these techically are not macro shots, I used my 70-200mm f/4 L yesterday. The butterfly I was pleased with however the dragonfly I was not but I posted it because I would love some input on how on can improve or take better dragonfly and damselflys.
C and C most welcome as always.
Regards Darren
****Darren****
The Angel’s from the Book of Life
Wrote down our Jordy’s birth
And whispered as they closed the book
"Too Beautiful For Earth"
Darren, for the dragonfly you used 200 mm, 1/80 sec, f/8 and iso 100.
If you did not use a monopod or tripod, I bet you shaked the camera too much for that combination of focal lenght (200 mm) and shutter speed (1/80 sec). Normally a rule of thumb would say that 200 mm requires 1/200 sec shutter speed, or better even shorter like 1/300 sec.
You should use higher iso than iso 100, as that will give you faster shutter speed with the same aperture f/8. Had you used iso 400, you would have had 2*2 = 4 times shorter exposure, that is 1/320 sec.
I normally photograph dragonflies without flash light, and I rarely use anything below iso 400. Normally I set camera to iso 400, and then adjust upwards to 800 or more if needed. But I use a monopod, and mostly get sharp pictures at 1/100 sec at 210 mm.
Your 350D should yeild good pictures at iso 400, but also acceptable noise at iso 800.
I think the dragonfly is a bit overexposed too. The dark background fools the camera's light meter (if M, manual mode, is not used). With a background like this, I would probably try out with -1 EV exposure compensation, have a look at the image on the camera screen, and adjust maybe to -1,33 EV, if the dragonfly still seems too brigth. Had you used exposure compensation, you would automatically get a faster shutter speed, and avoid getting a shaken picture.
Erland
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forgot to ask, what program on the camera are you using ? Most people probably use the AV mode, setting an iso value before getting started, and then adjusting aperture to get an ok shutter speed, at the given situation.
