Tag Archives: sharpness

Supplementary lenses and stacking (part B). PHD

Posted on June 8, 2010 by paulhd

I decided to split this post into two parts when it began to grow a bit unwieldy. There is quite a bit of detail included, for one of the intentions in creating this series of “Macro Matters” is to provide … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged formula, magnification, resolution, reversing lenses, sharpness, stacking, supplementary lenses | Leave a comment

Ways of getting really close. PHD

Posted on March 20, 2010 by paulhd

Here begins a series of posts on a subject area that fascinates me because the supply of images and opportunities is endless. This is the realm of what is sometimes called ‘true macro’ from life-size magnification up to around 20-25 … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged coupling lenses, DX format, Leitz Photars, macro lighting, Olympus bellows macro lens, reversing lenses, sharpness, wide-angle macro, Zeiss Luminars, Zeiss Tessovar | 5 Comments

At the sharp end of things. PHD

Posted on January 27, 2010 by paulhd

Do you ever get the impression that some magazine editors seem obsessed with the idea that photographs are somehow only ‘creative’ if insects and flowers are depicted out of focus and ‘innovative’ if composition is decidedly poor? Many of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment | Tagged Brian Sewell, competition, coupled lenses, creativity, David Bailey, Limodorum trabutianum, microscope, orchid, Picasso, reversed lenses, sharpness, Sue Bishop | Leave a comment

Macro Matters: my current favourite – the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX IF HSM macro. PHD.

Posted on December 3, 2009 by paulhd

Today’s so-called ‘macro’ lenses are astonishing in the resolution and contrast they offer and can do far more than most people ask them of them. Whether you choose one of the big names, or an independent, you’ll get the kind … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged bokeh, close-up, macro, Nikon R1C1 macro flash, Paul Harcourt Davies, sharpness, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX IF HSM macro, tripod mount ring | Leave a comment

Macro – bloggery…posting now. PHD

Posted on November 21, 2009 by paulhd

A great deal has been written on macro – I know, I have penned (or fingered) quite a bit of it in books and articles. Sadly, old chestnuts are still regurgitated and sometimes there is a very flimsy understanding of what contributes to resolution, what is sharpness, how do you get it, how can you control depth of field for artistic control…what lenses to use, and so on. It is not hard to get great results – a bit of thought, work and practice and you can forget about the technical stuff and just concentrate on creating images and extending your vision.
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Posted in Articles | Tagged 10mm rectilinear wide-angle, 150mm macro, Clay Bolt, close-up, feedback, high resolution LCD, macro, resolution, sharpness, Sigma | 2 Comments