Stop Bugging Me Part 1 - DSLR Macro

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/ph...1/IMGP1382.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1393.jpg

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

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1604.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1645.jpg
http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1650.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1652.jpg
http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1653.jpg

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

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph.../IMGP15321.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1543.jpg
http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1550.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1552.jpg
http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1558.jpg http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1560.jpg

Miscellaneous photos

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1353.jpg

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

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph...1/IMGP1724.jpg

http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/ph.../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

Nice shots, those macros seem soft though...

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

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

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

lol, ya that would probably do it..

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

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

wow those are awesome photos!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by [XC] 2long4u

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

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thanks for the tip :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Magnj

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

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will do for part 2 :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by philbrown23

wow those are awesome photos!

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thanks

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.

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

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

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

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...

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