E-20 close up DOF

[Maria Holmes]

I'm still playing around with my new E-20, and it seems there is a very shallow DOF in macro shots. I've been shooting at f 4.0, and above, wide angle setting on the lens with a tripod but am having trouble getting an entire (flat) maple leaf in good sharp focus. Is there a way to calculate how much of a DOF I should have at x# of inches, etc.? I just want to make certain it's my (lack of) photography skill rather than maybe a lens that has a bad spot that's causing this. Much thanks. Maria H.
--
Maria H.
C-2-100uz, E--20

 

[drhower]

Maria:

I do a lot of macro photography and find myself using the "A" mode most of the time. This would be especially true if you have a tripod. Set the aperture wide open (f11) and use a flash, if you're not too close. The results form this camera are magnificant, in my opinion. I have a couple of shots on pbase and many more that I've never posted. Here are two links:

http://www.pbase.com/image/4756284
http://www.pbase.com/image/4756316

All the best.
--
Bob Howe

 

[Maria Holmes]

Hi Bob,

Your pictures are wonderful. I'll try a wider aperture and see what happens. thanks. Maria

Maria:

I do a lot of macro photography and find myself using the "A" mode
most of the time. This would be especially true if you have a
tripod. Set the aperture wide open (f11) and use a flash, if
you're not too close. The results form this camera are
magnificant, in my opinion. I have a couple of shots on pbase and
many more that I've never posted. Here are two links:

http://www.pbase.com/image/4756284
http://www.pbase.com/image/4756316

All the best.
--
Bob Howe

--
Maria H.
C-2-100uz, E--20

 

[Moshe Ronen]

Bobs advice is fine, except that f:11 is not 'wide open', it's 'smallest' aperture.
Moshe

Maria:

I do a lot of macro photography and find myself using the "A" mode
most of the time. This would be especially true if you have a
tripod. Set the aperture wide open (f11) and use a flash, if
you're not too close. The results form this camera are
magnificant, in my opinion. I have a couple of shots on pbase and
many more that I've never posted. Here are two links:

http://www.pbase.com/image/4756284
http://www.pbase.com/image/4756316

All the best.
--
Bob Howe

 

[Maria Holmes]

Yes, I know. It's easy to get stuff like that mixed up. I was trying to stick to the camera's 'sweet spot' with a mid-range f-stop, not to mention the hassle of using a flash, but I guess I'll bite the bullet for my art and give it a try!

Bobs advice is fine, except that f:11 is not 'wide open', it's
'smallest' aperture.
Moshe

--
Maria H.
C-2-100uz, E--20

 

[drhower]

Hi Moshe:

Thanks for the correction. Yes, widest depth but smallest aperture. It's obvious I'm not a professional photographer.

All the best. Bob

Maria:

I do a lot of macro photography and find myself using the "A" mode
most of the time. This would be especially true if you have a
tripod. Set the aperture wide open (f11) and use a flash, if
you're not too close. The results form this camera are
magnificant, in my opinion. I have a couple of shots on pbase and
many more that I've never posted. Here are two links:

http://www.pbase.com/image/4756284
http://www.pbase.com/image/4756316

All the best.
--
Bob Howe

--
Bob Howe

 

[Diane B]

Hi Bob,

Your pictures are wonderful. I'll try a wider aperture and see what
happens. thanks. Maria

I believe you mean a smaller aperture--the smaller the aperture, the deeper the DOF--zoomed in, wide open (like f/2.8)--shallow DOF. Try using a tripod also.

However, that being said--this was at f/3.6 but with a Hoya closeup lens on it. I wanted the spider sharp, or most of it--and it is--the jonquil falls off however, as do the legs that are down inside the jonquil.



--
Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries
B/W lover, but color is seducing me

 

[Dave Dougherty]

I'm still playing around with my new E-20, and it seems there is a
very shallow DOF in macro shots.

To add to the advice; I have done alot of Macro photography with my E-20. It is critical to use a small lens opening set in A Mode as the camera will invariably choose a large opening in P Mode to get a fast shutter speed. A Mode will allow you to set for maximum depth of field. A tripod will be necessary for most of us if the resultant shutter speed is 1/60th or less. But when you get it right, the results from the E-20 are beautiful.

