Olympus C-4000Z Super-Macro, white-balance, spot-metering and exposure-locking

The thumbnails are links to scaled versions of each photo, saved at a jpeg compression of 75%. The EXIF filenames are links to the original images, as copied from the camera.

Note that I'm currently using only "HQ" mode, as I'm still working with the original 16MB card that came with the camera.

The lighting is an inexpensive incandescent workstation lamp with a 40W bulb in it, aimed toward the subject and about 6-8 inches away. I got as close to the frog as I could without the camera lens throwing a shadow across the target. (You can see the shadow in the lower-right corner of some of the images.)


This one was my first take. Just plain old "P" mode. No special settings, other than to put the C-4000Z in "Super-Macro" mode.

EXIF info...

File name    : P1130002.JPG
File size    : 689719 bytes
File date    : 2003:01:12 15:52:58
Camera make  : OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTD
Camera model : C4100Z,C4000Z
Date/Time    : 2002:01:13 14:47:03
Resolution   : 2288 x 1712
Flash used   : No
Focal length :  9.1mm
Exposure time: 0.050 s  (1/20)
Aperture     : f/2.8
ISO equiv.   : 200
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure     : program (auto)
Jpeg Quality : normal
Jpeg process : Baseline


For this one, I employed "one-touch white balance." You can see that Froggy's colour is a bit more what it should be. Froggy is made of silver and is rather, ahem, tarnished these days.

EXIF Info...

File name    : P1130004.JPG
File size    : 724232 bytes
File date    : 2003:01:12 15:52:58
Camera make  : OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTD
Camera model : C4100Z,C4000Z
Date/Time    : 2002:01:13 14:58:49
Resolution   : 2288 x 1712
Flash used   : No
Focal length :  9.1mm
Exposure time: 0.067 s  (1/15)
Aperture     : f/2.8
ISO equiv.   : 200
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure     : program (auto)
Jpeg Quality : normal
Jpeg process : Baseline

It occurred to me, following the above two pictures, that it might be helpful to know Froggy's size. And maybe use a background against which the frog would stand out a bit better. Otherwise, no changes from the previous image.

Note that the frog's colour is even a bit more true than in the previous image. I imagine that's due to the decreased influence of the surrounding table-top.

The reason I felt Froggy's size would be of interest is the apparent blurriness of much of the image. But as the measurement tape clearly shows: this isn't due to camera shake, but rather is a depth-of-field issue. Note that even tho this is a hand-held shot, only in "HQ" mode, you can clearly see the minor imperfections in the measuring tape.

As you can see: the frog's length is about 1.5cm. His height is about 1cm.

EXIF Info...

File name    : P1130009.JPG
File size    : 561472 bytes
File date    : 2003:01:12 15:52:58
Camera make  : OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTD
Camera model : C4100Z,C4000Z
Date/Time    : 2002:01:13 15:23:43
Resolution   : 2288 x 1712
Flash used   : No
Focal length :  9.1mm
Exposure time: 0.033 s  (1/30)
Aperture     : f/2.8
ISO equiv.   : 200
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure     : program (auto)
Jpeg Quality : normal
Jpeg process : Baseline


Okay, now I'm starting to get a bit serious :).

It occurred to me that some of the blurriness might be "blow-out" So this time I set the camera to spot metering and did an exposure lock on the tip of Froggy's nose (or as close as I could come to it). Note the increased detail due to decreased blow-out of the highlights. it)

EXIF Info...

File name    : P1130012.JPG
File size    : 508483 bytes
File date    : 2003:01:12 15:52:59
Camera make  : OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTD
Camera model : C4100Z,C4000Z
Date/Time    : 2002:01:13 15:33:14
Resolution   : 2288 x 1712
Flash used   : No
Focal length :  9.1mm
Exposure time: 0.020 s  (1/50)
Aperture     : f/2.8
ISO equiv.   : 152
Metering Mode: spot
Exposure     : program (auto)
Jpeg Quality : normal
Jpeg process : Baseline


All of the other examples were chosen for a combination of being the best shots I had taken and for being about the same size as one another. This one is where I got extra close. Settings the same as above.

EXIF Info...

File name    : P1130011.JPG
File size    : 538962 bytes
File date    : 2003:01:12 15:52:59
Camera make  : OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTD
Camera model : C4100Z,C4000Z
Date/Time    : 2002:01:13 15:32:12
Resolution   : 2288 x 1712
Flash used   : No
Focal length :  9.1mm
Exposure time: 0.033 s  (1/30)
Aperture     : f/2.8
ISO equiv.   : 200
Metering Mode: spot
Exposure     : program (auto)
Jpeg Quality : normal
Jpeg process : Baseline


This is probably the best of the lot. Taken a bit further away than the others.

EXIF Info...

File name    : P1130010.JPG
File size    : 506164 bytes
File date    : 2003:01:12 15:52:58
Camera make  : OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTD
Camera model : C4100Z,C4000Z
Date/Time    : 2002:01:13 15:30:44
Resolution   : 2288 x 1712
Flash used   : No
Focal length :  9.1mm
Exposure time: 0.020 s  (1/50)
Aperture     : f/2.8
ISO equiv.   : 174
Metering Mode: spot
Exposure     : program (auto)
Jpeg Quality : normal
Jpeg process : Baseline

Froggy, btw, is solid silver, hand-made by my wife. When we were dating, I once gave her a nice necklace. I got Froggy in return. And my wife-to-be :).