F707 Close-Up Photography

I love my F707, but I cannot seem to get very close-up to objects and keep them in focus. Is this just the nature of the camera? Is there a Macro lens you can by for close-up photography? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
--
Rick

Try it with a tripod first and full wide-angle. In macro mode and using the self-timer, you should get sharp images of static subjects. Be aware that DOF is much less than you get with larger subjects and distances. Often you need to stop way down to get enough of a macro in focus, and this means you need to hold the camera very very still to avoid camera shake.

Once you can do this successfully, it's worth experimenting with using the zoom in conjunction with close-up lenses, handheld shots, moving insects, etc.

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/favorite_work

Hi Rick,

The F707 has a good Macro setting on it, but if your like me, it's not enough I love to photograph bugs and insects, so I would suggest to you to think about purchasing a set of HOYA Close-up Lenses, they are relatively inexpensive for a set of 1+ 2+ 4+ these types of Lenses allow you to achieve excellent close-ups from greater distances, allowing much more light between the subject and the camera.

I have many examples in my Album at http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292204045

This picture of a dead bee and ants was taken with a HOYA 4+ Close-up Lens and a Sony F707, hand held, no flash.......Skippy (Australia)

Rick Richmond said:

I love my F707, but I cannot seem to get very close-up to objects
and keep them in focus. Is this just the nature of the camera? Is
there a Macro lens you can by for close-up photography? Any
suggestions would be appreciated.
--
Rick

Click to expand...

--
Everyone has a right to be stupid. Some just abuse the privilege. (Unknown)

Skippy said:

Rick Richmond said:

I love my F707, but I cannot seem to get very close-up to objects
and keep them in focus. Is this just the nature of the camera? Is
there a Macro lens you can by for close-up photography? Any
suggestions would be appreciated.
--
Rick

Click to expand...

--
Everyone has a right to be stupid. Some just abuse the privilege.
(Unknown)

Click to expand...

--Leave it to Skippy to come up with the cool bug pics..
But, I had problems with closeups until I practiced a bit.
The F707 will focus on objects as close as 2CM from the lense.

I've done it!!!. But, as Skippy has stated, closeup filters help to increase the distance from you and the subject... I only have a +3 and it works great.. But I need to get a +4.... I am not sure what +1, or2 will do for you by themselves.. If Skippy reads this, maybe he can explain if the Closeups can be stacked or not??? I only have one, so I never tried to stack um.
Vaughn T. Winfree

Digital Photography with my Sony f707 is my personal companion helping me on a journey of visual, technical, and creative adventures, leading to personal discovery.

But it reduces ultimate image quality.

--
my favorite work: http://www.pbase.com/sdaconsulting/favorite_work

During these macro shots, do you have it completely zoomed out (at the W end) and do you bring the lens closer to the object, or do you keep the lens farther and just zoom in from a distance?

which would bring better results for Macro shots? I can't seem to make up my mind yet....

Thanks,
Sam.

Skippy said:

Rick Richmond said:

I love my F707, but I cannot seem to get very close-up to objects
and keep them in focus. Is this just the nature of the camera? Is
there a Macro lens you can by for close-up photography? Any
suggestions would be appreciated.
--
Rick

Click to expand...

--
Everyone has a right to be stupid. Some just abuse the privilege.
(Unknown)

Click to expand...

Hi there Vaughn,

Sorry for the delay in replying, I had to go to work.....people don't stop getting sick or injured just cause it's Christmas

You sure can stack them, but you need to be careful of Chroming, I mostly use a 4+ on it's own however I have used a 4+ and a 3+ together.

The closer it allows you to get the more you need to use a Tripod, as your depth of field is sooooooo shallow it is easy to move when taking the shot, and Vaughn I dunno if you know or not but I'm a she not a he
I'm still waiting for the NIKON 6T to come in...NIKON where is it?????
Like how long does a piece of glass take to get shipped to where I live???

