Macro of Bee and Wasp

[theantiquetiger]

124 shots and these are the best 2 (not saying much IMO)

How do you guys get such great macros. I had it set at 1/800 speed

[Geepaa]

Lens choice is a big factor for me. I have a Canon EF 100 Macro which is a true macro lens with 1:1 magnification. What lens are you using?
Here are a couple of pics using the Canon EF 100 Macro lens.

The closer you can get to the subject the better as well. The more you have to crop, the less sharp the image. The bee pic above was about 20 feet away, the wasp was about 6 feet and the beetle was maybe 2 feet.

I know other photographers use extension tubes with non-true macro lenses with excellent results but I have not tried that.

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[Iguanasan]

I wish I could just pop on down and see what's what but we'll have to do this over the 'net. Catching a flying bee is super hard so let's just take a look at the wasp (first shot) in detail.

First off you say it's at 1/800 sec but can you publish all the EXIF data (shutter, aperture, ISO) and tell us the camera (I think I remember) and lens that you were using? Let's start there and see where that takes us.

@Geepaa, thanks for jumping in to help but it's not always OK to jump in with your images in someone else's thread, please ask if the original poster minds if you add images before doing so.

[theantiquetiger]

I'm using a Canon EF 75-300 1:4-5.6 ii with macro filters 1x, 2x, & 4x (I had all three filters on for the honeybee). They pics were shot from within 6 inches. Because of the rapid movement bee in flight, I set the focus at that distance and than rapid shot about 5 shots before my camera goes into busy mode for a few seconds (I need a better card). I shot it at 1/800 speed. There is very little cropping on this image, just some to place him where he is located.

The wasp was shot at about 12 inches using my 2x & 1x filters. He was sitting somewhat still and I shot him at 1/300 speed I believe. There is also very little cropping here.

Iggy, I don't mind his images.

I am at work tonight, so I will not have the info on the shots until I get home in the morning.

[Iguanasan]

Well, that sounds like the kit lens and you had 3 macro filters stacked on it? I've never used that kind of set up but I suspect that with all those filters on a not very sharp lens you are going to have serious image degradation. My macros are being shot with a 50mm f1.8 prime lens. It's inexpensive but is wonderfully sharp. Some of the other macros you see here on the forum are being shot with a dedicated macro lens.

Why don't you try with a less challenging subject where you can control the environment. Get a really nice bright light (or go out on a sunny day) and put a penny on the ground or something and shoot it. Try different combinations of filters, apertures, and shutter speeds.

[theantiquetiger]

I am fairly happy with the wasp shot. I was basically trying to get his face in focus (which I did), but his OOF leg cuts through his face. This image was actually turned 90 deg clockwise.

[Iguanasan]

Yes, it looks like you managed to get focus on his head. The problem, of course, is that in macro work you are generally working with millimeters for a depth of field. That being the case, I tend to try and get as much profile type shots as possible so I get as much of the insect in focus as possible.

[theantiquetiger]

Yeah, the honeybee shot is probably 1mm from being a great shot. It was VERY difficult. I wonder if I should just use the filters on my 18-55 lens. This bush is infested with honeybees, wasp, bumblebees, and love bugs. I will shoot some more tomorrow with less filters, 75-300 w/o filters, and my 18-55 lens with the filters.

[Iguanasan]

...snip...

Iggy, I don't mind his images.

...snip...

Great. Not trying to be a pain but I just want to make sure we continue to enjoying being a member of a great forum.

[Geepaa]

I wish I could just pop on down and see what's what but we'll have to do this over the 'net. Catching a flying bee is super hard so let's just take a look at the wasp (first shot) in detail.

First off you say it's at 1/800 sec but can you publish all the EXIF data (shutter, aperture, ISO) and tell us the camera (I think I remember) and lens that you were using? Let's start there and see where that takes us.

@Geepaa, thanks for jumping in to help but it's not always OK to jump in with your images in someone else's thread, please ask if the original poster minds if you add images before doing so.

Point taken Iguanasan. In the future I will ask OP before adding images.