Techtalk on Macro (Part1)

Photo Information

(11529)

Genre: Animals

Medium: Color

Date Taken: 2005-07-14

Categories: Insects

Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 II, Digital ISO 200, Ext. Tube 36mm & Diopters (+6)

Exposure: f/22, 1/100 seconds

Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes

More Photo Info: [view]

Photo Version: Original Version

Date Submitted: 2005-07-15 1:53

Viewed: 2597

Points: 56

[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note

Vinegar fly
Family Drosophiliidae

I am sorry but other than the family I have no ID on the ID. Any help will be appreciated.

I continued this tech talk on macros because of Stephen Emerson and Greg. Both giving and wanting more advice. Maybe some others can benefit from this research as well. I will discuss all the option you have to shoot macro in this two part series.

1) Buy a true macro lens capable of reaching 1:1 magnification.
This is the most expensive option, since true macro lenses aren’t cheap. However, it’s usually the most high-quality option. True macro lenses come in a variety of focal lengths, from 50mm to 90 or 100mm to 180mm. The advantage of the longer lenses is that they give you more working distance from your subject. A 50mm macro lens isn’t very useful for shooting, say, dragonflies in the wild since you have to be really close to them. A 180mm macro lens, on the other hand, lets you maintain more distance so you’re less likely to frighten them off. A 100mm lens is usually the better compromise in terms of working distance and cost. I am considering Sigma’s new 150mm lens as well.

2) Buy a diopter (macro filter).
See my previous post for more on these. These are round screw-on lenses which fit on the end of a lens in exactly the same way as a filter and which act essentially like magnifying glasses. Bob Atkins’s Web site (http://bobatkins.photo.net/info/faq30/closeup.htm)has a comprehensive table of magnifications available using different diopters on different lenses.

3) Buy an extension tube.
These are hollow plastic tubes which fit between the lens and the camera body, thereby reducing the close focus distance of your lens. (ie: they let you move the lens closer to the subject while retaining focus) Attaching an extension tube means you lose infinity focus but that’s obviously not an issue if you’re using the tube to take closeup pictures. Tubes also reduce the amount of light reaching the film (because moving the lens further from the film plane causes the light to spread out across a larger area).

Unlike diopters, however, they do not affect image quality at all as no optics are involved. The magnification you get depends on both the length of the tube or tubes used and the focal length of your lens - Bob Atkins’ table (http://bobatkins.photo.net/info/faq30/closeup.htm) lists some common combinations. Note also that some lenses, particularly wide-angle and specialized lenses, don’t work properly with tubes.

Canon sell a couple of extension tubes, but they’re pretty expensive. The three-tube set from Kenko is a better deal. It’s fairly well made and contains a 12mm, a 20mm and a 36mm tube. Adjustable bellows are also used for closeup photography - they’re basically adjustable tubes when you get down to it. Novoflex sell an EOS-compatible bellows. Bellows are typically used with movable rails for precise focussing.

PDP, carper, phlr, JeanMichel, christophe, TAZ, dew77, Janice, sAner, sandpiper2, puffy, chiliu, red45, Comandante, liquidsunshine, coasties, Signal-Womb, sway, Luc, deud, marhowie, bedford67, danbachmann, Athila, Mousehill, tiobibi, sily, shaharbv, Ichigo, flagman has marked this note useful
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Discussions
Thread	Thread Starter	Messages	Updated
To Athila: Thank you for the kind words...	gerhardt	1	10-05 16:50
To Signal-Womb: F22... NP	gerhardt	1	07-15 18:39
To red45: Mieszek...	gerhardt	1	07-15 10:50
To PDP: New lens....	gerhardt	1	07-15 03:36
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Critiques [Translate]

ellis49 (28673)
[2005-07-15 2:30]

Great macro, Gerhard.
Very good details, nice colours and well composed.
A great note too, which I agree with to 110%.
Excellent work, my friend.

carper (8208)
[2005-07-15 2:38]
[2]

very good photo Gerhard,
Good details in the shot, with a high pov and a fantastic dof. Zeer goede foto.
Over the note i think you miss something in it. You can also buy a camera with a good supermacro in it. Such as the fuji 7000 and the canon powershot pro 1, and ofcoarse there are a lot cheaper camera's on the market.
gr. Jaap

JeanMichel (2864)
[2005-07-15 3:32]

Hi Gerhard,
A real quality close-up and a comprehensive note about how to get there. I've got already some answers here :-). Very good move to post this combo here. No nits about the fly, it's a superb shot. Thanks for sharing.

PDP (11751)
[2005-07-15 3:33]
[+]

Hi Gerhard, Very good quality macro. Is that a new lens you have? The details you have captured are incredible and the DOF has worked very well here. Excellent in image and note, thanks for posting.

christophe (1783)
[2005-07-15 3:50]

Hi Gerhard
Sharpness: 5/5
Color: 5/5
DOF: 5/5
POV: 5/5
Excellent shot
TFS
In a friendly way Christophe

Kris (1806)
[2005-07-15 4:16]

Fantastic macro shot Gerhard. Interesting object. Excellent capture with very good details.
Yes, I like it! Very well done.
Regards.

phlr (2772)
[2005-07-15 4:34]

WOW!
Awesome picture!
It fits 100% on National Geographic Magazine!
5* photo and favourite!
Better it's impossible!
Perfect details, sharpness and colors!

dew77 (13069)
[2005-07-15 4:54]

Hello Gerhard!
Wonderful close up.Lighting,POV,DOF,framing and composition are perfect.TFS...:-)

