Macro question

[Cutter]

I am about to get my new macro lense, the question is (sorry if it sounds stupid) having looked at variouse macro images on the web, it seems that the sharper ones are all with flash, is that right? do you get a sharper picture with flash? or is it me being a dimmo

[PaulMontgomery]

Well, the flash will help to freeze any slight movement so there may be something in it...

[matt wilson]

it's not so much a case of getting a sharper picture more a case of having to use flash to help freeze any movement if light levels are low.If you get in really close the slightest movement gets exagerated no matter how well you focus etc.

In decent light it's less of a problem............I try and use a tripod if at all possible .

[Cutter]

Originally Posted by matt wilson

it's not so much a case of getting a sharper picture more a case of having to use flash to help freeze any movement if light levels are low.If you get in really close the slightest movement gets exagerated no matter how well you focus etc.

In decent light it's less of a problem............I try and use a tripod if at all possible .

thanks matte that makes sense, tell me can you use the flash you have on your camera or do you need a dedicated one? I will have to get one eventually but the one I want is about £550 so will have to make do

[ianpinion]

The one thing you have to be careful of when using a flash for macro photography is that the end of your lens doesn't cast a shadow on to your subject. This can be a major problem if you are shooting from a very close range, hence most people will use a ring flash system that fits around the lens of the camera.

[matt wilson]

My God are you after the canon macro flash.To be honest that's a specialist bit of kit .I use a 580 canon speedlight with jessops own off camera cord (which is compatible with the 50d).....it's then possible to to angle the flash from where ever you like .

[matt wilson]

sorry cutter misread .the on camera flash really isn't good enough as it's too close to the lens to get a decent result.

[hssutton]

The main reason for using flash, is so that you can use smaller f/stops, which increases DOF.

For example.

Lets take the Sigma 105 macro lens. With an F stop of F/11 and camera to subject distance of 24" the area in focus would be 1/2".

Without flash you would maybe use an aperture of f/4 this would give you just .17" in focus, leaving no margin for error.

A quick check on my macros photos shows apertures of f/11 upwards, with many taken at f/22

I use the Canon twinlight macro flash which is fantastic. but prior to that I used a sigma gun fitted with a softbox

My first first experiment was with two very cheap slave flashguns from Jessops, approx £30. The following photo shows the setup and worked equally well with the onboard flash, but was a little cumbersome in the "field" The second photos skows the result

http://www.photoshop.com/accounts/b8...1f6eb55ff1e90f

http://www.photoshop.com/accounts/b8...8222661ce3ba80

As for focal lengths of macro lens, I use the Canon 100mm, but quite often switch to the Sigma 180mm in difficult subjects/areas.

Harry