Is there a taboo against taking closeup pictures?

[pbjwilson]

I posted this shot in Sunday Photo fun . For anyone who missed it here it is again just for fun.



It's the nose of a Hafner/Wyandotte engine

[Roger Bielen]

I've no problem with closeups using my 35 mm with a lens set to macro but when I use the digital set on the macro/closeup setting my shots are blurry. I use a tripod and the timer to avoid shake, I've tried with fill in flash, regular flash and timed exposure. I'm guesing that the camera has difficulty selecting what to focus on, I haven't gotten into seeing if there is a way to change the focus mode yet. Its a Samsung Digamax 301, nowhere near top of the line but the price was right, a freeby.

[ben10ben]

Bob,
FD mount lenses are plentiful and dirt cheap for the more common ones on Ebay. I just picked up an A-1 and four lenses for $140 the other night, and paid $1.25 for a spare 50mm lens. A good 50mm or so macro lens shouldn't cost you too terribly much, and will probably make a huge improvement in the quality of your closeup picture. You can also get macro lenses that screw on to the front of your present 50mm lens.

[Dave45681]

I'm no photography expert, but I tried these when I was so happy with some Lionel 18" passenger cars I recently got.

Can't give specifics on all the technical photo specs, but I am pretty sure I set the macro mode on on the digicam, and may have used manual focus. I probably tried a few times before getting the shots as seen here.

[underworld]

Ogaugeoverlord Ok.....I thought you were using a pinhole lens. Have you ever tried a pinhole lens??? You can make a very basic one with a piece of cardboard and a sharp, small point needle. You then just have to tape it to the body. If you experiment enough and find the right size hole, you can make a more permanent one with aluminum.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[pbjwilson]

Look out. Comin at ya!

[FJ and G]

Paul,

Now that's close.

Here's the function of:

Aperature. Pinhole is great but SLR cameras have aperatures of 32 f (f stop). For that, you need a special lens and either a lot of light or leave the lens shutter open on B or bulb. But that could cause color repricocity, which is another matter.

to sum up:

Tripod
Shutter release or timer
large f stop (small opening)
Lots of light

Just experiment! Use lots of light, stop down the shutter if you can. And get some closeups!

[pbjwilson]

"Howdy y'all"

[spankybird]

Here is another close up I did. Be sure to click on it to enlarge it.

[Jim Duda]

Bob - it's also a function of the lens...borrow a fellow AE-1 owner's macro lens...or doublers...

[Bob Keller]

It wasn't camera movement - I've used both hand-held and tripod methods. I'm still using the original lens and the shots I've tried are too close for a good focus.

[tjsprague]

Blurryness is often a result of short focal range. As we get closer into a scene, the less light is in there, so the apeture needs to open up. the more it's open the shorter the focal point. Of course, this also is a cool technique, in that you can make the viewer focus on the part of the scene you desire.

...an engine in the forground


or a worker on the platform...


I'ts all fun though.

Tim

[garyseven]

[underworld]

Dave Nice shots! I can almost taste the beer! [:p]

Ogaugeoverlord Your AE1 is ideal for pinhole photography. If you have had blurry shots it is probably due mostly to camera movement. Make sure that your tripod is stable and not affected by possible vibrations. How long of an exposure did you use???

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Jim Duda]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jonadel

I thought this was going to be a closeup shot, oh well. What kind of story do you suppose he is telling her?

Jon

I'm pretty sure her answer to his question spawned this thread...(wink)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=35706

[jonadel]

I thought this was going to be a closeup shot, oh well. What kind of story do you suppose he is telling her?

Jon

[spankybird]

and sometimes you get lucky and get good shots

[Bob Keller]

Several years ago there were several stories in the LOTS Switcher about using a "pinhole" lens to take closeup photos that gave the impression you were right there in the 1:48 scale scene.

Personally, I've never mastered the technique with either my ancient Canon AE-1 or the photo studio's latest "idiot proof" Nikon. My shots are always too blurry...

[spankybird]

And sometimes you see things that other wise you won't notice

[laz 57]

Those "rivet counters" love close ups the closer the better.
laz57

[FJ and G]

Cheers to close-ups.

While overall and medium shots are great, once in a while, lets get up close and personal!