If you're willing to put up with it's pitfalls, it's a great starter lens and the 60mm effective focal length does offer a lesser-seen wider perspective. However, the image quality is still very good, it weights a measly 235g and is just 65mm long and it's one of the cheapest ways into true macro photography. Nikon AF-S DX 40mm f/2.8G MicroĪ cheap and cheerful addition to the list of best macro lenses for Nikon, the DX 40mm f/2.8G offers a shorter working range, no internal focusing (meaning the lens barrel extends when at shorter focusing distance), no Vibration Reduction and a rather slow autofocus system. If you're not planning an upgrade to full-frame anytime soon and don't mind an f/3.5 maximum aperture, this is a fantastic option. The internal focusing system means the barrel length remains the same, as with the 105mm above, and the 85mm f/3.5G VR Micro also boasts Extra-low Dispersion glass on the front element and 3-stop Vibration Reduction.īasically, it offers similar performance to the 105mm above, but at a smaller size and lower cost due to its DX design. It offers an equivalent focal length of around 120mm, providing a good working distance if you're trying to photograph insects or other moving subjects. The available light at those times of day will also be more flattering too.Nikon have a couple of excellent macro lenses designed specifically for DX (or cropped sensor) cameras, and this is the best of them if you ask me. Insects are more mobile in warm weather, so photograph them in the early morning or evening when it is cooler, and they will be moving slower. Placing a household item like a piece of cloth or paper behind the subject can work as a portable studio backdrop, isolating the bug against a plain background and setting it apart from its surroundings. This effect creates a dark, even background, making the subject stand out.īut if the subject and background are both brightly lit, the insect may be difficult to separate from its surroundings. Exposing for a well-lit subject, under full daylight for example, or with a fill-flash, will cause a dark background to underexpose and approach black. Low f/stops, like f/2.8 will give you a shallow depth of field, which pinpoints the focus on your subject, while the background goes out of focus.Īnother technique that nature photographers use is to position their camera so that a brightly lit subject is photographed against a dark background. Depth of field is determined by the aperture setting. ![]() Depth of field is defined as the area in front of, and behind the subject, that is in focus. The technique for getting an insect to stand out from the background is to use a shallow depth of field. For example, if the subject is dark colored, as many insects are, a lighter, out-of-focus background will make the creature stand out from its surroundings and focus the viewers' attention on it. For example, taking a photograph of a spider in its web tells a more interesting story.īackground color plays an important role in composition. Good macro photography puts the camera's focus on the eyes, legs and bodies of these bugs, and their tiny world. Insects have fascinating bodies, and one of the goals of close-up nature photography is to bring out all the color and detail of insect life. If you don't have a cable release, you can use the camera's self-timer instead.ĭepending on how close you can get, you will be able to fill the frame with the entire insect's body, or a portion of its body such as its head and antennae. This further reduces the possibility of movement. Some photographers will go the added step of locking up the mirror on their D-SLR prior to tripping the shutter. When shooting with your camera on a tripod, using a cable release to trip the shutter is the ideal shooting method. You're also going to want to use a tripod to steady the camera, especially when you're using a telephoto lens or long shutter speed. A Macro lens, (Nikon calls these lenses Micro-NIKKOR lenses) lets you photograph your subjects at near life size. ![]() Insect photography requires a macro lens that will allow you to focus very close to the subject. The first basic rule of close-up photography is to get close to the subject. Photographing insects and other small creatures can be a lot of fun, and you need venture only as far as your backyard to find a whole new world in close-up or macro photography. Other creatures, like spiders and scorpions are arthropods, but they are not considered insects. ![]() To be classified as an insect, it must have a segmented body, six legs, two antennae, compound eyes, and most likely, wings. There are more than one million known species of insects inhabiting our world, and many of these tiny creatures are right outside your door.
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