Pop0904 Loc: Jacksonville, Fl

If I take a picture with a cropped sensor ( 1.6 ) using a 100mm macro lens with an extension tube and then using PS I crop the picture is it still considered a "true macro"?

I see a lot of really good crisp shots of, say a fly on this forum, and you can actually see the details in the eye of the insect.

I cannot figure out how the photographer is doing this.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

Getting the detail in the eyes is all about the light it has to do with the angle of the light hitting the eyes. You would have a true macro shot with the 100mm macro alone if you have it fully extended so when you add tubes you are going beyond 1:1 which is still true macro.

Pop0904 Loc: Jacksonville, Fl

I was concerned that cropping it would not qualify it to be "true".

tinusbum Loc: east texas

i take a lot of pics with a 105 macro and 68mm of tubes,some bugs like the springtails or lacewing larva are so tiny they dont fill the frame at 1-1 so i crop.its true macro to me.tom

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

A set of extension tubes and a well diffused flash will go a long way to picking up detail in compound eyes.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

If you start with a true Macro cropping will not change that it would just become a crop of a true Macro not many things I shoot will actually fill the frame because most are nowhere near the same size as my sensor so I crop 90% of my shots.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Basically, using extension tubes with a macro lens is 'cropping' in the camera. Further cropping in PP just eliminates excess background, etc.

Most of we macro-photographers on this website, shoot as close as we can that allows decent DoF, then crop a bit from there.

Our use of the term 'True Macro', is to discourage regular photographs extremely cropped to arrive at near macro proportions. Any close-up image can be so cropped, but with huge loss of resolution & detail.

Pop0904 Loc: Jacksonville, Fl

Don't take this the wrong way because I trust and appreciate all of your advice but I would like to get to the level of fstop22. I'm sure you have been to his gallery.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Martin Fisher uses a 100-mm Tokina lens, and the same techniques discussed above. http://500px.com/martinfisher

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Martin (fstop22) uses solid technique and has worked hard to understand his camera and flash. What he is extraordinary at is finding bugs, he works really hard at that as well, plus it does not bother him to get dirty (down low at the bugs level) and that is what makes his photography so successful. If you have a macro lens and a flash unit, you already have everything that Martin has. A good start would be to read some of the resources that Douglass has linked at the beginning of this forum.

Pop0904 Loc: Jacksonville, Fl

Alright, thanks to you and Douglass, I have again been reassured that I have the proper equipment, I just need the skill so I need to practice, practice, practice.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I really recommend that you follow the link on the Thread at the beginning of this forum titled "A few tips from a Master of Macro". It was written by Lord V, who is recognized by macro photographers all over the world for being exceptional at his craft. Lord V in that posts tries to tackle several topics that will help you to advance in shooting macro. I know that I learned a great deal when reading that post. I will tell you that when Martin made his diffuser out of paper towels and cardboard the softer light greatly improved his photography. I can also tell you that if you have specific questions that Martin will take the time to try and answer them for you.

Good Luck!

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

I have to jump in here and thank you guys for a very nice thread trying to help someone get started in macro!!! You are all awesome folks! And your shots aren't to bad either.:)
Erv

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Pop, Just so you know I learned everything I know about macro here on the UHH. A big Shout out to Nikonian72 for starting this Forum and Keeping it Real and on Track. One of the most Important aspects of this forum,is here, We share and give Advice thru Experience, not Opinions. When your given good solid advice you don't go off chasing your tail in the wrong direction, that's Very Important. A lot of Great Macro shooters here, it's just at this time I'm finding all the prettiest subjects. I'm in a tropical paradise with 70 degree weather, while you guys are pushing snow. Everyone here has strong points, I'm just lucky to have found the forum at the right time in my hunger to learn Macro Photography. I'm a little Anal, a bit of perfectionist and very competitive. Just know these guys and girls are the reason I'm taking good photos to start with, and this Macro Photography is Some Cool sh__. I don't know about you guys but I can't get enough of this stuff, sort of like Tom out there in Texas. Now I just got pushed into Reverse lens stacking and mounting thanks to Blurryeyed Geff. Got people sending me Flash units and offering bits and pieces of equipment for me to have.. Talk about a Good Group of Folks. Bunch of Darn Bug Huggers, Thanks UHH Macro Forum for sharing your Experience, Advice and Friendship with me.
Martin Fisher....

richardh76 Loc: VT, Central, Champlain Valley

Well, I'll chime in as well. Before UHH I was only taking close-ups, thinking some of them were Macros. When I joined UHH and got onto this thread, man I learned a ton from Douglass, as well as many of the others on this thread. Then, Fstop22 and his jumping spiders captured me, OMG was I hooked!! :lol:

This is one fantastic group of photographers who you can learn a great deal from. It has been an absolute delight for me to read and be a part of this group - but to really learn you have to post and absorb the comments. Than go out and shoot some more!
My thanks to everyone on this thread!!
Richard