DSLRUsers.com

Took these with the kit lens with one 20MM extension tube.

Not macros but reasonbly close up.
The result is not as good as I had hoped for, though the 2nd one seems nice and sharp.

More experimentation required

Good effort Mark, I think the second one looks sharper because of the texture and colouring.

Bob.

.

Great effort for the kit lens mark. Nice framing what plugins did you use?
cheers
marco

Lovely shots Mark. I agree that the colouring in the second one probably makes it look a little sharper. The blue tends to oversaturate and dominate a little in the first shot and because of the contrasting colours the shallow DOF is more apparent than in the second. To my eye, this effect makes shot 1 look a little softer when, in reality, it's probably just as crisp.

Nice job though.

Thanks folks.

Bob and Simon, I think you are spot on with your comments. The more closely I look at both the shots there is really little difference in the sharpness. It is just the colours creating a different appearance.

Marco, it is a neat little action that sharpens, resizes and frames in one hit (you can adjust the sizing and sharpening to suit). I like it because once I have finished cropping adjusting or whatever, I just run the action and the shot is web ready.
Can't remember where I got it but it was a freebie. PM your email and I'll send it to you if you like.

Being new to this macro stuff Mark I was just wondering if you could post your shooting info and what set up you use (flash, tripod head etc)
many thanx
R2

Hi R2,

The yellow flower was taken on a Manfrotto Tripod (fairly standard 3 way head)

1/160s at f/20

20mm Triplus extension tube.

The blue flower was 1/25s at f/9.0

No flash (batteries were flat ) but would have normally used to soften the shadows.

Both were with the Nikon kit lens at 70MM.

nice pix's....... but give then a bit more saturation and watch them pop........

thanks Mark

I'll have another go this weekend. Great to see what is possible with the kits lens when used correctly.

cheers R2