Macro and D of F

[DigiDiva]

Tried taking a macro shot of a cactus prickle. I was unable to get the whole prickle in focus. It was either the spike end of the prickle, or the base of the prickle that was in focus. Messed aout with the settings, tried AV and macro settings to, but unsuccessfully. I haven't yet learned how to post an image on here so can't show you the photo. If you want to view it, please look in my macro folder.

And help is appreciated.

Thanks.

[ap4a]

There's a guide to posting images here: http://www.photoradar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1482

Due to the close focussing macro shots will have a very shallow DOF, to increase it you need to use a narrow(er) aperture, or if you can't go any narrower move further away from the subject.

[Cutter]

Yes Digidiva, the DOF is so narrow when using macro unless you have a narrow appeture, which means slow shutter speed which will means a tripod and release cable plus mirror lockup to acheive a sharp focus. Or you could use a trick called focus stacking where you take 5 seperate shots all with different focal points and merge them using photoshop, as I have on this picture below:

[DigiDiva]

Thanks for your help you guy's!

[littlebro]

Oh Digidiva, aperture of f2.8 will never get you any depth and that must have been about half a millimeter, try again at say f11 on a tripod.

[silversnapper1]

Yes, the higher the aperture number the larger the dof at that distance. You will probably have to use a tripod for the longer exposure times or a ring flash to give you better lighting. I have also found a focussing rail beneficial for making small adjustments.

Steve.

[DigiDiva]

A focusing rail?

[amk1977]

Originally Posted by DigiDiva

A focusing rail?

Its essentially a rail that the camera slides backwards and forwards upon, when attached to a tripod. It can be moved in very small incriments, thereby moving the focal plane fractionally further back each time you take a shot.

The resulting images are then put into some "stacking" software, which combines all the images, rendering the finished picture in focus and sharp throughout, like the fine example Cutter posted

Some move backwards and forwards. Some can also move left to right too for ease of positioning.

[DigiDiva]

Looks exactly like one of my hubby's DIY tools! I don't have photoshop so multi pics are no good form me yet. Hoping Santa brings photoshop. I have so much to learn, oh dear! My photo's really are rubbish...lol

[chris-p]

Originally Posted by DigiDiva

I don't have photoshop so multi pics are no good form me yet. Hoping Santa brings photoshop. I have so much to learn, oh dear! My photo's really are rubbish...lol

Try GIMP. It's a slightly weird interface but it's as powerful as something like CS3 or CS4 and it's free.

Also, most focus stacking software is free as well - Combine ZM, for example, is excellent.