Need someone to school me on operating a macro lens...

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

So I have a brand new 90mm Tamron macro lens.

...now I can't seem to figure out how to work it.

I can get decent pics...but so far I get better pics with my 18-55mm.

This is what I've been able to take so far...

But I'd prefer to able to get close up shots like these...

Help!?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I do realize a LOT of this is just going to be practice, but I'm thinking a good tutorial or some help in figuring out how to focus this thing would probably help. Right now any "zooming in" that I do only seems to make things super blurry (I do realize that there's not technically a "zoom" on this camera but I don't know what else to call it).

 

[Gator1970]

Is it an autofocus lens? Depth of field is extremely shallow for macro photos, especially at Large apertures. Maybe try to use a tripod and stop down the aperture to get a deeper focus depth. Also if your camera is equipped with focus tracking, shoot in burst mode for the fish and it will anticipate the position of the fish based on its movement.

Edited to add that a lot of the really amazing photos you see are amped up in post processing with contrast, colour and sharpness levels being adjusted.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Are you flat to the glass?
Also check the type of auto focus. Narrow wide etc.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Is it an autofocus lens? Depth of field is extremely shallow for macro photos, especially at Large apertures. Maybe try to use a tripod and stop down the aperture to get a deeper focus depth. Also if your camera is equipped with focus tracking, shoot in burst mode for the fish and it will anticipate the position of the fish based on its movement.

Edited to add that a lot of the really amazing photos you see are amped up in post processing with contrast, colour and sharpness levels being adjusted.

Thanks. It's an autofocus lens. I was trying to go at it without using the autofocus (because that works better with my 18mm-55mm). I switched to autofocus, and it definitely helps for getting motion shots.

I do have Lightroom for post-processing...so the pics I'm posting have been adjusted some to help correct some things.

I may need to try a tripod for coral shots, but I'm still not sure how to get those super close pics.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Are you flat to the glass?
Also check the type of auto focus. Narrow wide etc.

You mean am I perpendicular to the glass, or do you mean am I pressed against it? I'm not pressed against it, but for as many pics as I can, I do get perpendicular to it...some of my corals are impossible to get at with a straight shot.

How do I check the kind of AF? The lens says "AF 90mm 1:2.8 Macro 1:1"

 

[Gator1970]

Thanks. It's an autofocus lens. I was trying to go at it without using the autofocus (because that works better with my 18mm-55mm). I switched to autofocus, and it definitely helps for getting motion shots.

I do have Lightroom for post-processing...so the pics I'm posting have been adjusted some to help correct some things.

I may need to try a tripod for coral shots, but I'm still not sure how to get those super close pics.

Hmmm...90 is a fairly standard focal length for a macro. If you can get crisper images maybe you will be able to crop and re-size without losing sharpness.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Here are a few pics I snapped between my first post and now.

They're pretty good pics, but still not any closer than I was getting with my 18-55mm. The autofocus definitely does help when photographing fish.

Hmmm...90 is a fairly standard focal length for a macro. If you can get crisper images maybe you will be able to crop and re-size without losing sharpness.

Maybe...maybe this is the secret?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I perpendicular to the glass

yes. Even a slight angle under magnification will show distortions.

How do I check the kind of AF? The lens says "AF 90mm 1:2.8 Macro 1:1"

Itll be in the camera menu.
http://www.techradar.com/how-to/pho...ode-stay-sharp-and-when-to-use-manual-1321025

Double check that its all working and sharp by taking a picture of a penny or something close.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

That one is sharp.

Try stopping down one too. f3.5

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

yes. Even a slight angle under magnification will show distortions.

Itll be in the camera menu.
http://www.techradar.com/how-to/pho...ode-stay-sharp-and-when-to-use-manual-1321025

Double check that its all working and sharp by taking a picture of a penny or something close.

Switched it just now from AF One Shot to AI Servo.

That one is sharp.

Try stopping down one too. f3.5

stepping down to f3.5.

 

[czhao1009]

Are you trying to "get closer", or in other words, take more magnified pictures? If the lens support manual focus, zoom it all the way to 1:1 magnification, then move your camera back and forth (perpendicular to the glass) until the picture becomes sharp, this should get you to the maximum magnification the lens is capable of.

And for 1:1 magnification, probably start with aperture f8 and go smaller (larger f value, ie f11, f13 etc) for more DOF.

Definitely use a stable tripod if you have one. If shutter speed is too slow, try to ramp up the iso or maybe turn up the lights.

 

[Gator1970]

Switched it just now from AF One Shot to AI Servo.


stepping down to f3.5.

AI servo is the way to go for the fish shots. If you have a newer camera you can stop down significantly and still maintain image quality with boosted ISO.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Are you trying to "get closer", or in other words, take more magnified pictures? If the lens support manual focus, zoom it all the way to 1:1 magnification, then move your camera back and forth (perpendicular to the glass) until the picture becomes sharp, this should get you to the maximum magnification the lens is capable of.

And for 1:1 magnification, probably start with aperture f8 and go smaller (larger f value, ie f11, f13 etc) for more DOF.

Definitely use a stable tripod if you have one. If shutter speed is too slow, try to ramp up the iso or maybe turn up the lights.

Thanks! I think this is a big part of what I was missing. Never thought about moving the camera physically to focus.

 

[PedroYoung]

Thanks! I think this is a big part of what I was missing. Never thought about moving the camera physically to focus.

That's the ticket, will make a big difference. I move my camera all over the room to get Macro shots (on the tripod). Now if I just had a tripod that would get over the rim of the tank to use my Porthole for top down shots..............

 

[John Stevens]

You have conflicting requirements: Sharp from front to back needs small aperture = large f number (f16 or f32 - use aperture priority), which needs *lots* of light (=scared fish) or slow shutter speed (make the fish stay still.)

Pick 2 of the 3.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

You have conflicting requirements: Sharp from front to back needs small aperature = large f number (f16 or f32 - use aperture priority), which needs *lots* of light (=scared fish) or slow shutter speed (make the fish stay still.)

Pick 2 of the 3.

Yeah. I'm mostly thinking of super close-ups on corals. I'm relatively happy with my fish pics (they can certainly improve, but I feel like those are getting better), but I want to do close-ups of acans, acros, plates, and scolies. I'm hopeful that by moving back and forth I can get a better focus...we'll see (and I'm open to additional tips). Unfortunately, I likely won't get to play with my camera again until Monday.

 

[John Stevens]

Choosing aperture priority locks f-stop only; camera picks flash & speed (often 1/60 or 1/125 sec.)

If you need higher speed, use all manual exposure and let the camera pick the flash time.

Good luck.

 

[d2mini]

Make sure the focus limiter switch isn't on.
This would make the lens focus faster and behave more like a non-macro lens when you don't need the full range of focus, like if you were shooting a portrait with it.

 

[d2mini]

It should be on "Full"