5D Mk IV – EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro – MT 24-EX TwinLite – 1/200, f/32, ISO 100, Spot Meter

You’ve seen this guy before, notably on Day 229. That picture was a focus stacked image; this is not. This PotD is not that good of a macro shot. I say this to demonstrate a point. It was taken at f/32, the aperture giving that lens the greatest depth of field. The lens was about 8 inches from the cicada – about the minimum distance allowed. With macro, even at very small apertures, you can see that the image is not as sharp as it could be. The focus point is on the eye, but as you move further from the eye, softness sets in.

Remember when I said I was evaluating a few focus stacking programs? Well today, I purchased the one I liked best, Zerene Stacker. I will be using it more in the future. So, if anyone has a good macro photo idea, let me know.