No Macro mode?

D

dojoman

Well-known member
Is it me or it's almost impossible to shoot pictures in macro mode? Even when I switched to macro scene mode (the one with flower icon), the camera has difficulty focusing on an object close to the lens. Is it the focus problem defect that some people were complaining or simply this camera isn't design for macro shooting? Another Panasonic camera I have has a specific button for Macro.
 
All lenses have a certain length that they cannot focus closer than (I can't remember the term for this though...)
How close is your camera to the subject? Try pulling further back and zooming in more with the lens.
Alternatively, use a macro lens or a macro filter.
 
Half a meter is the GH1 kit lens minimum distance - though I think you can zoom in all the way at that distance. With the extra zoom turned on I can get an SD card to fill 3/4 of the viewfinder in focus.
 
The zoom might be part of your problem...as 124151155 suggested, you could pull back and zoom in -- but if you're zoomed in already, you might try zooming out all the way, and then moving the lens as close as you can before it goes out of focus.
 
Macro is a function of the lens, not the camera. The point and shots have a specific focal length where they let you focus real close. True macro lenses however are fairly specialised items. I believe Panasonic is planning a 45/2.8 macro lens for the micro 4/3s format.
 
FWIW an SD card completely fills the picture on "EZ-S" full zoom, now that in the spirit of pure research I've actually gone so far as to try it.

So you could get an unpleasantly large house fly to half fill the picture - for instance.
 
dojoman said:
Is it me or it's almost impossible to shoot pictures in macro mode? Even when I switched to macro scene mode (the one with flower icon), the camera has difficulty focusing on an object close to the lens. Is it the focus problem defect that some people were complaining or simply this camera isn't design for macro shooting? Another Panasonic camera I have has a specific button for Macro.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ - check out my recent post in dpreview. I'm really happy with it's macro capability. some of these shots use a Rayno 250 attachment...check em out...

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=32522653
 
Alright guys thanks for your responses. Yeah, I think I was zooming way too much and the lens simply can't focus and I was in a low light area.
 
dojoman said:
Wow, GH1 is very capable of macro. These weren't shot with macro lens? The last picture is quite amazing.
Click to expand...

Thanks for looking and commenting...As I mentioned, I used a Raynox 250 for some, including the last...as I recall, all but the last two were just with the 14-140mm. btw, you can opt for specific macro lenses and tubes - but if youre not familiar with them, the Raynox 150 and 250 just clip on the front of the 14-140, and cost about $45 each...I'm very satified witth this solution....
 
bgig said:
Thanks for looking and commenting...As I mentioned, I used a Raynox 250 for some, including the last...as I recall, all but the last two were just with the 14-140mm. btw, you can opt for specific macro lenses and tubes - but if youre not familiar with them, the Raynox 150 and 250 just clip on the front of the 14-140, and cost about $45 each...I'm very satified witth this solution....
Click to expand...

Just picked up a 250. Surprised nobody has posted any macro video shots? That's what I plan on using mine for. ULTRA close ups :)
 
I don't like creepy crawlies. :P

I do have a Voigtlander 125/2.5 Macro. Maybe I'll mess around with it when I can think of something to shoot a macro video.
 
bgig said:
I beg to differ - check out my recent post in dpreview. I'm really happy with it's macro capability. some of these shots use a Rayno 250 attachment...check em out...

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=32522653
Click to expand...

I got the Raynox 250 and just tested it out. OMG Vignetting!!!!!!!! This is on the kit lens of course. But wow I was not expecting this. Taking videos is going to be kind of useless perhaps.

Do you have the same vignetting? Is there a way around this?
 
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