Photos from the D3200

[brads]

Okay for comparison sake I promised a look at the 2 lenses. Hopefully this will show people the difference between the wide angle lens and the WIDE angle lens. Pic 1 is using the Nikkor 18-200mm set at it's widest. Pic 2 is using the Tokina 11-16mm set at it's widest. Both shot from the same spot on a tripod. Went to the local park, which is less than thrilling but here they are, nevertheless. Cheers, Brad

 

[marce]

Hi Brad,
I would be interested in your thoughts on the Tokina. I tried the Tamron 10-24 on my D3200, but was not happy with the results, and cant afford the Nikkor lens.
Cheers
Marc

 

[brads]

Hi Brad,
I would be interested in your thoughts on the Tokina. I tried the Tamron 10-24 on my D3200, but was not happy with the results, and cant afford the Nikkor lens.
Cheers
Marc

Hi Marc. I was surprised how wide the lens was. No problems getting everything in that you want to see. Now, mine ISN'T auto focus (and herein lays my beginner knowledge) but I assume with something that wide, you're probably going to use it at it's maximum focal length, or close to. So, auto focus shouldn't be a problem. Awful, dreary weather in Melbourne makes it difficult to judge but the wider lens was probably one stop darker than the Nikkor lens. There will be more experiments and I shall report back. By the way, I paid $540 AUD for the lens ₤312 pounds sterling or $486 US dollars) Cheers, Brad
​

 

[brads]

First attempt at image stacking. Pretty lousy but I'll keep at it. Interesting process. Cheers, Brad

View attachment 48495

And here is my next attempt at image stacking. This time I took 25 photos using a bounced flash with the 40mm Nikkor lens. Much happier. Cheers, Brad

 

[Jillspinsaround]

And here is my next attempt at image stacking. This time I took 25 photos using a bounced flash with the 40mm Nikkor lens. Much happier. Cheers, Brad

So Brad,how long did this take you? I haven't tried stacking yet because I see myself staying up till 2 in the morning trying to get it just right. Nice pic. Btw, I looked at your website and I feel like I know you now. Awesome creative makeup, of which I know absolutely nothing about.

 

[Jillspinsaround]

I was at Walmart and passed the bubble guns. I couldn't resist. These were taken outside with a black drape hung on a clothesline. Some of them could clearer but I'm satisfied since I'd never done this before.

 

[brads]

So Brad,how long did this take you? I haven't tried stacking yet because I see myself staying up till 2 in the morning trying to get it just right. Nice pic. Btw, I looked at your website and I feel like I know you now. Awesome creative makeup, of which I know absolutely nothing about.

Jill (I hope your name is Jill?) it was easier than expected. Get your exposures right with a couple of trial shots, then start the event. Everyone says to use manual focus but I screwed up last time I used manual focus. So this time I shot auto and started with the little green square (focus point?) at the bottom of the live view window. After each exposure I'd move the focus point up 3 clicks. I ended up with about 25 exposures.

The photos took no time at all. Maybe 15 minutes? We have LED lighting inside the house plus I used a flash bounced off the ceiling. Just the ordinary flash SB400 pointed toward ceiling. Then the time taken in Photoshop can be a while, depending how picky you want to be. I guess I spent about an hour on Photoshop fiddling and 'getting it right'. If you're shooting a product shot, you're going to be shooting RAW files and this would take a great deal longer. I shot in .jpg.

One of the demos on YouTube show a guy shooting on the beach. He wanted foreground shells, midpoint waves and endpoint pier all to be in focus so he image stacked. But he only used 3 images. Seemed to work but I'm fairly sure you'd need a lot more images to get a 'ping' from the pic.

Glad you liked the website. It was mainly a learning curve for me to teach myself web pages. Another world altogether! Cheers, Brad PS. This was the original exposure before adjusting for lighting etc. I hope you'll have a go at it.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

And here is my next attempt at image stacking. This time I took 25 photos using a bounced flash with the 40mm Nikkor lens. Much happier. Cheers, Brad

View attachment 49150

For those with a PC there is a computer program (free) that will totally automate the process of focus and shooting. I know the D3100 and D5100 are supported so I would bet the D3200 would work also. Once you set that far focus and the near focus you tell it how many shots you want it to take the push go and let it go. Then you go into your post processing as normal. It is fun to watch it.

http://digicamcontrol.com/

 

[marce]

That software looks interesting, has anyone tried it on a D3200?
For focus stacking I use the calculators on this page:
Macro Camera Lenses
I calculate the depth of field I will get for each shot at the magnification I am using, then measure the total depth of field I require. Dividing the total by the DoF gives me the number of shots I require (Reduce DoF by 25-40% to allow overlap of in focus areas) then I use a focus rail (cheap ebay one, after a Velbin next) and take the required number of shots at the chosen step distance...