Here is a link to a shot I made recently using A Mode. See what you think.

http://www3.photosig.com/viewphoto.php?id=451174

Dave Dougherty

 

[Maria Holmes]

Gads! That's sharp! Had you posted it before? It looks familiar, and I remember thinking what a good pix it was. Maybe the leaves I tried were a bit hard to focus on. Although they had a lot of color and veining, I suspect it may not have been that easy to focus on. I just got a set of Tiffen close-up filters but haven't had a chance to try them out yet. F-3.6 is VERY encouraging. Thanks for posting Maria

I believe you mean a smaller aperture--the smaller the aperture,
the deeper the DOF--zoomed in, wide open (like f/2.8)--shallow DOF.
Try using a tripod also.

However, that being said--this was at f/3.6 but with a Hoya closeup
lens on it. I wanted the spider sharp, or most of it--and it
is--the jonquil falls off however, as do the legs that are down
inside the jonquil.



--
Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries
B/W lover, but color is seducing me

--
Maria H.
C-2-100uz, E--20

 

[Maria Holmes]

I'm willing to work in A Mode, use a tripod and close that lens down to get the result I want. Just to clear the air, I remember reading that the UZI macro would have a wider DOF if shot at full zoom. I did this and the UZI, and did not have the DOF problems I'm having now. The UZI, of course, has a 380mm zoom on it. I read somewhere that Sony 707 doesn't take good macro at full zoom, maybe something having to do with the lens. I forget for certain. Anyway, I'm assuming the E-20 will give better DOF shooting at a wider angle. It if, of course, only 4x vs. the UZI's 10 x zoom. Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this, folks. Maria

To add to the advice; I have done alot of Macro photography with my
E-20. It is critical to use a small lens opening set in A Mode as
the camera will invariably choose a large opening in P Mode to get
a fast shutter speed. A Mode will allow you to set for maximum
depth of field. A tripod will be necessary for most of us if the
resultant shutter speed is 1/60th or less. But when you get it
right, the results from the E-20 are beautiful.

Here is a link to a shot I made recently using A Mode. See what
you think.

http://www3.photosig.com/viewphoto.php?id=451174

Dave Dougherty

--
Maria H.
C-2-100uz, E--20

 

[Diane B]

Gads! That's sharp! Had you posted it before? It looks familiar,
and I remember thinking what a good pix it was. Maybe the leaves I
tried were a bit hard to focus on. Although they had a lot of color
and veining, I suspect it may not have been that easy to focus on.
I just got a set of Tiffen close-up filters but haven't had a
chance to try them out yet. F-3.6 is VERY encouraging. Thanks for
posting Maria

I posted this awhile ago--I've changed cameras though I still have my E10, so don't post pics here very much. Do try your closeup filters. They can allow you to do more than without. I never bought the Oly macro though I do have the WA and tele. I found that for the few macros I did, the Hoyas (or maybe they ARE Tiffens--need to check them out again LOL) did just fine. BTW--this was handheld--against my principles as far as macros, but I didn't think this guy was going to sit still for me to go get my tripod and set it up LOL.

Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries
B/W lover, but color is seducing me

 

[Maria Holmes]

I have no plans to buy the Oly closeup lens as, from what users have said, it doesn't seem any/much better than the Hoyas and Tiffens. I'm sure I'll be using mine lots. I just received them a few days ago, and I've been sicker than a pickle with a bad cold for a week+. I'm sure I'll give them a try this weekend. Isn't that a treat to be able to beat the odds by getting a pix like your spider HANDHELD. Kudos.

I posted this awhile ago--I've changed cameras though I still have
my E10, so don't post pics here very much. Do try your closeup
filters. They can allow you to do more than without. I never
bought the Oly macro though I do have the WA and tele. I found
that for the few macros I did, the Hoyas (or maybe they ARE
Tiffens--need to check them out again LOL) did just fine.
BTW--this was handheld--against my principles as far as macros, but
I didn't think this guy was going to sit still for me to go get my
tripod and set it up LOL.

Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries
B/W lover, but color is seducing me

--
Maria H.
C-2-100uz, E--20