F' F' Flower Power

[astronobob (Bob)]

Howdy Nature lovers
Well, theres many ways to go about capturing the colors and settings/compositions of the plant world ?
These were taken with my 70-200 'L' lens with a 25mm Kenko Extender & 600D whilst the missus was playing with GG's (Boring)
Hope you find them worth a Squizzy

[dutch2 (Ingrid)]

All great, Bob. I really like the first, third and fifth shots.
Well done.

[rcheshire (Rowland)]

All very nice Bob.

[astronobob (Bob)]

Thanx Ingrid & Rowland. I must try the longer extensions one day aswell ..

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

nice work Bob

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Nice shots Bob. I really must get an extension tube for my eos600D too.
Q. Are u letting the camera focus or doing it manually?

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Regulus

Nice shots Bob. I really must get an extension tube for my eos600D too.
Q. Are u letting the camera focus or doing it manually?

Trevor, I have Kenko tubes that maintain the lenses' aperture and focus automation.

[astronobob (Bob)]

Yes & no Trevor, depends on how steady my hold is or tripod on something solid, Tho with these shots, doesnt matter how still the day is, them flowers will be blown when about to execute your shot !
Then I usually keep the shutter half depressed as I move toward and away (Minutely with 35mm Extender) untill I see the subject in focus, doesnt take much movement - only a mm or two

[Regulus (Trevor)]

Andrew & Bob
I am happy to buy an auto extension tube for auto-aperture and DOF connections but vastly prefer manual focus on static objects. I can see that auto-focus would be useful for insects etc.
The problem with an auto-focus lens and an extension tube for me is that the auto-focus lens, because of the small motor etc., only has about 90deg travel around the circumference of the lens, and so fine focus is sometimes hard. Just taking your fingers away after focusing can be enough to knock the focus ring enough to throw focus off. The Auto Macro lenses have a longer focus travel (at least one full turn I think) so that helps.
Still I find I can compose the depth of field better if I can control the focus.
I would like a 25mm ext tube though to use with my 50 and 18-55 and will probably go down that path until I can afford the 70/90/100mm macro lens (must stop buying telescopes and buy camera lenses for a while).
A tip for macro shooting which you may already know, so please excuse me, but if not; I spend a lot of time with my camera on the ground to shoot fungi and have emptied a bag of rice into a ziploc bag (and bagged that in a second for security).
The camera sits stable on it and can be positioned for composition. Thanks to the lovely reticulated view finder screen on the eos600 (and it's 5&10x mag it makes shooting easy.
Trev

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Nice shots Roberto.
I find myself using my smartphone for closeups.
Here's one I took yesterday
the flower is about40mm dia

[RB (Andrew)]

Some wonderful colours there Bob and Jen.
Lovely.

[killswitch (Edison)]

Excellent shots Bob

What shutter speeds were you using for the bees? Any light modifiers?

[astronobob (Bob)]

Originally Posted by Regulus

Andrew & Bob
I am happy to buy an auto extension tube for auto-aperture and DOF connections but vastly prefer manual focus on static objects. I can see that auto-focus would be useful for insects etc.
The problem with an auto-focus lens and an extension tube for me is that the auto-focus lens, because of the small motor etc., only has about 90deg travel around the circumference of the lens, and so fine focus is sometimes hard. Just taking your fingers away after focusing can be enough to knock the focus ring enough to throw focus off. The Auto Macro lenses have a longer focus travel (at least one full turn I think) so that helps.
Still I find I can compose the depth of field better if I can control the focus.
I would like a 25mm ext tube though to use with my 50 and 18-55 and will probably go down that path until I can afford the 70/90/100mm macro lens (must stop buying telescopes and buy camera lenses for a while).
A tip for macro shooting which you may already know, so please excuse me, but if not; I spend a lot of time with my camera on the ground to shoot fungi and have emptied a bag of rice into a ziploc bag (and bagged that in a second for security).
The camera sits stable on it and can be positioned for composition. Thanks to the lovely reticulated view finder screen on the eos600 (and it's 5&10x mag it makes shooting easy.
Trev

Ive found that the 600D is not real quick on AF with moving bugs, (not greatest for sports either) & not sure how much better a top-line camera would bee, Trevor The kenko's have all the contacts for the lenses, so everthing works as well as if without them (y)
Thought the rice was going to bee for attracting certain critters, maybe a few chinese tourists
Great Idea by the sound and if one ever gets peckish (y)
The swivel view panel on the 600D is worth its weight in gold

Originally Posted by jenchris

Nice shots Roberto.
I find myself using my smartphone for closeups.
Here's one I took yesterday
the flower is about40mm dia

Thats a mighty grouse capture there Jen, Luv it

Originally Posted by RB

Some wonderful colours there Bob and Jen.
Lovely.

Cheers & thanx Andrew

Originally Posted by killswitch

Excellent shots Bob

What shutter speeds were you using for the bees? Any light modifiers?

Thanx Edison, no lighting applications etc, just natural.
Exposure for Bee was 1/1250th F6.3 iso400 - I had no idea the wings would be frozen - now I do