The first problem we need to look at is, how close the lens will focus. Lenses have a minimum focus distance which varies considerably from lens to lens, some longer zoom lenses have a 'macro' setting and will focus quite close but most lenses will not focus close enough to take the picture on the right.
Photography is an amazing way to frame the unique world we see around us. Macro, or ‘close up’ photography offers us with a new perspective and allows us to get right up close and see the smaller world in detailed ways that our eyes cannot.
The most common complaints we hear from most photographers of any experience level is "my images aren't sharp", and "I can't get my focus to lock". Most want to blame their equipment and, while there are many instances that equipment is to blame, we have found a vast majority are just simple user error. This is often down to a lack of understanding of how an autofocus (AF) system works. This tutorial will give you a better understanding of focus and sharpness, and hopefully help you take photographs that you're very happy with!
Digital Cameras present photographers with an ever increasing array of Automatic and Semi Automatic shooting modes. Most of these center around different ways of exposing your shots – however many cameras also give options for different focusing modes (auto, continuous focusing for moving subjects and manual).
It’s no wonder then that many photographers never make use of their camera and lens’ ability to focus manually. In fact this week I spoke with one DSLR owner recently who hadn’t even noticed the manual/auto focus switch on the side of his lens.
Here's a short guide to shooting several photographs to make an ultra sharp close focus shot. We will explain how to shoot, and then what software will combine the shots to give you ultra sharp results.