How to use the Macro Mode on your camera

For far too long instructables has been suffering from people who continuously take blurry out of focus pictures. Well I aim to put an end to this. In this instructable I will show you how to use the macro setting on cameras from most manufacturers.

Step 1 The difference

All cameras are preset to take distence pictures, but most also allow you to take close-up shots. This is the difference. These pictures were taken with the same camera at the same distance with the same zoom. The first one was without macro and the second one is with macro.

Comments

[awkrin]

good job telling us what the macro is for. I have a fuji film a700 with a broken display. it was in the car for a few days and it probably got we due to temperature changes. it works fine, and I can see the pics on the tv. is there any way to replace the display, or is it just not worth trying to and I should just buy another one?

[masterochicken]

There are some websites out there that sell replacement LCDs for electronic devices. I hear they are pretty cheap.

[ultrauber]

I don't think a tripod is neccesary. If you have one on hand, then by all means, use it, but you can just sat on a table next to the object, or balance it on your knee.

[ledzep567]

you dont need a tripod...
well, atleast not if you shoot rifles at long range(100-500 yards)

(practice holding steady...)

[rimar2000]

Or you can see http://www.instructables.com/id/EI993Q6GW2ETOMKW3V/

[icanryme2002]

Well i didn't know about that instructable because is searched macro mode and nothing came up and thats not even using the macro mode in the first place. most cameras have a macro setting so you don't need to use glasses to focus.

[rimar2000]

My previous camera didn't have way macro, for that reason I had to manage them to take out pictures closely. BTW: icanryme2002 and rimar2000 they are quite similar. Do you maybe make poetry? I made the (modestly) better and more complete existent dictionary of rhymes in Castilian (Spanish). It almost gives 5700000 words.

[icanryme2002]

I don't even know what you are talking about I don't even speak Mexican or Castilian Spanish.

[Tool Using Animal]

or this http://www.instructables.com/id/EREFVJIHC1EQHO9ZEU/
and this
http://www.instructables.com/id/EM4CZJQFPOEUOJJTXU/

;-)

[rimar2000]

Yes, those they are more professional. Mine is more appropriate for the third world...

[Mr. Rig It]

Way to go! Why is it so very easy for others to criticize, but harder for some people to give complements? Instead of complaining about others pictures you have made an instructable to show others how to fix their own pictures. Yes there may be others out there who have done this same thing, however you have shown a really good leadership skill with this one. This is what I like to see. Keep up the good work.

[dchall8]

Instead of taking a minute and suggesting that an offending Instructable writer do some research to learn how to take better pictures, icanryme2002 spent several hours developing a new Instructable. This explains why people find easier to criticize. And I know I'm sounding critical of you (chowdeshell), but I'm trying to be explanatory. From what has been said here, there are many Instructables on the topic of how to make better Instructables. In fact, there are volumes and volumes and entire college courses (if not curricula) written on how to do technical writing. It really doesn't matter how much more gets written. There will be more people not reading the how-to Instructables before they post.

[Mr. Rig It]

Dchall8, I guess I am kind of confused at what you are saying. I think you are trying to answer my question, but just so you know I was not criticizing him(or her). Yes I agree there are others that will not read them even if more are made. Perhaps icanryme2002 insulted others about their blurry photos, I don't know if he did or not. No this one instructable is "not an end all be all" However, I could read one persons instructable on the same topic and not understand it at all, but if I read another persons on the same topic and I understand what and how they did it through their style of writing, then the job is done. I have learned. I will bet that in the future icanryme2002 photos will not be blurry because it is obviously important to him to publish quality photos. I have had a lot of technical writing courses, I think I can write a decent technical instruction. I think the people who will read mine will remember me and come back to check for more. There are people who check for the "how to" instructables in oder to make theirs better. I could write 10 instructable "how tos" and they would all be different. Plus just because an instructable is written and published doesn't mean it is complete, I have yet to see one instuctable that cannot be improved upon. But a little praise goes along way.

[Subvert]

Another good thing about this instructable is that now when you see a blurry-shouldabeen-a-macro photo, you can unemotionally whiz a link to this one on the blurry instructable and help someone out.

[Mr. Rig It]

Absolutely.

[bastardblaster]

A tripod helps IMMENSLY. a few other things that help if you cant do that is to reduce the expose time as much as possible so that it only gets a little motion in that time frame instead of a lot. one way to do this is to set the ISO level as high as possible, though this can increase a grainy effect if you use the highest (often 1600) setting on a lot of cameras. also set your Av as low as possible (2.8 is common) and you wont have to keep the shutter open as long.

[Subvert]

Yeah, and a little bit of supplementary side lighting can be nice too. I've got a bright ass, but cheap, halogen shop light that'd probably be useful like this. Then there could be a discussion about white balance too!

[Spectrace]

awesome instructable, as i have just read about 3-6 instructables with "crappy" pictures. the tripod is a great idea. what i found with my camera (Canon Powershot A520) is if i need to take quick clos(er) up pictures, i set the wheel to Action mode, then i sometimes do macro, it reduces blur even more cause of quick shutter, but i usually just zoom in a bit. One thing i sometimes forget though is turn off the flash, because in action mode the flash is always on.

[Subvert]

Hey, you could also combine that with the multiple shots/continuous shot feature of some cameras. That'd be helpful with camera shake from just taking the shot too. Just pick the best one that comes out.

[DanYHKim]

I find that the act of pressing the "shutter" button on the camera displaces the camera by a small amount, sometimes resulting in a blurred picture. Since digital cameras do not have remote shutter control fixtures, I find that a timed shot can give me a steadier picture, since I can concentrate on holding the camera steady when the shot is taken. Alternatively, my camera has a function where it takes a series of four shots in succession. I use this setting to let the camera take timed shots while I hold it steady after pressing the button.

[paulm]

YES! Finally! Now people can understand the mystical properties and fix their promised "better pictures"

[FrenchCrawler]

Unfortunately, my camera (and probably others') doesn't have macro or any other special features. I have a D'zign DZ-320 which takes 3.2 MP pictures (I got it off of eBay for about $20). I found the best way for a camera without a macro setting is to use a cover with a pinhole in it over the lens (I made one using a black film canister cover and a pin) without spending more money then the camera's worth.

[zachninme]

I like that idea. I might try it out. I have a Sony (*shivers*): DSC-P32. It takes 3.2 MP pictures as well. I've had it passed down when my parents upgraded, its about 5 years old. Back when they shipped with 16MB sticks and 256MB sticks were very fancy.

[Sadam and Osama]

cool, i figured out how to use it through experimentation! =D

[icanryme2002]

i know that some people have made attachments for their cameras so they can take close up shots but my way is easy and free.

[chalky]

nice work there simple,clear and precise thanks for this, by the way i like your cool tripod.

[Trainwr3k]

Cool tutorial, I knew most of it but I'm sure alot of people dont'.

[Forgot_Password]

If your using a tripod for still shots you should definitely be using the 2 second timer option. It allows you to get your hands free of the camera and the tripod to stop wobbling (par for the course with a lot of cheap tripod setups) before the picture is taken.

[tiuk]

If you don't have a tripod, set the camera on a book, or a bag of flour. Even just bracing your elbows against the table to keep your arms steady is better than nothing.

[ll.13]

Pretty good. Also ( I don't know if you mentioned this) if your camera uses flash when on macro setting quite often it's an overkill and the picture is just as bad as with no macro, I would use an external light source, such as a lamp, or torch when using macro.