 

[Jillspinsaround]

Glad you liked the website. It was mainly a learning curve for me to teach myself web pages. Another world altogether! Cheers, Brad PS. This was the original exposure before adjusting for lighting etc. I hope you'll have a go at it.
View attachment 49249[/QUOTE]

There is an incredible difference between your two photos. It looks like it's well worth the planning & time it takes. Your info was helpful. Thanks. Eventually I'll give it a try.

 

[marce]

Oh loved the bubbles, must try that one day.
What software are you all using for your focus stacking? I tried Zerene and Helicon, and to be honest couldn't decide on which to go with.
I have found with focus stacking planning is paramount, and patience, some close-ups I tried required up to 60 shots, going back an examining them after the last few posts, I have notices little fuzzy stripes where I didn't get the shot sequence right. I prefer doing non macro focus stacks where you have more depth of field to play with and your steps don't have to be as precise as they do with macro.
As per usual its an almost shot, I was so involved in shooting I didn't notice the damaged petal until it was on screen so no cigar...

 

[brads]

Winter is finally coming to a close in Melbourne, Australia. Although it's very mild compared with what a lot of you have to put up with. No snow here! But a bit of warmth in the air means the garden starts to come to life. I used the 18-200 Nikkor lens here. Closest focal point. This is a tree peony rose. Cheers, Brad

 

[marce]

Winter, isn't that when you lot just have two barbies a week It would be nice if we got a proper winter instead of endless rain.
Was that a focus stack or just a narrow aperture? That would make an interesting backlit shot, the petals look thin.

 

[brads]

Winter, isn't that when you lot just have two barbies a week It would be nice if we got a proper winter instead of endless rain.
Was that a focus stack or just a narrow aperture? That would make an interesting backlit shot, the petals look thin.

Aren't we crazy the way we love barbecues? First day of Spring on Sunday so it's clean up the barbie day.

Yes, the petals on the tree peony are paper thin but this was taken in situ. Laying on my belly in the front garden! Interesting that none of the neighbours rushed in to see if I needed help. Hmph.

There may be a couple more tree peonies later on. They vary in their bloom times. Cheers, Brad
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[brads]

My Phalaenopsis orchid is opening a couple more flowers. Giving me the chance to shoot it. Indoors, LED lighting and some daylight. ISO 800 Exp Compensation +0.3. Cheers, Brad

 

[brads]

Well, I tried to photograph my chooks but boy, they're difficult! Cheers, Brad

 

[brads]

Rather amusing pic of my cat 'Dusty' doing a "What're you lookin' at?" pose. She is, in fact, petrified of the chooks. I used the 18-55 kit lens for these. Cheers, Brad

 

[brads]

A succulent that flowers only in the full sun. Amazing colour. I used the kit lens 18-55mm. Cheers, Brad

 

[marce]

Brad, its just jealousy on my part, I would love to live where the weather allowed a more outdoor life...
That cat does not look happy, if looks could kill
Nice flowers, I find red-orange-yellow flowers can be quite challenging to shoot.
Here's a few more flower shots, looking through my library I do seem to have a few.
Keep Shooting.
Marc

 

[sOnIc]

Hey there, some great flower pics here : ) I'm just getting used to my new D3200, and also the latest version of Photoshop with it's wonderful raw import and cropping tools etc. Shooting at 24mp gives an overwhelming amount of cropping options, I'm finding that opening the print dialogue; or viewing on mobile phone; is accidentally suggesting some great alternative crops that I would not have thought of myself! Also for this pink shot, and for the first time, I've used the RAW dialogue's ND gradient filters to darken the perimeter, very clever tools those are since its using exposure compensation. Any comments or suggestions? TY