You can have soooooo much fun with Close-up Lenses, don't be afraid to experiment, I don't have the camera set on MACRO....I start off with the lense open to it's widest setting, then start zooming in, it sort of works in reverse.......having a close-up lens allows you to step AWAY from the subject.....eg a MACRO that would normally require you to be 3 inches away from the subject can now be taken almost 2 feet away from the subject......hope this was of some help...... Skippy (Australia)

Vaughn T.Winfree said:

--Leave it to Skippy to come up with the cool bug pics..
But, I had problems with closeups until I practiced a bit.
The F707 will focus on objects as close as 2CM from the lense.
I've done it!!!. But, as Skippy has stated, closeup filters help to
increase the distance from you and the subject... I only have a +3
and it works great.. But I need to get a +4.... I am not sure what
+1, or2 will do for you by themselves.. If Skippy reads this,
maybe he can explain if the Closeups can be stacked or not??? I
only have one, so I never tried to stack um.
Vaughn T. Winfree
Digital Photography with my Sony f707 is my personal companion
helping me on a journey of visual, technical, and creative
adventures, leading to personal discovery.

Click to expand...

--
Everyone has a right to be stupid. Some just abuse the privilege. (Unknown)

Hi Sam,

I start of completely at the wide end of the scale and then I zoom in as far as I wish to be, I don't have the camera set on MACRO if you put it on MACRO it limits the zooming capability, it's very much trial and error till you get the hang of it, but once you get the hang of it you'll be smiling bigtime....... Skippy (Australia)

SepiaNT said:

During these macro shots, do you have it completely zoomed out (at
the W end) and do you bring the lens closer to the object, or do
you keep the lens farther and just zoom in from a distance?
which would bring better results for Macro shots? I can't seem to
make up my mind yet....

Thanks,
Sam.

Click to expand...

--
Everyone has a right to be stupid. Some just abuse the privilege. (Unknown)

I recommend using full zoom and a +5 dpt close up lens. This allows you to get as close as 16cm to your subject. Without close up lens the F707/717 can only focus at 90cm and longer.

The formula to calculate the distance is :

1/0,9 (0,9 is the invertion of 90cm)=1,1111
Now add the dpt strength of your close up lens, 1,1111+5 dpt.=6,1111
Once again divide 1 by this 6,1111 : 1: 6.1111=16,4 cm.

You can stack close up lenses, their diopters will then add together. A 6 and 4 dpt. lens stacked will reduce the distance to 9 cm (1/11.1111)

With increasing dpts your DOF will get more and more shallow and image quality will decrease.

Thanks guys, will try these techniques and will report results

I guess I'm gonna wait a while before I can invest on a zoom lens....gotta let the Piggybank fill back up ;-) Its not easy to survive on a student job when you have expensive hobbies

thanks for your feedback guys,
Sam.

p5freak said:

I recommend using full zoom and a +5 dpt close up lens. This allows
you to get as close as 16cm to your subject. Without close up lens
the F707/717 can only focus at 90cm and longer.

The formula to calculate the distance is :

1/0,9 (0,9 is the invertion of 90cm)=1,1111
Now add the dpt strength of your close up lens, 1,1111+5 dpt.=6,1111
Once again divide 1 by this 6,1111 : 1: 6.1111=16,4 cm.

You can stack close up lenses, their diopters will then add
together. A 6 and 4 dpt. lens stacked will reduce the distance to 9
cm (1/11.1111)
With increasing dpts your DOF will get more and more shallow and
image quality will decrease.

Click to expand...

Member said:

Like how long does a piece of glass take to get shipped to where I
live???

Click to expand...

You know how quick I can get Tim Tams here? About 7 days.

--
Frank
http://www.adventurousduo.com

Your focus issue might be related to the zoom you use.

At full wide angle and with the macro switched on you should be able to get at about 2 cm from the object. This is also as large as you can get the object in view without use of close-up filters.

If you start zooming, even with the macro switched on, then you quickly have to move farther away, since the minimum focus distance rapidly increases.

As others already indicated, if you start using close-up filters, you will be able to view an even smaller part of the object, or, another great advantage, see the same part of the object, but with your camera farther away.

Willem

Rick Richmond said:

I love my F707, but I cannot seem to get very close-up to objects
and keep them in focus. Is this just the nature of the camera? Is
there a Macro lens you can by for close-up photography? Any
suggestions would be appreciated.
--
Rick

Click to expand...

Thanks to all who responded with my question. I appreciate your help.

Rick