How to make good pictures of Tosogu and details

[Ludolf Richter]

Hi,for all who have a digital camera from Panasonic (Lumix-G1 or G2,I have the older G1),I want to share my experiences with a new Macro-objective.When I made detail-photos with the standard objective (i have the 14-42mm one,there is a second one on the market with 45-200mm),I was always a little bit disappointed of the sharpness and colour.Recently I heard of new objectives Panasonic has made (all for the "Micro Four Thirds Mount") and decided to buy the Leica DG Macro Elmarit with 45mm/F2.8 (with min.0.5 feet/15 cm;optical image stabilizer) for ca.Euro 720.The first results are overwhelming:extremly sharp in all details with true colours!I am going to make new pics of all my Tosogu-pieces,including details.If anybody has made similar experiences with Macro-objectives from other producers let us share!Ludolf

[rkg]

Ludof,

 

The 4/3 system isn't a bad compromise (diatribe deleted).

 

In general, fixed focal length lenses are "sharper" than zoom lenses.

 

Another suggestion is to just go with manual lenses - I believe you can buy adapters for that line of cameras so you can use other lenses on it, and you can buy some

excellent manual lenses for a song these days (though you'll need to learn to manually focus/set the exposure). you can also then reverse the lenses for some

more magnification easily as well (you can also put a reversed lens in front of your lens to magnify as well, but that can get funky...).

 

Also, if you have a lens that has poor close-up perfomance (not the case here obviously), you can also buy a dual element macro filter (like a canon 500D

or the Nikon equivalent) - I actually just use one of these when I'm traveling rather than dragging along a dedicated macro lens, but that's just me.

 

If you are going to reshoot your fittings you might want to consider the following suggestions:

 

1. If you aren't shooting in a raw data format, learn how use the custom white balance in the camera. This probably would have helped a lot with your

"color" issue with your original lens (unless you are talking about chromatic aberration problems, of course).

 

2. if you aren't changing the lighting, learn how to shoot in manual mode with the camera - the metering systems usually leave a lot

to be desired for several reasons ( systems often change exposure based on focus point/image composition, metering system in general tries to set exposure so

the "average" intensity is a neutral gray (which is why you usually have to over expose pictures of fittings shot against a white background),

etc.).

 

3. if you are doing real close ups, you might run into depth of field issues even with the 4/3 system. It is actually very helpful to shoot

"tethered" so you can look at a large computer screen to do the focusing and set the focus exactly where you want it.).

 

4. turn off (or deflect) the built-in flash and use some kind of external lighting of your choice.

 

5. get a decent tripod/head - That new (well, to me) Manfrotto unit that allows you to place the column horizontally might be good, and the base ones aren't

terribly expensive... IS is great if you're in the field shooting flowers/chasing bugs, but...

 

Good Luck with your shooting.

 

Best,

 

rkg

(Richard George)

[Ludolf Richter]

Thanks Richard,very professional thoughts!I prefer the automatic mode through the Camera and not the manual one,which had to be used with a non-4/3 objective via an adaptor.Ludolf