Posted by Mike Magden on July 27, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Using a macro 180mm lens and a canon 5D, i am having problems shooting insects in sunny days. The subject is blurred and dark. I was about about a inch away from from the bee, using a f8,ISO 100, and using a tripod.
Posted by Dan Borzynski on July 27, 2010 at 11:28 PM
I think you answered your own question here.
The Canon 180 macro lens, on its own, has a minimum focussing distance of 18 inches, The lens and camera will take about 9 of those inches, so your working distance is about 9 inches - that is the distance from the front element to your subject. If you are any closer than that, the lens will not be able to focus, even at f32. Even at 2-3" from the subject to the front element of the lens, you still won't come close to getting things in focus.
The darkess is caused by a couple of issues. First, for being as close as you were, you were probably casting a shadow on the bee, Second, once you get to 1:1, you lose 2 stops of light. For trying to focus as close as your were, there was probably more light lost. Your eyes were adapted to bright sun - you were looking through a darker viewfinder and still had all of that peripheral light to deal with. Your eyes really didn't stand a chance. Try cupping your hand around the viewfinder eye to cut down on the outside light.
Also, focussing through the viewfinder can be tough at midday, depending on you angle to the sun. Under the right conditions, there is just enough space between you eye and the camera that light can get in. In bright sunlight and the right angle, this can make it very tough to see, especially if the LCD is on and sunlight is hitting that as well.
If the shot itself was dark (you didn't mention that), cover up the rear viewfinder. In bright conditions, especially if the viewfinder is pointing towards a blue blue sky at noon, enough light can enter through the viewfinder to completely screw up the exposure.
I'd really try to avoid shooting in bright sunny conditions, if possible. Insect, especially bees and their wings, are very reflective and many, many stops darker than most of the flowers they land one. You'll need to give up detail in either the flowers or in the bees. Shooting later or earlier in the day will cut down a lot on the contrast range present and you won't have to make the same compromises, or at least as one as extreme as you would be making.
Discussion
2 repliesThe Canon 180 macro lens, on its own, has a minimum focussing distance of 18 inches, The lens and camera will take about 9 of those inches, so your working distance is about 9 inches - that is the distance from the front element to your subject. If you are any closer than that, the lens will not be able to focus, even at f32. Even at 2-3" from the subject to the front element of the lens, you still won't come close to getting things in focus.
The darkess is caused by a couple of issues. First, for being as close as you were, you were probably casting a shadow on the bee, Second, once you get to 1:1, you lose 2 stops of light. For trying to focus as close as your were, there was probably more light lost. Your eyes were adapted to bright sun - you were looking through a darker viewfinder and still had all of that peripheral light to deal with. Your eyes really didn't stand a chance. Try cupping your hand around the viewfinder eye to cut down on the outside light.
Also, focussing through the viewfinder can be tough at midday, depending on you angle to the sun. Under the right conditions, there is just enough space between you eye and the camera that light can get in. In bright sunlight and the right angle, this can make it very tough to see, especially if the LCD is on and sunlight is hitting that as well.
If the shot itself was dark (you didn't mention that), cover up the rear viewfinder. In bright conditions, especially if the viewfinder is pointing towards a blue blue sky at noon, enough light can enter through the viewfinder to completely screw up the exposure.
I'd really try to avoid shooting in bright sunny conditions, if possible. Insect, especially bees and their wings, are very reflective and many, many stops darker than most of the flowers they land one. You'll need to give up detail in either the flowers or in the bees. Shooting later or earlier in the day will cut down a lot on the contrast range present and you won't have to make the same compromises, or at least as one as extreme as you would be making.