[deetee]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Just a curious question, what could the magnification factor be in the quoted shot by Samurai. Also, is there any way to control (adjust) the magnification factor in macro shooting?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by mobike008

A noobie query, how can we switch of the flashlight when clicking in the macro mode in a DSLR? when you click a pic with the dial switched to macro?

If you are really shooting macro, the camera will be too close, the flash will go above the object. For macro, you need a special macro flash, which is circular and fits around the lens.

Originally Posted by discobiscuit

my attempt at macro

This is a not a macro. Look at the size of rice seeds in my shot compared to the rose in your shot.

Originally Posted by clevermax

my understanding is that macro mode in a DSLR does not provide extra magnification or capability to focus very near or anything. It all depends on the glass you use...

Yes, you need a macro lens in dSLR, not macro mode.

Originally Posted by clevermax

For good macros, the image of the subject projected on the sensor and the real subject should have a size ratio of at least 1:2 or better, like 1:1 The regular kit lens doesn't even have 1:4 magnification at its max zoom.

Exactly, the image of rice stalk is 1:1 macro done using 50mm 1:2 macro lens + 25mm tube to make 1:1 macro.

[deetee]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Exactly, the image of rice stalk is 1:1 macro done using 50mm 1:2 macro lens + 25mm tube to make 1:1 macro.

So, if a 25mm tube gives a 1:1 macro, will a 12+25 mm tubes give 2:1 macro?Will there be any side effects like softening etc.,.
Apart from using tubes , is there any other way to adjust the magnification.

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by deetee

So, if a 25mm tube gives a 1:1 macro, will a 12+25 mm tubes give 2:1 macro?Will there be any side effects like softening etc.,.
Apart from using tubes , is there any other way to adjust the magnification.

I think tubes are the easiest way to achieve extra magnification. Other possibilities are to have a smaller sensor with the same mega pixels thus providing a bigger crop factor , using a macro converter & the most difficult option, enlarge the subject physically.

EDIT: @deetee: Samurai mentioned that he used the tube to get a 1:1 macro, which otherwise would have been 1:2. The maximum magnification he got here (with the tube) is 1:1, not 2:1.


Here, an interesting read about a home made super macro equipment.

Home-Made Super Macro Photo Equipment

[deetee]

Originally Posted by deetee

So, if a 25mm tube gives a 1:1 macro, will a 12+25 mm tubes give 2:1 macro?Will there be any side effects like softening etc.,.
Apart from using tubes , is there any other way to adjust the magnification.

Let me correct myself and provide more or less correct explanation for magnification:
Samurai stated that the 50mm prime had intial magnification factor of 1/2x.
That means 50 mm prime inherently had a 25mm extension.
So, adding another 25mm extension brings total extension distance to 50mm.
So the new magnification is 50/50=1:1.
Now to achieve 2:1 magnification it is not 12mm but another 50mm to be added to existing 25mm tube.
SO, total extension becomes 25(inbuilt)+25+50=100mm
then magnification=100/focal length=100/50=2:1.
So, to achieve various magnification factors , we can vary either focal length or extension length (or both ).

[mobike008]

TSK and Samurai, thanks for your clarification.

Let's take a hypothical situation with light condition as bright, can you suggest a method which is best suited to take a decent close up ( not macro) shot using the standard kit lens that comes with a Nikon D40x?

--Set it to Manual
--Set Shutter speed to 1/100
--ISO= 100
--Aperture : Higher the F-stop the better?
--Then, take the picture from as close as you can get to the subject?

Is this the right method?

[deetee]

Originally Posted by mobike008

TSK and Samurai, thanks for your clarification.

Let's take a hypothical situation with light condition as bright, can you suggest a method which is best suited to take a decent close up ( not macro) shot using the standard kit lens that comes with a Nikon D40x?

--Set it to Manual
--Set Shutter speed to 1/100
--ISO= 100
--Aperture : Higher the F-stop the better?
--Then, take the picture from as close as you can get to the subject?

Is this the right method?

