Micro Photography: I have a Nikon Z6 and Nikkor 105mm f2.8 Micro lens (latest VR version) What settings are recommended for objects at around 2' distance in good light? Thanks for your...

KEN SPECKLER Loc: Bethesda,MD

I have a Nikon Z6 and Nikkor 105mm f2.8 Micro lens (latest VR version)
What settings are recommended for objects at around 2' distance in good light?
Thanks for your suggestions-----

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Your f-stop will be determined by the amount of background you want in or out of focus. ie: 2.8 for less in focus and f16 for more in focus. Your ISO will be determined by how bright or dark it is. ie: 100 for a bright sunny day, 1/16000 for evening or indoor pictures w/o using flash. Your shutter speed will be determined by what amount of blur motion you do or do not want. ie: 1/30 or so to track a subject and blur the background, 1/3200 to stop the action and have a background in focus.
There is no one answer to your question. Play with your settings to get a good exposure and then tweak it for the effect you want.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

KEN SPECKLER wrote:

I have a Nikon Z6 and Nikkor 105mm f2.8 Micro lens (latest VR version)
What settings are recommended for objects at around 2' distance in good light?
Thanks for your suggestions-----

With your Z6 you have the option of using the histogram in the EVF or on the LCD to show the 'brightness' of the image prior to taking the shot.

Using the priorities already mentioned simply adjust to attain your wanted exposure (brightness). Selecting settings priorities for a macro lens are really no different than when using any other lens.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Makes me wonder why people spend tons of money on items they know nothing about. Learning/research reading books , before purchase, would be a better journey. Hence the phrase..."All the gear, no idea".

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

Pablo8 wrote:

Makes me wonder why people spend tons of money on items they know nothing about. Learning/research reading books , before purchase, would be a better journey. Hence the phrase..."All the gear, no idea".

Some people come here FOR help, some TO help, and some to harshly criticize.......I wish the latter would just go away

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Pablo8 wrote:

Makes me wonder why people spend tons of money on items they know nothing about. Learning/research reading books , before purchase, would be a better journey. Hence the phrase..."All the gear, no idea".

So what is YOUR positive contribution?

DavidM Loc: New Orleans, LA

KEN SPECKLER wrote:

I have a Nikon Z6 and Nikkor 105mm f2.8 Micro lens (latest VR version)
What settings are recommended for objects at around 2' distance in good light?
Thanks for your suggestions-----

Try this website:

https://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/macro.htm

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Gene51 wrote:

So what is YOUR positive contribution?

Learning / read books etc. BEFORE purchase.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Gene51 wrote:

So what is YOUR positive contribution?

As much as you did.

Leitz Loc: Solms

Pablo8 wrote:

Learning / read books etc. BEFORE purchase.

Are you actually suggesting that people THINK before purchasing?? Thinking is a foreign concept here on UHH!

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Pablo8 wrote:

Makes me wonder why people spend tons of money on items they know nothing about. Learning/research reading books , before purchase, would be a better journey. Hence the phrase..."All the gear, no idea".

You make a good point. It may have gone over better with some if you had wrapped it in hearts and flowers and bunnies and kittens, but it’s still valid. It’s a good idea to learn about photography in general before specializing. Books and tutorials are a good source of knowledge but nothing beats doing, making mistakes and learning from those mistakes. It’s like buying a bunch of zoom lenses so a large number of focal lengths are covered but needing to ask which lens to use for a specific purpose. What good is a tool if the person doesn’t know how to use it?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Leitz wrote:

Are you actually suggesting that people THINK before purchasing?? Thinking is a foreign concept here on UHH!

Not just here on UHH, but just about everywhere.

photoman43

You need to understand diffraction and what to do to avoid it. (It reduces image sharpness and image quality.) On It usually occurs when a lens is stopped down (smaller aperture) to increase depth of field. On my Nikon 200mm f4 macro lens, I try to never shoot with an aperture smaller than f11 and use f 8 and f 5.6 a lot.

Diffraction varies with the camera. (Nor sure about the lens.) Go here to see more:

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/diffraction-photography.htm

https://www.photopills.com/calculators/diffraction

ShelbyDave Loc: Lone Rock, WI

Mac wrote:

You make a good point. It may have gone over bette... (show quote)

Everyone has to start somewhere, they are trying to learn. Why criticize them for trying to do just what you said they should have? It may have saved them some money to learn before buying equipment, but I think it is easier to learn when you have some equipment in hand to use.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

jim quist wrote:

Your f-stop will be determined by the amount of ba... (show quote)

GREAT answer Jim !
.