eyes

[rdking647]

i got a new camera,a nikon d500. decided to try some macro shots with it. my goal was how closeup could i get ,handheld

close


closer


closest

[LonePirate]

1. Looks like you succeeded with obtaining a close up!

Nice pics. What creature is that in the second (and third?) photos? An ant?

[rdking647]

2. all 3 are dragonflys

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Wow! Those are amazing.

I prefer the first one, though all three are astonishing.


You're practically down to the cellular level!

[Solly Mack]

4. They need a shave :)

Cool shots!

[Major Nikon]

5. Here's my strategy for handheld macro

With a manual wide aperture setting (usually f/16) use a flash ring or a flash bracket with the lens set to manual focus (usually set to minimum focusing distance) and the flash set to manual and optimized for that same distance. Then all you have to do is move the camera in and out until the image comes into focus and press the shutter release. Since there's zero delay for autofocusing and/or flash metering, all you have to worry about is making sure the image is in focus.

[rdking647]

6. i try and do something similar

manual focus,focused at minimum. My d500 doesnt have a built in flash and i dont have a flash bracket or ring flash so i had to use natural light. it was also windy so i had to fight the movement of the dragonflys perch.

[alfredo]

7. Damn Good shots. That's why I shoot sequential. I'm going to have to get a good flash for my Oly.

[Major Nikon]

9. You don't even need an expensive flash to do macro

What you want is something that puts out a decent amount of power and that can be remotely triggered on a bracket. Using the camera hot shoe is often no bueno because when focusing very close with a true macro lens, the lens will tend to block a flash mounted to the hot shoe.

Even a cheap flash will work in manual mode which is the best way to do it. As long as the focal point doesn't change, the flash to subject distance won't change either. So you just set the flash in manual for the correct power and it will be perfect every time.

The technique is described in detail in John Shaw's book, Closeups in Nature. It was written back in the 80's before digital, but is still quite relevant to macro photography today, especially if you want to do hand held macro.

[alfredo]

10. Thanks for the info. I am getting the Olympus 60 Macro in the fall.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/892512-REG/Olympus_v312010bu000_MSC_ED_M_60mm_f_2_8.html

[denbot]

8. Beautiful shots

The first is a stunner.