Oecobius sp. (Very Small Wall Spider)

[zkogut]

Hi Guys,

I know I've posted small spiders before but this guy was really cool looking once I got the images onto the computer and I figured I'd share. It's a common Arizona Wall Spider or Oecobius sp. I took a comparison shot to show you how small he/she actually is. What do you think??

-Zak

[gregj1763]

You obviously were taking your life in your hands there Zak with a ferocious beast at such close quarters.
You have some good detail in the images with a subject so small, what lens were you using and settings etc

[Shadowman]

Nice capture.

[JBW]

I think you aced the focal point. personally I have had very poor results shooting macro on paint.

[bnnrcn]

Nice shots Zak

[zkogut]

You obviously were taking your life in your hands there Zak with a ferocious beast at such close quarters.
You have some good detail in the images with a subject so small, what lens were you using and settings etc

I used a nikon D7100, 85mm macro lens, 20 mm extension tube, sb700 flash with a soft box, settings were F/16, 1/250, iso 100.

[zkogut]

I think you aced the focal point. personally I have had very poor results shooting macro on paint.

Thanks. I find its easier to set all the focus on the lens and camera to manual and just inch my way into focus until the subject looks crisp in the lens. Hasn't failed me yet!

[ajohnw]

Thanks. I find its easier to set all the focus on the lens and camera to manual and just inch my way into focus until the subject looks crisp in the lens. Hasn't failed me yet!

Don't want to hijack the thread but Brian will probably find that this method wont work out with the gear he is using unless he also adds a highly magnified view. There just isn't enough pixels in an electronic viewfinder to show a sharp focus on the sensor. Taking a Pen for instance. I found 5x might work and that 7x did work. That's a 1.4mp viewfinder and a 12mp sensor.

I'm finding a dual approach with continuous AF is working out for me. 1st AF gets close, then move camera slightly to show some higher contrast area in the focus square as sharp as I can and then take the shot still with c..... AF so that finalises the focus. The hit rate is high and hand held camera shake probably more of a problem - that can mess the AF up too.

John
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[deetheturk]

Nice capture Zak, you have managed to get some nice detail in the images, well done bud!

[zkogut]

Don't want to hijack the thread but Brian will probably find that this method wont work out with the gear he is using unless he also adds a highly magnified view. There just isn't enough pixels in an electronic viewfinder to show a sharp focus on the sensor. Taking a Pen for instance. I found 5x might work and that 7x did work. That's a 1.4mp viewfinder and a 12mp sensor.

I'm finding a dual approach with continuous AF is working out for me. 1st AF gets close, then move camera slightly to show some higher contrast area in the focus square as sharp as I can and then take the shot still with c..... AF so that finalises the focus. The hit rate is high and hand held camera shake probably more of a problem - that can mess the AF up too.

John
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I never use the lcd screen to focus. My viewfinder has a pentaprism that shows me the image through the lens. Once I get a crisp subject I simple hit the release button. Hasn't failed me yet and I usually have 10 great shots out of 30 and I can also do focus stacks this way.