Macro mess
Sep 22, 2020 10:13:57 #
Turn off af and use manual focus. What you experienced happens all the time with af turned on as the camera finds it difficult to impossible to lock onto a single point of focus at very close focusing distances.
Sep 22, 2020 10:20:42 #
UTMike, I shoot a lot of macro in the field and I get only a few tacksharp images out of a hundred or more taken during the outing. As frustrating as it is, it is still a joy to be out and about.
HOWEVER....when I mount my 'autofocus' extension tubes and use my camera in the Manual "setting" mode (not manual focus) my hits are eight out of ten. The extension tubes on a mirrorless camera are much smaller than those for my DSLR.
I use the autofocus extension tubes on my Fujifilm X-T20, Nikon Z6 and Nikon D810 with both my prime lenses and my zoom autofocus lenses. When using a zoom lens on extension tubes need to be focused to the farthest focal length.
With this said however adding extension tubes dramatically reduces the distance of focus between the camera sensor and the subject so photographing live critters can be challenging at times being that close.
HOWEVER....when I mount my 'autofocus' extension tubes and use my camera in the Manual "setting" mode (not manual focus) my hits are eight out of ten. The extension tubes on a mirrorless camera are much smaller than those for my DSLR.
I use the autofocus extension tubes on my Fujifilm X-T20, Nikon Z6 and Nikon D810 with both my prime lenses and my zoom autofocus lenses. When using a zoom lens on extension tubes need to be focused to the farthest focal length.
With this said however adding extension tubes dramatically reduces the distance of focus between the camera sensor and the subject so photographing live critters can be challenging at times being that close.
Sep 22, 2020 10:41:15 #
What I like best about a mirrorless is the 10x in the EVF, whether in the view finder held to the eye in a shooting position or via the read tilt screen. I can't speak to using AF tubes on the Sony, my Canon tubes work great with EF lenses and EOS DLSRs. When I occasionally have difficulty focusing, I use the dynamic exposure of the EVF to drop down the shutter or amp-up the ISO to 'see' the subject better. When satisfied with the focus, I can restore the exposure.
Sep 22, 2020 12:41:57 #
Sep 22, 2020 12:55:04 #
Picture Taker
Loc: Michigan Thumb
I use manual focusing and have the camera an a track. Found the track (moving the camera in or out) is the best way fo me to do a good focus.
Sep 22, 2020 13:32:46 #
Thanks, folks, I should have posted a general notice. My main problem was solved by ORPilot's info on how to get to manual. Thanks for the help.
Sep 22, 2020 14:31:40 #
Hand held macro is best done with diffused flash.. If used correctly it will elevate camera shake, not to mention high ISO's. Visit the macro page here on the HOGG if you really want to learn macro....
Sep 22, 2020 14:34:59 #
spaceytracey
Loc: East Glacier Park, MT
ORpilot wrote:
I almost always turn the AF off and stick the camera on a tripod. I then focus via moving the camera back and forth to the subject. In the old film days everyone made a "camera rail" to move the camera and lens back and forth to focus. I see on eBay the go from $3 and up.
I often find myself focusing with my toes!
Sep 22, 2020 17:16:59 #
robertjerl wrote:
Although under some circumstances I have gotten good results with AF, most macro is done manual focus or with electronic control (tethering or programed focus control of some type).
As said it needed more light, esp with using AF. The subject is all shades of the same color and gives little contrast for AF to detect.
As said it needed more light, esp with using AF. The subject is all shades of the same color and gives little contrast for AF to detect.
Sep 22, 2020 19:36:00 #
spaceytracey wrote:
I often find myself focusing with my toes!
You are just showing off that you can see your toes (LOL).
Sep 22, 2020 22:22:27 #
UTMike wrote:
Took some shots this morning with extenders. Could not get the auto focus to stay still. This is the result. Any suggestions or tips?
Hi Mike, When I do macro I almost always use a tripod, put it in live view and manual focus. I also use remote shutter so as not to touch the camera. you can also photo stack to get more areas in focus.I agree, more light would have helped your pic
Fran
Sep 22, 2020 22:58:03 #
Hi, I took your image, cleaned it up a bit and this is my final analysis:
There was a serious luminance-based noise stemming from low light.
Most of the bias was due to a low shutter speed. The image is a tad underexposed. The ISO while it was at 100, 300 would have been more adequate.
This is more of an extreme close up in available light.
The puzzling point was a presence of data noise suggesting that your storage card may have played a hand in the final image. Could this be your issue?
There was a serious luminance-based noise stemming from low light.
Most of the bias was due to a low shutter speed. The image is a tad underexposed. The ISO while it was at 100, 300 would have been more adequate.
This is more of an extreme close up in available light.
The puzzling point was a presence of data noise suggesting that your storage card may have played a hand in the final image. Could this be your issue?
Sep 23, 2020 06:59:45 #
UTMike wrote:
Took some shots this morning with extenders. Could not get the auto focus to stay still. This is the result. Any suggestions or tips?
Use a tripod, focus manually, consider focus stacking if you are very close and the magnification is very high.
Sep 23, 2020 07:13:44 #
I don't think your focusing is bad. Can't tell for sure because it's too noisy due to the fact that you underexpose the shot seriously. So I see your image has more problem with noise than focus.
Sep 23, 2020 13:19:37 #
ORpilot wrote:
I'll bet the camera has AF on/off. Same thing only different
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