So happy to be here & need a bit of H-E-L-P

PBugJulie · 05-04-2006, 17:46

So great to be a new part of this wonderful forum. Hello!
I am using (and learning slowly...) the Canon 20D. The lense I have on it right now is the Canon 100mm f/2.8EF USM Macro. I am wonder if any of you might help me with a query.
It is this:
I am photographing, on a flat surface, a chestnut seed, which is large and about
1 1/4" or 31.9mm in length. You probably know what they look like... So, in photographing them I need to include in this shot, a metric ruler.
The photo is taken, the seed is in focus, but the ruler is OUT OF FOCUS time and time again.
I realize I can fix this, but at the moment do not know how.
Might anyone help me?
My thanks are yours,
PBug

minimeeze · 05-04-2006, 18:07

Hi, and welcome to the forums

Sounds like you need to change the aperture size on your camera...this may help...

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

Matty · 05-04-2006, 18:08

Hi and welcome!

someone will be along with an answer for you soon im sure, though if you post the question in the correct forum section im sure it will get answered quicker!

RobertP · 05-04-2006, 18:16

Hello and welcome

Sounds like you have discovered the 'Depth of Field' is quite a short distance for close up (macro) photography. The wider open the aperture (or f2.8 with your lens) the shallower the distance that is actually in focus. there is a Depth of Field preview button on the 20D which will show you how your picture will come out. It is diagonally opposite the shutter button on the camera front.

Shut the aperture down to say f22 and you will get a bigger depth of field (more in focus depth) - use Av - Aperture priority mode and let the camera choose the shutter speed. The shutter speed may be slow so you may need a tripod and/or increase the iso setting.

Sometimes you can feel other replies coming while you type... bound to be some links to further reading

RobertP · 05-04-2006, 18:22

I recently got a macro lens. Take a look at the test shots of a remote control that I took at f2.8 and f22 in this thread. Not great photos but shows the depth of field well

ed34 · 05-04-2006, 20:41

hello and welcome

monkeydave · 05-04-2006, 20:47

howdy pbug welcome to the forum..

whitewash · 05-04-2006, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBugJulie

about
1 1/4" or 31.9mm in length.

welcome to the forum, sounds like you need a smaller apature on your picture to increase the DOF.

i also love the way your "about" size is more accurate than most rulers

ace!

PBugJulie · 05-04-2006, 21:09

Thank you so much for all your help! Whewwww!
Matty - I will take your suggestion and post in another forum section as well, good idea. I just thought I should start with the "Welcome" area.

RobertP - Tried the DEP button, and it seems all I get is a darkened preview...hmmm. Will have to play with this. As to the "AV" and the f22 setting, it worked for one shot wonderfully, then I couldn't get the shot again, no matter how I tried and now I'm going home. Has that ever happened to you?

ed34 - Hello!

Monkeydave - To you too, sir!!

Hope I can figure this out.
Best,
Your PBug

digitalfailure · 05-04-2006, 21:17

Hi Pbug

As the others have mentioned, it sounds like your shooting with a wide aperture, can you post the exif details of the shots?

I think i'd be setting the camera to P mode for the time being and making sure that you have as much of the frame in focus as possible before pressing the shutter release.

A good stable position would be helpful too, camera shake might well be causing the soft out of focus for you.

RobertP · 05-04-2006, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBugJulie

RobertP - Tried the DEP button, and it seems all I get is a darkened preview...hmmm.

Yes it will be darkened but it will let you see what is in focus and what isn't. when you just look normally you only see a narrow depth of field that you have with the lens wide open for viewing. The f22 setting only happens when you press the shutter (or DOF preview buton)

Warspite · 05-04-2006, 21:59

Welcome aboard

jewel · 05-04-2006, 22:04

Pbugjulie

Welcome to the forums!

Jewel

Matt · 05-04-2006, 22:28

Welcome to the forums Julie.

DoF (depth of field) can be effected by how close the lens is to the subject,
So if you are closer to the subject on your latest attempts you may struggle
to get the ruler in focus.

If for example your subject was 1.5 metres away from the focal plain,
and you are shooting at f8, the near/far limits of acceptable sharpness
would be 1.47m/1.53m, this equates to 6cm of acceptable focus.
If you had reduced the distance of the focal plain to 1 metre,
the acceptable distances would change to 0.99/1.01m, this equates to 2cm of acceptable focus which could be the reason your ruler is not in focus.

If you don't understand the above, just move the camera further away from
the subject until you get the result you are after.

