Do you often take a picture from short distance, for example take a pic of documents, text on the paper or maybe some flowers? If the answer is Yes, then read on this article because I will give you tips how to create good and clear pictures when you take macro shot… and yes, my grammar is bad 😀
For a Cell phone that doesn’t have auto focus (Fixed Focus & EDof)
The device that uses either fixed focus or EDof (Extended Depth of Field) can’t change the focus distance, hence it’s not suitable to take close distance picture (Below 15 cm / 6 inches). The example of Android phone with fixed focus camera is Samsung Galaxy Mini.
However, if in some case you need to use this type camera to take short distance photo, it is suggested that you take a picture not so close with the object. Take a picture from about 30 cm or at range where you can still look at the object clearly (even thought it looks small). After you take a picture, you can crop or zoom the captured image. The result will more clearly than if you take a picture from close distance. Besides that, never use digital zoom because it will make resulted picture quality bad.
For a mobile phone that have auto focus
Auto focus is a feature where the camera can automatically adjust the point of focus. If your phone or tablet has this feature, here are tips to take macro shots beautifully:
1. Touch the screen before you take a picture
Before you take a photo, touch at the device screen at the object image. For example, if you want to take a shot of a car image on auto show magazine, then touch the car image that displayed on your phone screen. If it supported by your phone, the camera will adjust the focus distance; after you get clear picture then click the camera button. This feature is called Touch Focus. If somehow when you touch the screen and there is no response at all, read our next tips.
2. Press and Hold the Camera Button
If your Android phone or tablet doesn’t support touch focus feature, try to press and hold the camera button (don’t release the button immediately). Usually the camera will set the focus first, after that release the button to take a picture.
3. Activate the Macro
For Android device that use Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) operating system or newer, usually it has Macro Mode feature. Activate this mode whenever you want to take a really close picture. Here’s how to do it: Open the Camera App > Click Settings (at lower left) > Click the left side again (the 3 tiny box icon) > Click Focus mode > choose Macro. After you change to macro mode, still doing tips number 1.
4. Use Magnifier app
This application is quite unique. The main purpose of this app is actually as a magnifier by using digital zoom feature. However, surprisingly this app is very useful to take a macro mode picture, better than any camera app I’ve been tried.
This is how to use the application:
- Install Magnifier HD by C.P.S from Play Store (previously called Android Market).
- Open the App
- Don’t use the digital zoom feature by sliding the zoom bar to the left.
- Before you take a picture, click the “Monalisa” Icon for clearer image
- Click the Camera button to take a photo
Below is an example image of close distance picture taken by Magnifier app (cropped and re-sized to save bandwith) :
Picture Taken by Magnifier app (Click to enlarge)
The superiority of this application over other camera or magnify apps are:
- The app size is small
- The permission is reasonable, not so much if compare with others.
- Very fast when taking one picture to another. It’s really handy when you want to take a picture some documents or few pages of book, because the camera won’t re-auto focus every time want to take a shot.