Imagine you're walking through a botanical garden filled with plants from around the world. You've got your camera in-hand and you're snapping dozens of great shots or so you think. If you've ever taken a bunch of macro shots that looked great on your LCD, but didn't look quite as good on your computer or when printed, you're not alone. For consistently good results, keep these simple things in mind when you're snapping macro shots. Show Extension Tube EX-25An extension tube for macro shooting that is attached between the camera body and the interchangeable lens. Reliable Dust and Drip Proof construction.
ISTM with any sort of 1:1 work (I use OM lens with extension tubes, or the 35mm macro, or the 40-150 with the EX25, although that last doesn't get near 1:1), depth of field is a problem. I usually use a ring light and f22 - which, with my OM T10 ringlight, sometimes still needs an ND filter. You get a little diffraction softness at f22 IMO but you get about as much DoF as you'll get. I also use a tripod and manual focus on the e330 liveview screen (x10 mode) where possible. Camera shake has a huge impact around 1:1 too but with flash you probably can just about do 1;1 in the field handheld - if you don't mind black backgrounds (I dont) and if you manual focus by moving the camera too and fro... FWIW, here is a handheld "macro" (nowhere near 1:1) with a 12mm OM extension tube and OM 50mm lens, using (ugh) the built in flash. Not a great pic, but indicates what should be possible, with a bit of care and luck: The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that brings significant improvements to Nikon's mid-price cameras. We just shot a sample reel to get a better feel for its video features and have added our impressions to the review.  This $250 electronic lens adapter is perfect for Nikon Z-mount curious Sony shooters — shhh, we won’t tell anyone. Sony updates the ZV-1, giving the vlog-centric compact camera a 18-50mm equivalent F1.8-4.0 lens that's now wide enough for less cramped selfie mode videos. OM Digital Solutions has updated its flagship high speed camera just two years after launch. The latest version includes more memory and some performance and handling tweaks. The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR delivers a 35mm full-frame equivalent field of view and stands out due to its small size and weather-resistant build. However, it faces stiff competition from lenses with faster F1.4 apertures. In this review, we tell you what you need to know about this popular lens. Latest buying guidesIf you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites. What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best. 'What's the best mirrorless camera?' We're glad you asked. What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We've picked the models that really stand out. Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder. Do extension tubes reduce image quality?It is a hollow tube with no optical elements and does not affect image quality. What the extension tube does is make the minimum focus distance shorter. You'll be able to get closer to the subject and still focus. As a result, you'll have a higher magnification factor than the one provided by the lens. Are extension tubes better than close up filters?Extension tubes are more expensive, but also a more versatile option. They show the best results with wide angle lenses, but strongly lose out to close-up filters on telephoto lenses. Rings do not have optics, and therefore do not bring distortion into the image. What does a 25mm extension tube do?The Canon EF 25mm Extension Tube II is used to allow a lens to focus closer than it does natively. This is accomplished by moving the lens 25mm farther away from the camera body's sensor/film plane by fitting between the camera body and the lens. The end result of focusing closer is a larger magnification. How much magnification do extension tubes add?An extension tube increases lens magnification by an amount equal to the extension distance divided by the lens focal length. For example, adding a 25 mm extension tube to a 50 mm lens will give a magnification gain of 0.5X. |