Janice (17197)
[2005-07-15 5:01]

Thanks Gerhard - you are a real help! I've ordered a Canon 100mm, and shall look at the extension tubes, once I manage to work out how to use the new lens!
Excellent macro of the fly. I would love to manage one like this, and maybe one day... The details are so sharp. Well done.

sAner (4742)
[2005-07-15 6:43]

Hello Gerhard,

Great picture and informative note. The details are very sharp and the exposure is spot on. This is a macroshot I would have liked to add to my portfolio. Ah, well ... I keep on trying. :) Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

sandpiper2 (11177)
[2005-07-15 7:50]

Fantastic shot Gerhard. Perfect sharpness and DOF and great POV

puffy (1349)
[2005-07-15 8:12]

Hi Gerhard, great shot again.. :) and the note is so helpful! I have place order for my Macro lens (Raynox MSN200) I think, it will come in around 3 weeks time, so it will be interesting to see how my photos will comes up with. :)

Excellent shot, great colours, detials and very well composed, I like the DOF too. :) I have to re-read your previous note... I was about to drawn.. hehehe (Since English is my fourth language)

Have a great weekend. :)

chiliu (6414)
[2005-07-15 8:30]

Hi Gerhard,
Excellent macro!
Crisp sharp, extremely clear, great colour.
SUPERB!
TFS!

red45 (26309)
[2005-07-15 9:32]
[+]

Wow, this is really close, close-up Gerhard :-) Very nice details, perfect photo for this scale. About macro - there is another way to make superb macro pictures - device is called in Polish 'mieszek' [I don't know English equivalent], it is something between lens and cam body - look here - http://www.fotodura.pl/komis/pentacon_akcesoria.jpg - first from left side. With this hardware and proper lens one could reach 5:1 scale.

Fisher (8915)
[2005-07-15 10:03]

Uhmm, someone or you guys left out the Macro King of Trek N. :) :) :)
More in a momment.
Gerhard, what a shot, and well done on the composition and details. The tones are perfect. I can smell the vinegar, which makes me, throw up. LOL

O.k. those of you who have compacts can and will blow a DSLR out of the water with the one true lens discovered by me. LOL
It's called the MMLS as named by Gert. If you can find one or two, you'll be glad you did.
Just my two cents, Gerhard, LOL :) :) :)

Mike

Comandante (1403)
[2005-07-15 12:11]

Hello Gerhard!
Wonderful macro.Colors,lightin,clear details and composition are perfect.Thanks for sharing.

liquidsunshine (11474)
[2005-07-15 14:07]

Excellent shot Gerhard,
Well composed, good detail, colours and sharpness.
Nicely captured, Great POV, DOF and exposure. This is a perfect macro shot. The notes are fantastic.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend

optic (0)
[2005-07-15 15:59]

Hi Gerhard,
Amazing macro i love it! great colours & razorsharp details, dof & pov are great.

Congrats !

Chritian

coasties (27492)
[2005-07-15 16:42]

Hi Gerhard

Many thanks for your intersting, informative and educational note. It is a great help. I have a Sigma 105mm but struggle with using it so it is usually left in the camera bag.

The macro of the fly is sensational. Awesome detail. Congrats!

allans (163)
[2005-07-15 16:49]

Good zoom.I Waiting the next part.Good lock!

Signal-Womb (10869)
[2005-07-15 17:40]
[+]

Hi Gerhardt, thanks for this info on macro setups, it really has been most informative and helpful. Iv been working long hours lately to upgrade and expand my kit as I get a tremendous amount of enjoyment from my photography. I may go for the Sigma 150mm myself, its only limiting factor may be the max F22. IL have a look at some more reviews. Wide angle zoom will be first though. As for your macro capture, well what can I say. Its truly Awesome. Fantastic post, well done.

sway (1212)
[2005-07-15 20:45]

Great shot of this hairy fly.
Perfect focus and great macro work.
DOF perfect.
One day I'll get a macro untill then I'll just have to look at your posts.
:)

deud (2083)
[2005-07-16 3:44]

great. very good example for your note! great work.

TAZ (10896)
[2005-07-16 3:56]

Wonderful and interesting shot for this superb fly ! Composition, POV, colors, DOF, details and sharpness are great !!! Congratulations Gerhard and thanks for sharing.

marhowie (34439)
[2005-07-16 9:22]

Hello Gerhard, Superb details and sharpness. Great use of flash to fill and an excellent POV. Again I say, you are doing an excellent work here with this informative series in macro work..Very well done!

Luc (14711)
[2005-07-17 23:25]

Hello Gerhard!
Personal assessment of the photo: outstanding.
Very strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Have a great week MF!

bedford67 (438)
[2005-07-18 11:42]

Hello Gerhard,
Impressive photograph! The details are absolutely fantastic. Thank you for the technical note.
TFS, cordially,
Jean-Patrick

Athila (1503)
[2005-10-05 12:56]
[+]

Great macro shot, showing your control of the technic.
Exposure: perfect
Lighting: excellent (I love the orientation and the softness)
Forcus: Dead on
DOF: More than sufficient (side view is a good choice, it can be evaluated on the surrounding floor)
Technical note: Very informative and accurate
Overall score: 6/5
TFS image and knowledge ;o)

Ichigo (21)
[2007-05-25 23:36]
[Show CommentHide Comment]

Hi Gerhard! Beautiful photo and very helpful note. I love macro photography, and I appreciate the advice given for equipment, even though I use nikon. TFS

Rob

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