Avi ji,
Am no expert, but let me offer a little help that I can. Some where I read that we can hand hold the lens till shutter speed=1/(focal length used) in sec without any major blurring.

So, if you are zooming in the subject with kit lens, you may hand hold the camera at 1/50 s.Advantage is you can use atleast one less f stop than you would at 1/100 s.
The revised steps:
- set mode dial to M/Tv(Shutter priority)
- select a speed of 1/80 sec and choose desired(lowest preferable) aperture (or proper exposure compensation in shutter priority)
- select either auto ISO or ISO400 to start with.
-Let the focus mode be in Auto.
-Now get close to the subject and zoom in fully to fill the frame.
-Try auto focusing.If it doesn't give focus confirmation, try moving out a little to get proper minimum focus distance between subject and camera.
-If you get a focus lock but aperture or expsure blinks in view finder, try lower shutter speed or boost the ISO to 800.
-If everything seems fine now,fire the shutter.
Alternatively you can try manual focusing,but on a tripod.
Well, that's only my newbie perspective of macro shooting.
There will be a lot more to learn from the experts.

[shajufx]

Does this qualify to be a macro ? Its taken in the macro mode

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by shajufx

Does this qualify to be a macro ? Its taken in the macro mode
Attachment 146803

Though its a nice shot, it doesn't qualify to be a macro.. As explained above, macro mode in a DSLR does not provide you any significant advantage over other modes on magnification..

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by deetee

Avi ji,
Am no expert, but let me offer a little help that I can. Some where I read that we can hand hold the lens till shutter speed=1/(focal length used) in sec without any major blurring.

So, if you are zooming in the subject with kit lens, you may hand hold the camera at 1/50 s.Advantage is you can use atleast one less f stop than you would at 1/100 s.
The revised steps:
- set mode dial to M/Tv(Shutter priority)
- select a speed of 1/80 sec and choose desired(lowest preferable) aperture (or proper exposure compensation in shutter priority)
- select either auto ISO or ISO400 to start with.
-Let the focus mode be in Auto.
-Now get close to the subject and zoom in fully to fill the frame.
-Try auto focusing.If it doesn't give focus confirmation, try moving out a little to get proper minimum focus distance between subject and camera.
-If you get a focus lock but aperture or expsure blinks in view finder, try lower shutter speed or boost the ISO to 800.
-If everything seems fine now,fire the shutter.
Alternatively you can try manual focusing,but on a tripod.
Well, that's only my newbie perspective of macro shooting.
There will be a lot more to learn from the experts.

Thanks man, will try that out on some subjects this weekend. You didnt say anything about the metering though which i assume has to be spot.

Edit: Nice shot Shaju. Macro is like filling a single rice grain into the entire frame. Looks like there is a Macro Flu going on this thread

[Torqueguru]

My Camera has no macro mode, nor do i have a macro lens, so i sneaked up behind this crab with my 50mm lens, and got this shot.

And Samurai is right Composing macros is not a very easy task, the key is make the subject gel with the environment. The image must tell you something a little more that "OK I AM A BIG ANT AND YOU CAN EVEN SEE MY HAIR! YAY!" ...elements of the environment tell you a little bit more about the shot, also capturing some sort of action in macro mode is something i always try.

This one is from the Sony H50 point and shoot.


Well in a way, again like Samurai pointed out, it is easier to take macros with a point and shoot, but it poses its own issues of autofocus with moving subjects, sometimes it just wont focus on the subject..damn!

Regards,
TG.

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by Torqueguru

This one is from the Sony H50 point and shoot.
Attachment 146807

Regards,
TG.

This is just superb!

[janitha]

Quote Torqueguru "This one is from the Sony H50 point and shoot." Illustrates the statement that the man behind the lens is more important than the equipment.

[revvedup]

Brickbats and bouquets please

[TSEA]

Originally Posted by Torqueguru

This one is from the Sony H50 point and shoot.
Regards,
TG.

With Skill like yours, who needs a DSLR. Thereby you can throw away your DSLR at us mortals...