Stop Bugging Me Part 1 - DSLR Macro

[eva2000]

Playing with my new toy, my first DSLR camera :)

Grabbed my Pentax K200D + Sigma 105mm EX F/2.8 DG Macro lens and decided to annoy some bugs and plant life :D

All photos taken handheld, no tripod with no flash - huge difference in photo quality when you have natural light :)

Found the first guy inside a watering bucket and then found these guys hanging out together.

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1382.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1393.jpg

This guy went for a walk about to stretch his legs - had to follow him around LOL

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1604.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1645.jpg
http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1650.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1652.jpg
http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1653.jpg

This guy was happy to stand still for a photo shoot :)

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP15321.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1543.jpg
http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1550.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1552.jpg
http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1558.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1560.jpg

Miscellaneous photos

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1353.jpg

Last 2 photos, same photo without post processing and with auto leveling respectively.

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP1724.jpg

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/photos/bugme01/IMGP17241.jpg

Used Adobe Photoshop CS3 to resize and save photos between ~60-70% JPG quality.

Bit noisy as i used ISO 400-800 as well as it was shady heh

[Magnj]

Nice shots, those macros seem soft though...

[eva2000]

Thanks the default setting was dialed one notch down for sharpness it seems :)

[MaxxxRacer]

not sure if its the lens/camera thats making it soft, or its just slight motion blur, but the photos certainly lack sharpness.

[eva2000]

probably bit of everything hand held, f/2.8 for most, ISO 400-800, sharpness set to default to one notch below default, saved as JPEG 60-70% in shady environment + lack of experience LOL

[MaxxxRacer]

lol, ya that would probably do it..

[[XC] 2long4u]

A tip for insects. Focus on the head or eyes. Thats what people focus on naturally.

[Magnj]

RAW. And manually focus if you weren't. Let's see some still subjects and see if they are still soft.

[philbrown23]

wow those are awesome photos!

[eva2000]

2long4u;3031796']A tip for insects. Focus on the head or eyes. Thats what people focus on naturally.thanks for the tip :)


RAW. And manually focus if you weren't. Let's see some still subjects and see if they are still soft. will do for part 2 :D


wow those are awesome photos!

thanks

[MaxxxRacer]

last tip is to stop it down to F4 or F5. I would say F8, but you will probably have light availibility issues at that point.

[Cold Fussion]

Either your not focusing properly or your too close to the subject. The iso needs to be turned down as well.

[berk]

Interesting subjects..but insects always make me itchy!! :)
Good luck with tuning into the new cam and skills. :D

[eva2000]

thanks for the tips guys.. here's another attempt at different subject matter http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=246 :)

[Oliver]

Sweet job George and good start and congrats with the cam...

I would also like to have such dslr cam, lol last time i had one that came to my place and took pictures of hardware for me...

[eva2000]

heh thanks Oliver .. having loads of fun just ordered a sigma 10-20mm and 18-50mm macro f/2.8 to complete my collection :)