Macro with the Samsung NX10

Samsung Electronics has provided the author of this article with the mentioned digital imaging device.

Did you know you could also combine macro filters with your Samsung NX10 set? Macro filters, or sometimes called close-up filters, are a cheap way to take photos at a very short distance. You are so close that you need to be careful not to hit your subject with the lens!

A real macro lens costs a lot of money, but a macro filter is cheap and the results are pretty acceptable. One thing you need to be careful of is the size of the filters since not every lens has the same diameter. To see what filter diameter your lens has, you can look at the front of the lens or sometimes on the side. It should be indicated there with a diameter symbol followed by a number in millimeters. Usually it’s around 50mm. The Samsung Zoom Lens 1:3.5-5.6 18-55mm has a filter diameter of 58mm and the pancake 1:2 30mm lens has one of 43mm.

Samsung NX10 │ 1/3s │ f5.6 │ 55.0mm │ ISO 800

So when you buy a macro filter or a set of macro filters, make sure the diameter is the same as your lens! You can find these filters in most advanced camera shops or online.

Once you have them, you simply screw them on the front of your lens and viola, you’re good to go! It’s best to put the Samsung NX10 in manual focusing mode, because the depth of field can get very shallow with these filters, especially when you combine a few of them on top of each other. That’s right: you can screw a macro filter onto… another macro filter! Your lens might become very long though…

Samsung NX10 │ 1/3000s │ f3.8 │ 30.0mm │ ISO 400

Now it’s time to find some tiny objects to shoot. I walked around the house and garden and took the photos you can see below. Have fun!

Samsung NX10 │ 1/4s │ f5.6 │ 55.0mm │ ISO 800

Samsung NX10 │ 1/8s │ f5.6 │ 55.0mm │ ISO 800

Samsung NX10 │ 1/15s │ f5.6 │ 55.0mm │ ISO 400

Samsung NX10 │ 1/40s │ f5.6 │ 55.0mm │ ISO 400

Samsung NX10 │ 1/6s │ f22.0 │ 55.0mm │ ISO 800

Samsung NX10 │ 1/180s │ f4.3 │ 30.0mm │ ISO 100

Samsung NX10 │ 1/45s │ f5.0 │ 45.0mm │ ISO 100

Samsung NX10 │ 1/100s │ f5.6 │ 55.0mm │ ISO 100

Gion Matsuri festival in Kyoto

In July, I’ve travelled to Japan with my girlfriend. On our three weeks trip we saw many amazing sights and experienced the Japanese way of living. It was a treat to our eyes and cameras. In this blog entry I would like to share with you some photos of the Gion Matsuri festival in Kyoto. 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/180s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 3200 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/250s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 3200   

Samsung NX10 │ 1/125s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 3200 

This annual festival is one of the many popular festivals in Japan. Beforehand, a lot of people warned us that it would be very very crowded, but due to all of our big music festivals in Belgium, we felt prepared. 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/90s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/180s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/250s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/60s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/50s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/50s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/60s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/125s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

What we saw was something quite different though. The Japanese people who seemed (with all respect) quite modest, closed and calm turned into wild party animals during the consecutive celebration nights. 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/250s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/350s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/180s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/80s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/100s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/125s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

A lot of them dressed up, most of them in traditional kimono, but we bumped into a lot of silly costumes as well.

Samsung NX10 │ 1/320s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 3200 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/160s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 3200

Samsung NX10 │ 1/2s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 100

Samsung NX10 │ 1/250s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

The main attraction of the nights we visited seemed to be a group of Shinto followers carrying a mikoshi (a portable shrine) on their shoulders, jumping up and down and shouting. It created a very energetic atmosphere. 

Samsung NX10 │ 1/40s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/50s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/200s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 1600

Samsung NX10 │ 1/125s │ f2.0 │ 30mm │ ISO 3200

Despite the beautiful decorations, the streets were dark. Too dark for most cameras perhaps, so I didn’t have to think long which camera to bring. I took the NX10 because of its ISO 1600 and 3200 setting in combination with the pancake f2 lens. The results were a bit grainy, but after all these are high ISO values. In my opinion, this grain doesn’t bother and I like the quality, especially when you think of the size and weight of this camera. 

All photos, above, may not otherwise be reproduced, distributed, cropped, re sized, or otherwise altered without the written permission of the contributor. All photos represent the sole opinion of their individual authors and contributors and don’t express the opinion of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsungimaging.net or the opinion of any affiliates unless specifically marked as such. All photos, above, have been shot with the Samsung NX10, which has been provided by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. In order to become an official SamsungImaging.net blogger, please click here