISO to higher levels and this allows faster shutter speeds.  My favourite body for this is the Canon 6D.  I also use a twin arm flash if needed.  This can help not only in darker areas but when shooting into the light.  In addition I will use a bigger flash but well diffused.  For work I do for museums etc many insects are staged.  This allows easier stacking but it is not my favourite style as I prefer shots taken in the wild or wherever the insect is found rather than dead animals.I do like the Olympus with the auto stacking feature - and they make great lenses as well.

 

I am now moving toward macro movies - a whole new learning field and one that is testing my budget.  For this I will use hand held but had to buy a seriously heavy, and expensive Miller tripod.  The problem with the work I am doing at the moment is that early morning has little wind but the insects are more abundant and active from midday on, as it warms up.  next is working at filming insects in the canopy with a drone.

 

Keep up the good work people.  This one of the few threads on TV worth viewing. 

Checkered Keelback, Asiatic Water Snake (Xenochrophis piscator)

Sony DSC-HX400V:  Exposure: 1/250 sec at f/6.3, Focal length: 215mm, ISO: 250

Well spotted me2501!!!

 

Caught this dragonfly in our back garden,sitting on the old chicken shed.Didn't realize,until I focused in,that it had a wasp (I think) in it's clutches and was preparing itself some breakfast.Quite amazing and at the same time shocking, to watch nature at work.

 

Sony a6000 coupled with my CZ Sonnar, 1/200 sec, ISO 500 and judging by the high ISO,I would guess around f/8 for the aperture.

Being a manual aperture,the f stop is not recorded with the exif data.

 

 

.........Goomps, will be back!!!

Hope you are right about Goomps.

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