Some images

[flyer2o12]

Hey guys,

How can I improve these images. As you can see, they are not very sharp.
I am baffled by the results that a lot of you are achieving. I guess my problems could be due to not enough images and the Ikea Jansjo lamps, maybe the Nikon 5x BD objective also?



See Large here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38484518@N07/7703961774/sizes/k/in/photostream/




See Large here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38484518@N07/7703961414/sizes/k/in/photostream/




See Large here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38484518@N07/7703960844/sizes/k/in/photostream/




See Large here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38484518@N07/7703961160/sizes/k/in/photostream/

[Harold Gough]

There is not much depth of field. This suggests that you need more images. You need to say how many you used in each stack, and which stacking software you used, so that the specialists are able to comment.

Harold
_________________
Happiness is having the right adapter.

My manual flash setup for high magnification:

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=117843#117843

[rjlittlefield]

The file names indicate that these are ZS PMax.

I agree these look soft at web resolution. But the large versions look more like what I'd expect. I notice also that your JPEGs for display are quite small, so I'm thinking that you're losing detail someplace in the resizing and saving to JPEG at web resolution. What procedure are you using for that?

--Rik

[ChrisR]

I took a few pictures using continuous light versus flash, and promptly gave up using other than flash for anything much!
Suggest you try that, even a single frame of something flattish will probably show any movement. If you light exactly the same way for both it'll be easier to tell. Heavy diffusion is probably the best option for comparison.
My BD 5x is pretty good, especially away from the corners. I think there's room for improvement.
Looking at "large size" of the middle pic, the 5 lobed thing (stamen?) I think I can see focus banding. I wouldn't step larger than 20 microns, to be sure.