Hairy caterpillars are a challenge

[JBW]

Hairy Caterpillar: Sony Alpha a68 ~ Tamron 90mm 272E Macro Lens ~ ISO 100 ~ Shutter Speed 0.5s ~ F/16 ~ Natural Light ~ Exposure Compensation 0.0

This fellow is on a broken off unopened bamboo leaf. He is close to one inch long with thick spiky and abundant hair.

Shot in our garden/temple somewhere in the Philippines

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[JBW]

Nicely done.

it took a lot of almost right shots, am I happy to be shooting digital? yes!

[DanK]

it took a lot of almost right shots, am I happy to be shooting digital? yes!

Indeed. Macro is when my shutter count goes up. In the case of bugs, it's because I end up discarding most of the shots. I generally don't count, but I had one instance--a windy day--when I took more than 40 shots of an agapostemon bee before I got one that was properly in focus. Fortunately, she was very interested in that particular flower and stayed put while I tried over and over again. In the case of studio macro, it's because of all the images needed for stacking, which with my method always includes some wasted ones that are focused too far back (because I measure the starting point but not the ending point).

[JBW]

Indeed. Macro is when my shutter count goes up. In the case of bugs, it's because I end up discarding most of the shots. I generally don't count, but I had one instance--a windy day--when I took more than 40 shots of an agapostemon bee before I got one that was properly in focus. Fortunately, she was very interested in that particular flower and stayed put while I tried over and over again. In the case of studio macro, it's because of all the images needed for stacking, which with my method always includes some wasted ones that are focused too far back (because I measure the starting point but not the ending point).

I'll try more stacking next month after I get my focus rail and live view starter kit from TetherTools

[DanK]

I'll try more stacking next month after I get my focus rail and live view starter kit from TetherTools

You will find that it opens a lot of doors for you. There are some complications that sometimes arise in stacking, so if you have questions or problems, post them. There are several of us who have done a lot of it, so between us, we should be able to answer your questions.

[JBW]

You will find that it opens a lot of doors for you. There are some complications that sometimes arise in stacking, so if you have questions or problems, post them. There are several of us who have done a lot of it, so between us, we should be able to answer your questions.

Indeed, I shall

[rpcrowe]

I attended a very interesting seminar on Tethering presented by the TetherTools folks which is part of an ongoing series of seminars at my local camera store.

One thing that was brought out by the presenter is that using ON1 RAW instead of Lightroom speeds up the tethering process considerably. In fact, using Lightroom and a long tethering cable, an in-line booster was needed to get the speed up to par. Using On1 RAW, the in-line booster was not needed.

I am very happy using the free software supplied with Canon cameras for tethering purposes along with a standard USB-2 cable..

However, for focus stacking, IMO the ultimate ease in shooting is my 6D Mark-2 with its touch screen articulating LCD. I simply set up the camera on a tripod and frame the image the way that I desire. Then I use a stylus to touch the screen, which will focus and fire the shot at the place chosen or, I can just focus at the place chosen with the stylus and then fire the camera with a remote cord (to ensure that there is no camera shake when tripping the shutter). Using live view, the mirror is already locked up. I then simply open the series in Adobe Camera RAW do whatever PP is needed and then open the series in Photoshop and composite them into one focus stacked image. If I wanted to shoot in JPEG, I "think" (have not researched this because I don't shoot in JPEG) that the camera will combine the images into a finished focus stacked JPEG but will not retain the individual JPEG images after doing the in-camera compositing.

I really like the touch screen method of focus stacking using the 6D Mark-2. OTOH, I am glad that I do because, one of the many-many failings of this camera is that it doesn't have a USB-3 port, only the older USB-2 port. This severally limits my use of TetherTools cables. That is another inexcusable omission by Canon which combined with the many other failings has reduced the 6D2 from what would have been a really excellent camera into one that is adequate or even slightly less than adequate.

I have fabricated a very simple "Tether Tray" which holds my notebook computer and mouse at the top of an old but, sturdy, tripod which I have owned for 35 years but, no longer use for my camera. I used scrap materials for the tray and the only part that I had to buy was a 1/4 x 20 screw insert giving me a threaded mounting point. That was a total of 67 cents. I'd be happy to post a picture of this tray if you or anyone else is interesting in seeing it...

[JBW]

Go for it Richard. I need all the options that I can find

[rpcrowe]

Brian, I will shoot tomorrow...

[FootLoose]

At this scale the caterpillar looks graceful

[JBW]

At this scale the caterpillar looks graceful

and I am enjoying this scale more and more.