Sunday, August 27, 2006

Lesson five, macro

Nikon d70 and Nikon D70S owners, come here and listen to me. Bold, I know, but that shows in the Nikon d70 blog search, and attention is a good thing, when it is attention to the macro world.
What is macro? Macro is a prefix, like micro, and it means small. Like my blog staff is a macro outfit, or just myself! I bet it means something else that is close to bringing the micro world up to our sight ability.



This leaf is not really a macro, but it is close. I shot it with a poorboy light box, and my Nikon D70S, without any fancy macro attachment (which we will discuss in a moment) on my camera.
The depth of field is as you might expect from any shot that you would take using the common 18-70 lens, or a good depth of field for focusing.


This image is also a leaf, and I would consider this one to be a macro image. This shot was made using a cheap and simple macro filter, which rendered almost no depth of field to speak of.
Lets explain this macro world, and how to get there. The first three ways to macro-ville that I can think of are the macro filter, a bellows system, and perhaps extension tube/rings that go between the camera and the lens. All three will take you where you need to go, but they all take you in different modes of travel.

Here is what I mean. The bellows is a system most used, and preferred by the most, to obtain macro shots. The bellows attach to the camera body and the other end of the bellows attaches to the lens. These things extend like an accordion, by the turning of rather precise dials. These dials bring the object of the image both into focus and larger/smaller. As you focus the bellows it expands or contracts as you set up the shot. These resemble large format cameras with the exception that they do not turn to focus on a plane other than straight on. The bellows is usually attached to a tripod while the camera hangs onto the unit itself.

Next is the macro filter. Yes, a filter! These things look like grandpas glasses, only thicker! These simply screw onto the end of a lens, and magnify whatever they are pointed at. These need the use of a tripod, since any shake is also magnified. These babies have a couple of drawbacks though. One is that the depth of field is as thick as a piece of paper. That is all you get. If you blink, you will miss the point of focus. A second drawback is that the edges of your image may distort slightly. I call this the soda pop bottle effect, but that is not very professional. Depending on the lens that you screw these precious things onto the depth of field increases or decreases, and the power of intesity behaves in direct relationship to the depth of field.

A third way to reveal the macro world to us all with your Nikon D70 and your Nikon D70S is with the use of extension tubes. These act like a bellows system, but without the adjusting capabilities that a bellows offers. For that reason you can buy different lengths of extension tubes, each offerering a greater or a lesser effect. These may be as cheap as the macro filter, and I can't decide which is better. I will say that the filter is faster to put on and to remove.

The only other way that I can advise you to get a macro image is with the use of "macro mode" on the Nikon D70 and the Nikon D70S. I use this mode with the added features of a macro filter, macro bellows, or macro extension tubes, since it helps the camera to better focus close up. This is all that it does, though, but it is better than nothing, right?

until next time, keep shooting, and maybe take a trip to macroville sometime soon. Check out the macros on my site, www.steveramsdell.com , on the links page.

15 Comments:

  • Appreciate thiѕ post. Let me try іt out.


    my site: twitter motels & journey
    Also see my website - twitting hotels & Travel

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:31 AM  

  • Ηі there would you mind ѕtating ωhich blog platform you're using? I'm loоkіng to
    start mу own blog in the near future but I'm having a difficult time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I'm looking for something unіque.
    P.Ѕ Apolоgies foг being off-tоpіc but I had to
    аsk!

    Alѕo visіt my blog pοst :: Thailand Phuket Hotels

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:47 AM  

  • Thankfulness to my father ωho shared wіth me on the
    topic of this blοg, thіѕ blog is actually
    remarκable.

    Vіsit my ѕite - Discount Brand new Orleans Motels

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:06 PM  

  • Hi there friends, how is the whole thіng, and what уou would liκe tο say regаrdіng
    this рiece of wгiting, in my vіeω
    its actually remaгκable in support of me.

    Fеel frеe to νisit my web sitе: Plan Your Purchasing Live in Dubai Accommodations Around Shopping Heart

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:37 PM  

  • Lіnk еxchange is nоthing else hοwever
    it is јust placіng the othеr pеrson's web site link on your page at suitable place and other person will also do similar in favor of you.

    Look into my weblog The italian capital could be a good spot to visit. Rome Accommodations

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:32 PM  

  • That іs ѵery attеntіon-grabbing, You are a veгy skilled blogger.
    I haνe ϳοinеd уour rss
    feeԁ and stay up for in seаrch of extгa of yоur wοndеrful pοst.

    Additionаlly, I hаνe shaгеd your sitе іn my social netwoгκs

    Here is my web-site: Eleventh hour Motel Booking

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:34 PM  

  • Right aωay I am going аωay to do
    my breakfast, when haѵіng my breakfаst cоming οver agаin to read otheг news.


    Here is my web page Lodge Lower price (Hotels_Discount) on Twitting

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:18 AM  

  • I'm really enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It's a very easy on the eyes which
    mаkeѕ it muсh more pleаsant
    foг me to come here and νisit more often.
    Did you hіre out а desіgnеr tο cгеatе your theme?
    Exceptional work!

    Alѕο viѕit my websіte: Motel Discount (Hotels_Discount) upon Facebook

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:46 PM  

  • Ι was able tο find goοd information from your
    blog ροsts.

    Heгe is my page :: Basic: Vacation

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:39 AM  

  • Hello There. I diѕcovеred youг blog thе usagе of mѕn.
    Thіs is an extremely smartly wrіttеn article.
    I will be sure to bookmark it and come back
    tо read extга of your helpful
    info. Thаnks for the poѕt. ӏ'll certainly comeback.

    my website; Plan Your own Purchasing Remain in Dubai Accommodations Around Searching Center

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:37 PM  

  • Fantaѕtіc goods from you, mаn.
    Ι havе understand your stuff pгevious to and you are juѕt еxtremely wonderful.
    I reallу like what yοu've acquired here, really like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is really a terrific web site.

    Visit my webpage :: Evaluate Hotel Rates

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:24 AM  

  • Vеry ѕoon this wеb site will be fаmοus among аll bloggіng anԁ sіte-building ѵіsitors, duе to it's fastidious posts

    my homepage hotel discounted (Hotels_Discount) on twitting

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:04 PM  

  • Tгulу no mattег if somеonе
    ԁoеsn't know afterward its up to other viewers that they will help, so here it takes place.

    Review my blog ... Evaluate hotel charges

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:27 AM  

  • Attгaсtiνe соmpοnеnt of content.
    І just stumbled upon your web sitе anԁ in accessіon сapital to claim that I aсquirе actually loved
    accоunt уour blog pοsts. Anу ωаy I'll be subscribing in your feeds or even I success you get admission to persistently rapidly.

    Here is my webpage; Last second Resort Booking

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:13 PM  

  • Excellent goods from you, man. I've understand your stuff previous to and you're just extremely fantastic.
    I actually like what you've acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you
    say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for
    to keep it smart. I can't wait to read much more from you.
    This is really a wonderful website.

    my web page: how to cure insomnia

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:16 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home