I got out the macro rig a few days ago, to shake some rust off my technique. I shot about a hundred images (K-3, D FA 100mm, HD 1.4X TC, Sigma 530 flash with bracket, TAv, manual focus, handheld). When I viewed them on the computer, I had about a 5% keeper rate due to misfocus.
I shoot macro like a shoot a scoped rifle. It is impossible to maintain focus on the target at 1.4:1 magnification, so I squeeze off the shot as focus is swinging through the target. The K-3 has a known problem with flash latency, there is a delay between shutter release and the shot. The delay caused most of my macro shots to miss critical focus. I swapped out the K-3 for my trusty old K20D, and went for another run. This time I saw what I expected to see, focus was acceptable for almost half of the shots. The images I thought were sharp in the field were sharp, the ones I thought I had missed were soft.
I've used the K-3 with the D FA 100 and TC, no flash, previously and never had a focus issue. Flash latency is the clear culprit. I had the same problem with delayed shutter release when I used a K-01 for macro. For macros, I need the camera to fire exactly when I trip the shutter, not 1/3s later.
Some K20D images from my shoot:
Last edited by audiobomber; 06-30-2015 at 07:02 AM.