PART 2 FOCUSING AND SHARPNESS
Master the challenges of macro’s reduced depth of field
PRO SHOT
Rosemary Beetle
Discover insect subjects in your own back garden, such as this Rosemary Beetle on a forget-me-not flower.
For many, the biggest challenge of macro is the small depth of
field. Due to the magnification involved, it can be in the order of millimetres – or even less. This makes it hard to get much of the subject sharp, despite the subject itself being so small.
Focusing
Many people only use manual focus in macro, but autofocus can work, too, if the camera and lens are good enough. I usually use AF when stalking and MF when using a tripod (when the insect is inactive). In MF, to ensure the subject is properly focused, I find it easiest to use Live View and zoom in as far as possible so that I can check the sharpness.