White iris

[Akira]

D750, Nikkor-O 55/1.2

[Jakov Minić]

Not good, you got some parts in focus   

[Akira]

Not good, you got some parts in focus   

Thank you, sir!  I will try hard to improve my technique!  I think using a tripod was a wrong decision...

[Jakov Minić]

I am not a close-up exert and nobody should listen to me.
I just want to share that I have NEVER used a tripod for close-ups

[Akira]

Jakov, I took your comment as nice humor and responded as such.   

The problem for me when I do the closeup is that my body is shakey, which makes it extremely difficult to keep the focal point.  I had the same problem when I tried AF-S105/1.4E wide open at closer distances. 

When I shot film, I never used or had any tripod.  But after I had purchased my firs DSLR (D2H), and the digital had started to encourage me to experiment, I realized the advantages of tripods.

[Jakov Minić]

Dear Akira, I understood your humorous response and continued so
Have you tried shooting in continuous mode? That is what I doo when shooting these fast lenses. I don't move the focus ring, just my neck back and forward

[Akira]

Dear Jakov, yes, recently I shoot in AF-C mode which does improve the focus issue.

But, so long as I shoot with this lovely Nikkor-O a.k.a. CRT-Nikkor, any AF modes make no sense.   

The focus issue is fully up to the photographer when handheld.   

[golunvolo]

Akira, I personally don´t understand the image but I enjoy very much the harmonics greens, white, greens, white of the flower parts and background.

  As I don´t use tripods -I have one dough- out of  the theater and I´m using some manual focus lenses lately I can relate to your situation. My latest solution is to use a slow rocking movement as a meaning of "human focusing rail"  with a rapid and short 2-3 shot succession and hope for the best. 

  Is that too bad? 

[elsa hoffmann]

.....
Have you tried shooting in continuous mode? That is what I doo when shooting these fast lenses. I don't move the focus ring, just my neck back and forward

hahahaha ya I have noticed.

Akira - interesting....

[Akira]

Akira, I personally don´t understand the image but I enjoy very much the harmonics greens, white, greens, white of the flower parts and background.

  As I don´t use tripods -I have one dough- out of  the theater and I´m using some manual focus lenses lately I can relate to your situation. My latest solution is to use a slow rocking movement as a meaning of "human focusing rail"  with a rapid and short 2-3 shot succession and hope for the best. 

  Is that too bad? 

Paco, this image can rather be an abstraction of this little beauty, successful or not.     So, I'm glad you at least enjoy it.

Generally I also use the body-rocking method for the closeups, but my body movement is not well controlled as to keep the subject in focus.   

[Akira]

Akira - interesting....

Elsa, thanks for dropping in on!

[David H. Hartman]

Generally I also use the body-rocking method for the closeups, but my body movement is not well controlled as to keep the subject in focus.   

With a 105/2.8 AIS Micro I try to time my movement and trip the shutter an instant before the image will be in focus. I used that technique here...



With my AF-S 105/2.8G ED-IF VR, etc. I often hold down the AF-ON button with the camera set to AF-C. I take a lot of shots...



These are all in a friend's garden and all for Facebook which she no longer updates. It's for a foundation that is foundering.

In a well kept garden one can't step in the beds as that compacts the soil.

Dave Hartman