cdavis7820 Loc: Akron Ohio

When I use my macro lens, I never get a good crisp shot. Any suggestions?

I'm using a canon 50D with tamron 60mm F/2 lens and a canon MR-14EX Macro Ring lite

gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

A few suggestions:
1. You don't have nearly enough depth of field. This photo was taken with an f/stop of 3.5. Anything under 11 is suspect, and probably should be at least 16.

2. Your ISO is set at 640 and should be lower if possible.

3. Though you say you are using a ring light, the insect is generally poorly lighted. IN this photo, all the light seems to be coming from the left, illuminating the rear end, but leaving the head region entirely in heavy shadow.

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

I doubt the DOF is the problem - my guess is that you are on Autofocus, and there's not enough light for it to hone in on your subject. If you're using a ring light, it's synched to first curtain, and should be later - you need more light!

But, don't listen to me - visit the UHH Macro section - THEY can help you !

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

DOF is a problem. You can't expect any kind of depth at f3.5. I would be shooting this between f8 and f11. Shutter speed should probably be increase from 1/125 although there does not seem to be a motion problem, better safe than sorry.

Are you shooting in full auto? If so get away from it and go manual or AV mode.

I also agree that lighting is a problem, coming from the left. You say you are using a ring. Is it off the lens or mounted on the lens? If it is mounted on the lens I would check that ring to see if everything is firing. It appears that the right side of the ring did not fire.

Jim D

smcaleer Loc: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Hi Jim,

I'm very new to photography and this site. What is AV please?

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Not to be arragant or insulting but you really need to spend some time reading your manual. It will explain all the basic functions of the camera. Look at the top left dial on your camera.

Jim D

Granddad Loc: UK

"AV" stands for Aperture Value for Canon and for Nikon it is "A". It is to do with the "F" stop which controls the "DOF" or depth of field.

smcaleer Loc: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Not arragant or insulting just unhelpful. I've used my camera all of about 3 months. A lot still to learn. I don't have AV on my camera so I am not use to the term. As I said, I'm am very new and haven't learned all the multiple accronyms for different things. Yes I looked it up. No where in my manual. It's just A on my camera. I went online and googled it. I was just under the impression that these forums were for help and information with real people.

smcaleer Loc: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Thank you, Granddad. :)

MN BAM

I use this lense on my Sony and it took a little trial and error for me to get a good focus as well. What works best is to focus manually. Particularily with a wide aperture because with wide apertures, there is a very narrow plane of focus. It looks like you may have focused on the plant stem instead of the grasshopper. If you have a focus zoom, use that as well when manually focusing. It will allow you to really see when you've obtained a sharp focus.

Georgia Peddler Loc: Brunswick, GA

Now that you have had that -ss chewed - buck up and go shooting. Play with each and every setting on your camera. Read about lighting, but especially learn what the f/stop to shutter speed on your camera is all about. That is the main thing to understand. One affects the other and when you know what you want to accomplish and how best to do that, you are practically home free. Just go shooting - flowers, bees, distant mountain with a flower just in front of you, etc. and very quickly when you start reviewing your shots, you will suddenly say, "Aha!! Now i understand":
Good shooting to you - don't give up, you are almost to the fun part.

cdavis7820 Loc: Akron Ohio

Thanks for all the helpful tips!. I plan on reshoting this.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Trying to be helpful but something is not right here. According to the info that came with your photo you are shooting a Canon EOS 50D, right? It does have an AV move (aperture-priority mdoe). Page 96 in your manual. I am sitting here looking at it, in the manual and on my camera!

What camera are you shooting? Did you borrow that photo from somewhere or did you take it with the camera it says it came from? If I am not mistaken Nikon uses the A, Canon uses the AV symbol. Are you shooting a Nikon camera body?

"I was just under the impression that these forums were for help and information with real people." As for this remark yes we are here to help each other. Ask around, I have tried to help many others. I just don't like to have to teach someone how to open their box and turn on their camera because they won't tale the time to read their manual and try to learn something on their own.

WHOOPS, my mistake. I thought it was the Op (original poster) that asked that question, did not realize someone else had hijacked the post. Sorry. Had you explained which camera you are using you would have gotten a different explamation. AV and A are the same but different manufactures. When you jump into someone elses post you do need to give more information if asking a question.

A real person.

Jim D

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Just an fyi: this is not a macro-- it's a close-up. A macro begins a 1:1. You can also crop to attain 1:1.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Picky picky, but very true. Most of my photos of this nature are also close ups. I don't own a true macro lens.

Thanks for bring that to everyones attention.

Jim D