Macro and D of F

[Eyeayen]

Don't buy photoshop yet, get Elements if you're desperate to spend some money or Gimp is free as Chris said, here's a link http://www.gimp.org/

If you've not used editing software it's not a quick thing to learn so gimp would be fine as you aren't used to anything else. And there are lots of free resources for it on line.

Otherwise Elements which is a cut down version of Photoshop is cheap and there are always tutorials for it in the mags. The money you'd save you could buy a dedicated Macro lens

[DigiDiva]

Thanks, Im downloading GIMP as we speak.

[silversnapper1]

Originally Posted by DigiDiva

A focusing rail?

Sorry, missed your response yesterday but amk has answered your question. They are great little gadgets for macro work.

Steve.

[nikonian]

One does not have to use the ratio 1:1 you know , 1:1 ratio is only good for the smallest of objects. Here is a list for different DOF.
1:1 = 1.32 mm
1:2 = 3.96 mm
1:3 = 8.06 mm
1:4 = 13.2 mm
1:5 = 19.8 mm

[nikonian]

OOP`s forgot to mention ,this is for an aperture of F22 and a C of C of .015

[DigiDiva]

Originally Posted by nikonian

One does not have to use the ratio 1:1 you know , 1:1 ratio is only good for the smallest of objects. Here is a list for different DOF.
1:1 = 1.32 mm
1:2 = 3.96 mm
1:3 = 8.06 mm
1:4 = 13.2 mm
1:5 = 19.8 mm

Not sure I understand...

[wavemachine]

Gimp is very good but the interface can be tricky, infact a Girl I work with said it made her cry although that was a few years ago and I believe things have improved since then. You can I believe get a 30 day trial of Elements 9 off the Adobe website so you may want to try that as well and see which one you prefer.

[nikonian]

Originally Posted by DigiDiva

Not sure I understand...

1:! ratio means the shot is equal in size to the subject. Now if you use the ratio 1:4 the shot is 1/4 of the subject size. But the advantage is you can get a greater DOF but only 1/4 the subject size, so you just enlarge the shot.

[DigiDiva]

Ah right, I see now (I think)