Macro Pictures?

[Mitch21]

I've got a Casio Exilim EX-Z75 which seems to be a nice compact camera for everyday use. However, if I try to take macro pictures of my snakes, I usually get quite blurry and bad quality pictures. Does anyone have any tips for taking better quality close ups with the camera I've got?

I'm usually pretty tech savvy but not so much with digital cameras...


Here's a link to the camera if it helps...
http://www.casio.com/products/Camera...Zoom/EX-Z75SR/

[freelancer]

Can you post an example?

A couple of things can contribute to blurry pictures. First, is the auto focus actually focusing on the part of the snake (usually you want the eyes) you want to be sharp? The AF system on the smaller point and shoots is not always terribly sophisticated, and it may be focusing on a part of the frame that you don't want it to. Carefully look over some of your images and see if you find a blurry head but a sharp leaf, or the snake's midsection.

Focusing tip: There is a rectangle in the center of your screen or viewfinder, which you use for focusing on your subject. Try pressing the shutter button halfway when focusing on the snake's eyes, then moving the camera to recompose your picture the way you want it. Pressing the button halfway locks the focus but does not take the picture. This lets you focus on something without having it always in the very center of the frame.

Does your camera have a "shake" warning? Usually, a little shaky-looking hand will appear as an icon on your screen to warn you that there is not enough light, and thus the camera is choosing a shutter speed (the numbers that read like 1/60 or 1/250, etc.) that is not fast enough to prevent motion blur - either from your hand, or the snake itself. You can avoid this one of two ways: Use your flash - experiment with "forcing" it on even if the auto setting would not fire it. Your camera should have an option for forced flash. Secondly, your camera has an anti-shake device in it. Experiment with turning it on and off, and use it with and without the flash.

There is a third option, if your camera allows it: Change the ISO setting to a higher number. If it's on ISO 50 (highest quality), change it to 100 or 200. This will give you a faster shutter speed, and maybe will prevent camera shake (motion blur). Conversely, keep in mind that the higher the ISO, the "grainier" (lesser quality) your image will appear. This may be a factor behind your comment on the poor quality of some of your pictures. The camera may always be choosing a high ISO, which makes for a good all-around setting but contributes to bad pictures. (Now you know why photographers need cameras with full manual control of everything!)

Also, keep in mind that the Macro setting can be a little funky; it is meant to focus at very close range, and if you step out of it (not close enough), the picture will come out blurry. The reverse goes for the non-Macro mode. Don't be afraid to experiment with the manual-focus setting as well. It works well on some of these little cameras.

And a few general tips: Watch for objects behind your subjects, like branches, that may look like they're growing out of the snake's head or body; give a quick scan around the edges of the frame before shooting, to look for intrusive objects (like more branches, or leaves, or very bright spots) that will distract from your pet; a close-up, frame-filling portrait can be awesome, but try shooting a few frames with the snake's face off-center, it can sometimes be more aesthetically pleasing.

Hope this helps.

[Patrick Long]

on my point and shoot, if I have the macro on, and the flash off, the pictures are horrible.

Try using the flash with the macro

[littleindiangirl]

Put the camera on something solid or tripod, set it up to use the timer, focus and set up shot (usually push button down half way), click and walk away.

Some macro settings in P&S cameras need you to be ridiculously close to the subject before it will focus. Make sure to have brilliant lighting.

Sometimes, point and shoot cameras just don't take good macros.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

a camera with a good solid macro setting is a must for a good macro shot. Some of them just unfortunately don't take the best macro's. Good lighting and holding the camera as still as possible are both vital to a clear macro. You want your subject to be lit up very well, and either put the camera on a tripod, or brace the hand that is holding it against something solid so that you don't move it at all. Also, take many many pics of the same thing. The majority of them will not turn out the way you want, but ion a large batch, there are bound to be a few you like. I usually take anywehre from 100 to 400 photos in a batch, and end up whittling that down to a set of between 20-40 good solid photographs that capture the snake well. I just keep going through, deleting more until I only have the best left!

[Mitch21]

Thanks everyone! I'll try for a few more to post!

[Patrick Long]

I know I didnt write I huge paragraph, but trust me, I have tried 3 point and shoot macros and its the same thing. Try the flash on with the macro

[CeraDigital]

No offense with the post...but ditch the P&S. They're junk. You can pick up a nice SLR for a decent price, and expand your skill with macro, wide angle, zoom, etc as you learn. The more you expand your skills, the more you can work on making something off of your photography. Say you have a breeder in your area...after you hone your skills, work out a trade with him for animals.... Say $50-75 per shot. In no time your photo equipment will pay for itself, and you won't have to drop continuous amounts of money into new projects. Just stop at a breeders if he's willing to work out a trade, pop off some shots, edit, send and viola.... new animal.

If I may, I recommend Canon. Sharper, faster, absorbs color better, and better customer service. That and their pro-line equipment is more widely available. Pick up a nice body at first, and a zoom lens. Don't be afraid to buy used either. Your not going to tuck it in to bed, and kiss it good night. Plan to use it Zoom lenses take good close ups. Not exactly macro, but sharp, and allows for good lighting. You can grab a consumer grade Canon SLR for $400 or less, depending on if you buy new, or used.. Here's an example of a shot taken with a zoom lens.

[cinderbird]

firstly, it is the PHOTOGRAPHER, not the CAMERA.

Give an amazing photographer a terrible camera -- you'll get great images. (Along with a ton of terrible ones).

Give a novice an amazing camera -- you might get lucky with a few shots, but you'll end up with a ton of terrible images.

You need to understand how the picture making process works in order to make better pictures. You need light and a lot of it. Macro modes, on point and shoots, in my opinion are worthless. (keep in mind, i am an actual photographer, but i do not shoot with point and shoots any longer). You need to be able to get within a certain distance (3 inches or less) from your subject and have the camera system be able to focus. If your camera can't focus, you cant get a good picture.

I would highly suggest a tripod and a still subject. shooting macro of corn snakes is a difficult challenge unless your animal is sleeping.

A lot of macro images suffer from terrible camera shake . the system need to be locked down - no moving of the camera, no moving of you, no moving of the subject, no moving of the BUILDING YOU ARE IN -- your camera will pick up vibrations that travel through the building through you! Use the self timer. but your subject can't be moving.

I've shot hundreds of images of snakes. Most of them are not classic macro type shots. Always use a flash if you can't get natural light. Pop up flashes are useless as well they create terrible shadows and bad light.

i apologize if this sounds snippy, im tired and cramming for finals.

If you have any questions i can see if i can answer them, i think i have a few back logged threads where i give photo advice.

[littleindiangirl]

I 95% disagree.

When I first bought my Digital Rebel, the freakin AUTO on this thing was an entire league beyond my "better than other P&S" cameras. I was seriously in complete awe of the difference in the picture quality, both canon, and this one being just a step up from my first.

Point and shoots are so terrible for white balance, (where you often dont have the choice), no manual focus, terrible noise... When you use the flash, the pictures look like crap, and when you don't use flash the pictures are too dark and look like crap.


So yes, if you want to start taking better pictures today, upgrading your camera to an SLR is the best step. Then learn how to use the manual settings on your camera. It's how I roll.

I may not take the best pics all the time, it is certainly variable, but like many here have said, taking pics of animals is often about taking 20 shots, and getting maybe 5 good ones.