Macro with A710 IS

[vane-sub]

Hi!!

I´ve been trying to take some pics of little nails and really small stuff with my brand new A710 IS (I bought it because I read only good things about its MACRO) before diving with it for the first time next weekend.

My first surprise was the dark area on the bottom right corner , the closer you are to the subject the bigger the shadow is... Is there any way to reduce that dark area? How do you handle it?

Second thing is that it doesn´t seem to focus when you select macro and zoom in... Am I doing something wrong? (In Manual Mode or Tv mode, I´m talking about)

And finally (for the moment :snore: ), what settings of shutter speed and "f" (no idea what you call f in English, sorry:blush: ) do I need for macros????

THANKS A LOT!!!!!!!!

 

[Kevster]

Vane-sub.
I have had similar focus problems with the Canon S70.
In macro mode the more you use your zoom the more you need to move your camera away from the subject to get focus. Try using a ruler and using different zoom positions to see how far you need to move to get focus.

I get best results in Av mode , using A of 5 to 6. for macro try to set Av to 8.
Would not recommend a shuttur speed below 1/80 as you will get fuzzy photos
Kev

 

[zahner]

that dark area is actually the shadow of the lens barrel. I'm not sure how you can get around that underwater without an external flash for better flash coverage. The flash diffuser that comes w/ the housing should help a little. You could try reorienting the camera sideways so the shadow is in a part of the image that can be cropped out later.

I am very interested in your experience with the camera underwater, I am considering it for an uprgade.

hth

Terence

 

[vane-sub]

I´m going diving for 5 days on friday I promise some pics if I can get something decent...

I´m considering a Epoque DS150 strobe... but I´ll see. I don´t really know if I should wait and buy something different (?)... I´m thinking ...

Thanks for the answers!

 

[hashbrown]

I've found that not zooming in at all works better when shooting macro with the A710. Sometimes I forget I've zoomed a little and can't seem to get it to focus, but once I zoom out, I can get the camera very close and it is still able to focus.

 

[vane-sub]

Hashbrown, I've seen your photo gallery and i think your pictures are great! Do you have an external strobe too? Which one?

And what values of f and speed do you use?

I took very few pics and viz wasn't too good but I see all them (mine) greenish and with no color... mmmm i don't know.... i took all of them in manual mode, maybe I should have tried underwater mode or Tv...

 

[alcina]

This is a very common problem encountered by people taking underwater photos!

Each camera has a minimum focus distance that you need to know. This is the smallest distance from your subject that the camera can focus in. Too often all we hear in our heads is "get close, then get closer" and while true, one must remember the limitations of the camera system one is using! It's very tempting to try to push the camera closer so the subject fills the frame better, but if you do so and it in goes over that line of minimum focus distance, the camera simply can't focus and you'll get blurry shots.

As you use your zoom, again presumably to fill the frame with your subject better, the minimum focus distance increases. So you have to move away from your subject if you are going to use your zoom.

This doesn't have anything to do with your settings for aperture and shutter, this is simply a matter of distance.

The dark shadow is cast by the barrel of your housing. Using the diffuser will eliminate the shadow in many instances, moving back slightly and using your zoom can also help. It's a bit of experimentation to find out what works in each situation - ahhh, the magic of digital...see the shadow? Try again!

An external strobe will not only eliminate the shadow, but open up a whole new world of opportunities for you. This is not something I'd skimp on as the cheaper strobes, in general, tend to have nigglies that would drive me bonkers. And light is everything in photography.

HTH

 

[Dusty2]

Some of this has been covered but here goes.

90% of my shooting is macro. With Canon Cameras underwater the first rule of macro shooting is--

1. never use the zoom if you can avoid it. minum focus with the zoom is 13 in. Without zoom it is .4" which means right against the housing. Use your arms not the zoom button!
Key note; because the camera will focus that close you must make sure there isn't anything on the inside of the case window.
These cams will actually try to focus on dust particles inside the window and make focusing on close objects really tuff!

2. the housing blocks the lower right corner sooo, get a tray and mount a fill light on the right side. This will also help with camera focus up close. You want one that doesnt have a sharp spot focus and doesn't produce to bright a light.
I have found an 11 led underwater light for around $35.00 that works just fine. Drop me a line and I'll send you a link and I can show you how to make an enexpensive mount for it.

3. No external strobe for macros. Even the lowest setting will be too much. I use a Sea and Sea YK-15 movie light for video and the rare occasion when the camera flash is not enough.

For the most part I use Program AE as my setting of choice. This will allow you to make adjustments but will allow the camera to "do it's thing" as far as focus. I set the ASA at 100. This gives you good depth of field and avoids the artifacts you get with higher settings. Always use center point focus don't use multi point or auto. Your depth of field is critical in macro and the cam will almost always try to focus somewhere that you dont want it to.

Don't try to use the underwater setting unless you are in tropical waters. It is designed for blue water. if your getting green pics it wont work! If you are not comfortable with Program mode try portrait mode.

If the camera is refusing to focus on your subject pull away and let it focus on a more distant subject then come back to your macro subject.

Hope this helps and check out my photos site to see my results http://underthesound.smugmug.com/

 

[vane-sub]

Thanks guys!

Great advices in the pink link, Alcina! I´m learning them by heart:1book:

Dusty2, you have a PM about the DIY tray and light!

 

[hashbrown]

Hi vane-sub,

I use a sealife SL960 (old non-digital one) with my camera. Usually I shoot in manual mode with underwater white balance at 1/250 I think the f-stop is around 8, but I'll have to check. I take a couple of test shots when I first get in the water to make sure my settings are right at about 2-3ft and then adjust from there.

I've had some good luck in even really bad vis as long as I am shooting close. I keep the strobe at an angle, and built myself a little plastic lid diffuser to keep the strobe from being to bright (no TTL )


Hope that is helpful