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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,219 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
Trying out a "new" camera tonight, I'm not thrilled with the lens, but I have to save up for the 100mm macro for awhile. Both of these photos were taken at 100 iso, f/5.6 and 1/160. I'm not thrilled 100%, but they're the best shots of this coin I've ever gotten I think. Any idea on how to improve image quality with this particular lens?   |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
615 Posts |
I may have spoken too soon. This one was at 100 iso, f/8 and 1/125. A huge improvement in my eyes at least.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1795 Posts |
need to change the lighting a bit and just do some tweaking but nice photos I think.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
Sometimes problems with lenses can be mitigated by stopping them down. The "glowy" quality on the first images seems to have gone away. Seems odd that a lens would show that much aberration at f/5.6 but the f/8 image looks pretty good. Most lenses' sweet spots are about 1 stop down from wide open or around f/5.6-f/8.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
I tested a bunch of shots, f/8 is the sweet spot on this lens. The others were blurry or they had that "hazy" effect. I set the shutter to 1/100 and that seems a bit better as well. I think it should be workable until I can afford the dedicated macro lens.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
I think it should be workable until I can afford the dedicated macro lens. I think you're right. If you're not yet, you'll probably be happier at 28mm than 80mm, at the cost of lesser distance from the subject. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
I was shooting at 28 initially, but the coin fills far less of the frame at 28 then it does at 80. It's almost double in size in the frame at 80. I'd much rather shoot at 28, but being farther away makes lighting easier, so I can't really complain. I'm still messing with lighting and shutter speeds, but I'm pretty set at f/8 with that particular lens.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
If your last image was at 80mm, you have an impressive example of that lens and no need to pay me any attention.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
They were at 80mm, I merely changed from f/5.6 to f/8 for the difference. You're too modest as well, I still look up your old threads when I have a question.
It's not an ideal lens for macro, but it seems very serviceable for anything larger than a nickel, and does okay with circulated pennies and the like. It struggles with full red uncirculated coins, and I'm holding off selling those until I can get the lighting right. When I get home today I'll post a picture of a Tonga 2 Pa'anga coin that made me excited. Much better pictures thus far over my P&S.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
These are the shots I am most pleased with:   |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I can't blame you.  Excellent results for a non-dedicated lens. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,219 |
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Posted 01/23/2013 12:24 am
