suggestion on using VR105

[timothy to]

This was taken with my newly acquired VR105mm holding handheld. I was happy with it but i am sure it could be better. How would you handle such shot?



Tim

D200
17-55
24-85f3.5
50
105vr
sb800

 

[davespics]

mmm - I'd have gotten closer... and closed up for a deeper DOF... here's one I took recently at f/40....



--

In theory, theory and practice are the same, but in practice, theory and practice are different.

 

[WhateverNickname]

Not that I manage often

What I mean is, try to be sure to have the object (or lizard) in your DOF area by either positioning youself in parallel to it or increasing aperture.

You might want to use a filler flash (with some wort of diffuser) to reduce the darkness from the large aperture ... even if it means you might have only one shot at the beast

I hope this helps. I have been trying with spiders and, gosh, those beasts are so large in macro it is difficult to get them all in focus. But at least they do not get scared by the filler flash.

Francesco

****************
webpage: http://www.thefoodtraveller.com

 

[timothy to]

wow. the entire subject is sharp. i guess i must keep trying using smaller aperture if sufficient nature light is there. I agree i should have got closer but i realise the closer i got the focus hunts more so i guess i will to manul focus too. Hopefully it won't scare off the little beast. Anyway thanks for the tips.

Tim

 

[davespics]

I always switch off auto focus when working close up. I focus manually as best I can and then actually move back and forward slightly to get the exact focus I want. Quite a common way for using a close up lens and much more effective than using AF I've found. I often use my SB800 flash and have just ordered an R1 flash set to mount on the front of the lens... looking forward to trying that!
--

In theory, theory and practice are the same, but in practice, theory and practice are different.

 

[timothy to]

Do show us few pictures comparision between R1 flash and SB800. I was tempted by the R1 flash but just wish to see if it worths to invest.

I always switch off auto focus when working close up. I focus
manually as best I can and then actually move back and forward
slightly to get the exact focus I want. Quite a common way for using
a close up lens and much more effective than using AF I've found. I
often use my SB800 flash and have just ordered an R1 flash set to
mount on the front of the lens... looking forward to trying that!
--
In theory, theory and practice are the same, but in practice, theory
and practice are different.

 

[timothy to]

Francesco,

Thanks for the tips. I will try more.

Not that I manage often
What I mean is, try to be sure to have the object (or lizard) in your
DOF area by either positioning youself in parallel to it or
increasing aperture.
You might want to use a filler flash (with some wort of diffuser) to
reduce the darkness from the large aperture ... even if it means you
might have only one shot at the beast

I hope this helps. I have been trying with spiders and, gosh, those
beasts are so large in macro it is difficult to get them all in
focus. But at least they do not get scared by the filler flash.

Francesco

****************
webpage: http://www.thefoodtraveller.com

 

[davespics]

Sure.... am only getting it next week... its a birthday present from my wife... will post some when I've had a chance to figure it out...

--

In theory, theory and practice are the same, but in practice, theory and practice are different.

 

[olstrup]

I suggest using a tripod. The traditional "table tripods" are too small for an SLR with a 105 VR, and an ordinary tripod may be too big for shots like this. But many manufacturers has "mini" tripods with a size in between the two mentioned. For macro I use a Berlebach Mini (made of wood) with a Manfrotto 410 geared head (but a ball head or a panorama head will do fine too). Admitted, it takes time to set it up, but once it's mounted, you can use much slower shutter speeds and correspondingly smaller apertures to get a greater DOF.

 

[davespics]

Hadnt thought of using a small tripod.. I tend to use flash in low light situations. Just thinkin gof some of the places I've had to get to to get close to some critters I suspect a tripod would be difficult, even if small. Might give it some thought though.
--

In theory, theory and practice are the same, but in practice, theory and practice are different.