Curious about macro lenses
- Thread starter Ruu
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I did end up getting the cheap diopters set, mostly because I was curious and it cost $12. I went out today in Bonaire and took a few not-that-great shots. The one below is attached to give some kind of idea of detail rather than a "this is a great picture" picture. It is entirely uncropped - this is what came out of the camera with the +10 attached. To be honest, the results are actually better than I anticipated.
Dave
Dave
Warmwater Wank
Contributor
Well, $12 bucks and you're happy, sounds like a deal. Not sure what camera you shoot, would it normally give sharper results? Doing this much magnification you may be up against a bit of subject/camera movement, meaning it might be possible to get slightly sharper results. Maybe shoot something topside in bright light holding steady just to see? Still, for 12 bucks...
Hey wait, if you're on Bonaire you can try the beer bottle approach--Amstel Brights are in clear bottles! (Hmmm, maybe not 67mm though--they do have tiny bottles down there!) Maybe the new Dutch govt. has some research grants available? // ww
Hey wait, if you're on Bonaire you can try the beer bottle approach--Amstel Brights are in clear bottles! (Hmmm, maybe not 67mm though--they do have tiny bottles down there!) Maybe the new Dutch govt. has some research grants available? // ww
Im using a Canon G11 with the Canon housing and the Fantasea 67mm lens adapter. I think Im doing OK for a point and shoot with limited options right now. I haven't noticed my images getting much sharper than that with or without the lens - that shot was taken at 1/500, so the fault may be my inability to stay still enough after autofocus than camera shake per se (there was a pretty strong current going on, in my defence). I have a few more shots I took today that I might upload (and one very very annoyed octopus).
Im actually mid-way through my own personal Amstel Bright research study. The shop around the corner was kind enough to take the research grant that my wife provided. All I can say for sure is that my autofocus starts to have issues at around 4.
Dave
Im actually mid-way through my own personal Amstel Bright research study. The shop around the corner was kind enough to take the research grant that my wife provided. All I can say for sure is that my autofocus starts to have issues at around 4.
Dave
Dave, the photo looks pretty good! Does the +10 diopter make focusing a little slower? Could u share more details of the diopter? Brand etc?
Just bought a(nother) ~US$140 wet lens from Sea Gadget... ScubaCam - Products So, a little curious...
Just bought a(nother) ~US$140 wet lens from Sea Gadget... ScubaCam - Products So, a little curious...
Warmwater Wank
Contributor
Looking at your spotted anemone shrimp pic (which I presume was also a +10 shot) it seems pretty reasonable, especially if you aren't using an external strobe. I mention the strobe biz because I figure if you are shooting at 1/500th and not using extra light you probably have to shoot w/ a wide open aperture? Very decent results for a $12. investment. (Certainly 12 bucks of Amstel wouldn't have done any better!) The G11 is no slouch for UW work, looks like you're having a good time with it. I might only suggest trying to sneak home a few cases of Amstel in your luggage--for further research purposes of course... // ww
Actually, the anemone shrimp was taken a few weeks back on my previous trip to Bonaire. It was taken with a YS-01 strobe (at 1/500 f/8), and without any kind of lens (aside from the G11's own, obviously) - I picked up the lens set (which is at Amazon for ~$15 right now under "digital concepts close up macro filter set") about a week ago immediately before this latest trip. I figured I might be able to do a little better than that picture (which was cropped a little). I have a few more pictures of the same guy taken with the +10 - when I get back I shall have to do a real comparison.
I should add that before anyone starts kicking themselves for getting a quality macro lens, that the one I have is already starting to rattle in its frame - I wouldn't give it good odds of surviving much longer than this one week trip (and maybe not that long).
As to the focusing question in the previous post, no I havent noticed any particular change in the focus time. If it is taking longer, it isn't noticeable to me.
I'm also thinking about starting an International beer research foundation upon my return.
Dave
Here are a few more of the images I took with the +10 while on the trip. The shrimp is exactly the same one as the previous picture in my gallery (he is easy to find, and doesn't seem to mind strobes), and while the scale seems similar, the latter image is cropped considerably less than the former - I was definitely able to fill more frame with the diopter. Anyway...
My conclusion is that the +10 is a fun toy, but its construction makes it pretty much throwaway - I will probably be picking up another set next time I head off on vacation though.
Dave
My conclusion is that the +10 is a fun toy, but its construction makes it pretty much throwaway - I will probably be picking up another set next time I head off on vacation though.
Dave
Wow Dave. Those are great shots IMO. Especially when viewed full size. I really enjoyed them.
Warmwater Wank
Contributor
I think you would have had to buy waayyy more than 12 bucks worth of Amstels to do any better! Nice shots. // ww
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