HTH

Glen · 05-04-2006, 23:37

Hi Pbug

Witch · 06-04-2006, 00:18

Welcome aboard!

daveyuk · 06-04-2006, 07:57

Hello

05-04-2006, 17:46	#1 (permalink)
PBugJulie New here Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Boston, MA area Posts: 16	So happy to be here & need a bit of H-E-L-P So great to be a new part of this wonderful forum. Hello! I am using (and learning slowly...) the Canon 20D. The lense I have on it right now is the Canon 100mm f/2.8EF USM Macro. I am wonder if any of you might help me with a query. It is this: I am photographing, on a flat surface, a chestnut seed, which is large and about 1 1/4" or 31.9mm in length. You probably know what they look like... So, in photographing them I need to include in this shot, a metric ruler. The photo is taken, the seed is in focus, but the ruler is OUT OF FOCUS time and time again. I realize I can fix this, but at the moment do not know how. Might anyone help me? My thanks are yours, PBug __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1..._July_2003.jpg

05-04-2006, 18:16	#4 (permalink)
RobertP Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Woodford Essex Posts: 841	Hello and welcome Sounds like you have discovered the 'Depth of Field' is quite a short distance for close up (macro) photography. The wider open the aperture (or f2.8 with your lens) the shallower the distance that is actually in focus. there is a Depth of Field preview button on the 20D which will show you how your picture will come out. It is diagonally opposite the shutter button on the camera front. Shut the aperture down to say f22 and you will get a bigger depth of field (more in focus depth) - use Av - Aperture priority mode and let the camera choose the shutter speed. The shutter speed may be slow so you may need a tripod and/or increase the iso setting. Sometimes you can feel other replies coming while you type... bound to be some links to further reading __________________ 20D. Kit lens. Canon 50mm 1.4. Sigma 150mm 2.8 macro. Tamron 28-75 XR Di. Canon 70-200 f4L . Canon 100-400L. 580EX.

05-04-2006, 18:07	#2 (permalink)
minimeeze Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Aldershot, Hants Posts: 567	Hi, and welcome to the forums Sounds like you need to change the aperture size on your camera...this may help... http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

05-04-2006, 18:08	#3 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	Hi and welcome! someone will be along with an answer for you soon im sure, though if you post the question in the correct forum section im sure it will get answered quicker!

05-04-2006, 18:22	#5 (permalink)
RobertP Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Woodford Essex Posts: 841	I recently got a macro lens. Take a look at the test shots of a remote control that I took at f2.8 and f22 in this thread. Not great photos but shows the depth of field well

05-04-2006, 20:41	#6 (permalink)
ed34 Getting Comfy Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: leominster Posts: 217	hello and welcome

05-04-2006, 20:47	#7 (permalink)
monkeydave Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: shropshire Posts: 404	howdy pbug welcome to the forum..

05-04-2006, 21:09	#9 (permalink)
PBugJulie New here Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Boston, MA area Posts: 16	Thank you so much for all your help! Whewwww! Matty - I will take your suggestion and post in another forum section as well, good idea. I just thought I should start with the "Welcome" area. RobertP - Tried the DEP button, and it seems all I get is a darkened preview...hmmm. Will have to play with this. As to the "AV" and the f22 setting, it worked for one shot wonderfully, then I couldn't get the shot again, no matter how I tried and now I'm going home. Has that ever happened to you? ed34 - Hello! Monkeydave - To you too, sir!! Hope I can figure this out. Best, Your PBug

05-04-2006, 21:17	#10 (permalink)
digitalfailure Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: on the floor Posts: 694	Hi Pbug As the others have mentioned, it sounds like your shooting with a wide aperture, can you post the exif details of the shots? I think i'd be setting the camera to P mode for the time being and making sure that you have as much of the frame in focus as possible before pressing the shutter release. A good stable position would be helpful too, camera shake might well be causing the soft out of focus for you.

05-04-2006, 21:59	#12 (permalink)
Warspite Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Newcastle Sunderland Middlesbrough (UK) Posts: 1,736	Welcome aboard

05-04-2006, 22:04	#13 (permalink)
jewel Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,133	Pbugjulie Welcome to the forums! Jewel

05-04-2006, 22:28	#14 (permalink)
Matt Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,326	Welcome to the forums Julie. DoF (depth of field) can be effected by how close the lens is to the subject, So if you are closer to the subject on your latest attempts you may struggle to get the ruler in focus. If for example your subject was 1.5 metres away from the focal plain, and you are shooting at f8, the near/far limits of acceptable sharpness would be 1.47m/1.53m, this equates to 6cm of acceptable focus. If you had reduced the distance of the focal plain to 1 metre, the acceptable distances would change to 0.99/1.01m, this equates to 2cm of acceptable focus which could be the reason your ruler is not in focus. If you don't understand the above, just move the camera further away from the subject until you get the result you are after. HTH

05-04-2006, 23:37	#15 (permalink)
Glen Been here a while Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 333	Hi Pbug

06-04-2006, 00:18	#16 (permalink)
Witch Quite Chatty Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Essex Posts: 50	Welcome aboard!

06-04-2006, 07:57	#17 (permalink)
daveyuk Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 1,172	Hello

06-04-2006, 18:31	#18 (permalink)
PBugJulie New here Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Boston, MA area Posts: 16