Macro Mode

[pwiles1968]

Ok so it needs a little work, but here is a picture of a snail I found in the back garden, it was about 5mm long. It has been cropped. Have not done much else with the camera yet have been ill since they day after I bought it.

Picture in Post Below.

[genece]

Must be on the web

[pwiles1968]

Doh!

Will Have to re-build that website after all, if I could just remember how :o

[genece]

Do a google search for free photo host

Photobucket is one

GOOGLE (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=free+photo+host&btnG=Google+Search)

[judge9847]

Must be on the web
Err ... not true.

There are a couple of ways of doing that and it's explained in the FAQ part of the Forum. It's here. (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/faq.php?faq=vb_read_and_post#faq_vb_attachment_exp lain)


One way is to click the "Manage Attachments" button just below this text box, browse to the file on your hard drive and follow the instructions you're given. There are limitations on file size so beware of that.

[pwiles1968]

http://freespace.virgin.net/pwiles.1968/Snail.jpg

[pwiles1968]

Have been Playing with the Macro a bit and found as with most cameras you can not usually just start really close and get a reliable focus lock, there is a bit of a technique to getting the closest possible focus.

I have find on the FZ20 that with AF mode on spot and Continuous AF ON, set an appropriate level of zoom do not use too much zoom unless the subject is a good distance away (then you no not really need Macro), start with the camera away from the subject then do a partial press of the shutter to get a focus lock you can let go of the button once the camera locks on, then move the camera closer steadily, or slowly zoom in, the continuous AF will do its thing until you are at the minimum distance, you will start to loose focus pull/zoom back a bit till you lock on again,

For the best macro results it is better to get the camera as close as possible rather than use the Zoom, I have found that you can focus right in front of the lens at 1x zoom and fill the picture with an item 4cm wide, while higher in the zoom range I can not get something over 10cm in focus.

OK this works with snails but for something that is moving fast there is not much chance, let me know if you have found a different technique. :)

[wmussatto]

I have found that the greatest enlargement comes when the FZ-20 is @ about 3x (someone better than I measured it at 2.8x) rather than 1x. This also minimizes the barrel distortion. I've had good luck in A mode. If I can I try to use manual focus and a tripod, but have had good luck with spot. Your distance to subject is greater so flash is an option if needed.
Still learning.

[pwiles1968]

Yea the barrel distortion is pretty high at 1x min focus is around 1.5cm from the screen :o , can not seem to get down to 4cm, at 2/3x nearer 5cm but the distortion is less. :)

[pwiles1968]

http://freespace.virgin.net/pwiles.1968/Gallery/images/Tree%20Fungi.jpg

Have been playing with Macro Again :) .

[Payne]

Your second macro shot is great.....BTW, what is that??? it looks like a Coral Reef, isnt it?

[Jim Last]

Paul, I agree your second shot is pretty cool. I think we could have a competition here :) Guess what is is?

Well it looks light a shot of fungus on a trees bark to me :)

Don't know is using a macro lens might help?

[pwiles1968]

Jim gets the star prize, did you look at the properties or was it a guess? the image is a bit of tree fungi about an inch wide, it is cropped from the original but only by about 50%, it does have quite a bit of sharpening applied in Photoshop, and I tweaked the colour slightly to make it a little more vivid. I will have to remember to take some sort of reflector with me next time the shadows are a little harsh.

I must have looked a bit strange this morning by the side of the road camera pushed so close to a tree it looked like I was resting the lens against it. :D

[Jim Last]

It was a pure guess :D

[PixChick]

http://freespace.virgin.net/pwiles.1968/Snail.jpg

Hey I really like this snail pic--that is great! Are you still using your Z1??

PixChick:)

[pwiles1968]

Erm well no not really:o , that one belongs to the Wif now :rolleyes: , don’t get me wrong It is a good camera and I don’t regret buying it, I have taken some good shots with it, I wanted something a bit better to motivate me more than anything else, I do not think the camera makes a photographer, but it can help in some situations.