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Weekly Macro/Close-up thread for 15 November 2009

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You will certainly enjoy the 7D for macro work!

One thing that I only learnt yesterday (which is totally new for any Canon camera) is that the 7D has a Macro AI Servo mode. I did not notice this in my first read of the manual and only came across it while watching the B&H videos, which you can find at:

http://www.video.bhphotovideo.com/?fr_story=a405075c1837a65dbee4f4d48db9a26a992d3ab2&rf=bm

These are quite long (50mins for the first two and 30 for the third) but I do recommend watching them, you will learn aspects on the camera that are not so obvious in the manual.

The Macro AI Servo mode only works with macro lens with a USM (i.e. EFS60, 100, 100L & 180L) and only kicks in at close focusing distances. Basically the claims is, is that the camera can track an object that is being blown about in the breeze, which should make for more successful captures.

In my first series of shots with the 7D & 100L, I had the one shot focus mode set and the camera was still able to track a flower that was moving about extremely effectively - I have never, ever seen this in a camera. I posted my first images recently:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=33496496

Perhaps an autofocus MPE65 is now in the realm of possibilities!!!!

Looking forward to seeing some of your images!

Kind regards
Stephen
 
Great capture John and the metallic effect is fantastic! Is Topaz Adjust a HDR program?

Regards
Stephen
 
Peterski said:
...What effect does that software have on your images and what are you trying to improve on, if anything?
Click to expand...
I think it helps me to bring out the contrast in an image, and does it better than I can. It's also better at sharpening an image :)

--
Also known as Dalantech
My Blog: http://www.nocroppingzone.com
My gallery: http://www.johnkimbler.com
Macro Tutorials: http://dalantech.deviantart.com/gallery/#Tutorials

Always minimal post processing and no cropping -unless you count the viewfinder... ;)
 
There are some fantastic photos here and I had a question to those that might know best. If I were to use a Canon 50D with a 430EX flash, how do I modify the light for macro photography?
 
I would invest in an off camera flash cord, you can buy the generic ones for very cheap or the canon one (not sure about the quality differences), and hold the flash when taking pictures. You can easily diffuse the flash by wrapping some opaque material around it, then experiment with positioning the light source. I used to do a similar thing with the mr14ex ring light when i wanted a different direction of light to just take the ring off the camera and hold it from the desired angel.

Also, what lens are you using, some lenses will mean you are alot further away from the subject which makes lighting somewhat difficult, fistly to get the angle of light you want and also you get more shadows.
hope that helps
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41942460@N04/sets/
 
I used a cadboard reflector on my 50D for quite a while before I bought my MT-24EX. It not only gives a nice soft diffused light it also reflects the light down in front of the lens where you need it. Just leave the flash on ETTL.



cheers,
peter
--
Complete Uploaded Gallery:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33814780@N07/sets/
 
I got it on tuesday. I like it. I am also into shooting birds and action sports so the 8fps is a real seller for me (i was previously considering a 1d2 for sport) but now i have a 1.6 crop with 8fps which is nice. The AF nice too.

In terms of macro shooting with the mpe you dont get the af advantages over the 50D, but you get video which is also nice. I did take a short viedo of this mantis, although it was late afternoon with no direct sunlight i could still shoot a nice 1900x1080 viedo with f/4 or something. I am on a slow connection at the moment but as soon as i can upload video i will do :)
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41942460@N04/sets/
 
I bought a very used 100mm Canon macro lens and have been having a bit of fun with it. I just uploaded one of the pictures to the Rain challenge, but here's another one of the shots I took the same day.



I used a gorilla pod tripod and knelt down on the ground to get the shot. This is a fallen leaf, upside down, with a collection of raindrops on it.
 
Here is my set-up with a normal flash using an angle bracket, flash cord & Lumiquest minisoftbox. Canon cord is costly but you can get an equivalent from e-bay at a third of the price.



--
Gautam
 
I went on an entomology trip with my students this past weekend, and got some awesome shots!

I took this shot of one of my students as he was holding a recently emerged damselfly (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

Canon XTi + Sigma 50mm f1.4, no flash
1/500, f2.2, ISO 400



We also found an ant-mimic spider on a night trek while looking for nocturnal insects:

Canon XTi + 100mm f2.8 USM macro lens + MR-14 Ring Flash, tubes on top and bottom at a ratio of 3:2 (top:bottom), -1/3 EV set on the flash.
1/200, f9, ISO 200



--
Dan
Photographer wannabe
http://dllavaneras.deviantart.com
 
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