Specific camera set up required...
 

Hi all,

I've got a Canon 350d with the stock 18-55mm lens and also a sigma 75-200mm lens.

I'm needing to get extremely close shots of leaves and other collected vegetation.

I've tried setting up a vertical set up with the camera on a tripod and pointing vertically downwards and two fill flashes (triggered by the camera's flash).

However I'm needing to get no depth of field and absolutely no glare on the leaves (I'm finding the camera flash is causing a lot of glare).

I'm also finding it difficult to get enough light into the zoomed in shot.

Can anyone help me with this - I'm happy to spend a bit if I need to buy a new flash or a new lens etc, but the trouble is I don't know what to buy or if I do! ;)

If you really need to get close then you're going to be better off with a macro lens.

You're option for removing DoF could always be to add some blur in post processing.

Which lens have you been using? You could try the 75-200 at the long end with the aperture as wide as it'll go. Try getting as close as you can before you stop being able to focus on the leaf and crop later if it's not big enough.

I do not have a macro lens, but when I want something with next to no DOF, I use my cheap Canon 50MM f/1.8. Shoot in AV with the fstop at 1.8 and you get very crisp shots with nice blur. I bought mine used for $90CDN, but new they are around $140CDN, so they should be half that in pounds.

sorry folks, not sure if I've been unclear (or just using the wrong terminology!). By no depth of field I mean there should be no blur at all - ie I don't want it getting blurry at any depths if possible (does this make sense?!)

To minimize DOF you need to shoot at a wide aperture, you say you are using fill flash which will probably cause glare. Have you tried no flash and a long exposure as you are mounting on a tripod.

If you are close to the subject then try also to move the camera back a bit to see if this improves the DOF.

If you go for a long exposure it will be worth using mirror lock up and if you have one a remote or cable release trigger, if you don't have remote triggers then the self timer is another option,

If you find it is not light enough you could try switcing to manual and giving a longer exposure or shine a torch either side to see if that gives the desired effect or alternatively try using a hot shoe cord and hold the flash to one side (this won't work with a long exposure BTW).