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Techtalk on Macro (Part2)


Techtalk on Macro (Part2)
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06-25
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 II, Digital ISO 100, Kenko Extension tubes (68mm)
Exposure: f/22, 1/100 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2005-07-17 14:16
Viewed: 4206
Favorites: 6 [view]
Points: 72
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Copper-tailed Blowfly
Chrysomya chloropyga

This is the second part of all the options that one has available to choose from when considering doing macro work.

4) Reverse a lens by mounting it onto the camera backwards.
Doing so requires some sort of adapter with a standard EOS lens mount on one end and a filter ring on the other which attaches to the filter ring of the lens. People often make such things at home by gluing a filter ring to a drilled-out body cap. Reversing a lens like this is a very old photographic trick for doing macro photography.

This technique is a problem for EOS lenses, however, since EOS lenses require electrical connectors in order for the aperture diaphragm to operate. There are at least three possible solutions for this. First, you could set the lens aperture to whatever you want it to be, press the depth of field button on your camera to stop down the lens and then detach the lens. The lens diaphragm should stay wherever it was when you removed the lens and you can then reverse the lens and use it. This isn’t terribly convenient, of course, since you can’t adjust the aperture without remounting the lens. Second, you could use a non-EF lens. Any 35mm lens will do, really, since you’re mounting it backwards and not using the normal lens mount. Third, you could buy Novoflex’s rather expensive lens reversal adapter, which contains the necessary wires and connectors to let the electromagnetic diaphragm operate correctly.

5) Attach a reversed lens to an existing lens.
Another old macro trick is to attach a 50mm (normal) lens to the end of another lens, but backwards. (ie: the filter threads of the 50mm lens are attached to the filter threads of the camera-mounted lens by means of a special lens-reversing or macro-coupling ring) You won’t be able to adjust the aperture of the reversed lens if it’s an EF-type lens, but there’s nothing stopping you from using a non-EOS lens in this way, as above. A 50mm lens reversed on a 100mm lens can give you 2x magnification, for example, albeit with a fair bit of light loss.

6) Buy the Canon MP-E 65mm lens.
This is an unusual and specialized lens that’s designed solely with macro photography with mind. It can’t be used for normal photography, unlike the other Canon macro lenses, as it starts out at 1:1 magnification. It goes from there to 5:1 magnification. At this magnification an object 5mm x 7mm in size will fill the entire frame of 35mm film. Though intriguing, it has a number of drawbacks. First, you can use it for super closeup photography and nothing else. Second, it suffers from a very narrow depth of field and the difficulty in illuminating objects adequately given the short working range. Third, ambient light metering works only with EOS 1 series cameras - all other EOS cameras can only be used with TTL flash metering. And fourth, the focussing screen of your camera may not be precise enough for accurate focussing.
JeanMichel, carper, phlr, AdrianW, Signal-Womb, christophe, extramundi, lglandon, novaman, PDP, milloup, red45, AndyB, chiliu, wallhalla15, dew77, Janice, Comandante, sAner, coasties, elihesam, bedford67, correp01, Luc, omnia, TAZ, danbachmann, klemmg, AnimalExplorer, Athila, tiobibi, SelenE, mbasil, Little-white, meyerd has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To AdrianW: Thanx for the word...gerhardt 1 07-18 01:16
To Signal-Womb: The microscope....gerhardt 1 07-17 15:11
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Critiques [Translate]

Wooooow Gerhard!
This is realy great! Fantastic!

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2005-07-17 14:22]

it´s a nice one Gerhard,
prachtige macro mijn vriend, goede pov, kan ook niet anders, prachtige kleuren, en een uitstekende dof, prachtig werk.
gr. Jaap

Closer and closer, Gerhard, this is again a fantastic image, making this fly look like a science-fiction roadster. You show here on the best way the unlimited possiblities given to macrophotography. I'm fascinated by the colors! Great shot!

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2005-07-17 14:25]

Is that the natural colors?
Looks so beautiful! Incredible photo!
Such a wonderful metalic colors!
5* photo!

Very impressive capture Gerhard the details are amazing and the colours of the body stunning. I would clone out the bright area top right corner. Tech talk... You are indeed a mine of knowledge on such matters. Tonight I'm going to try various old lens I have in different combinations to see how it will work. Failing that IL just have to pull out the biggest baddest macro lens of them all... "THE MICROSCOPE" 1000x please ;)) Very good informative post Gerhard, well done.

Nice shot! You've captured this blowfly very nicely, I particularly like the colours here. Focus and DOF are good too. About the only thing I'd suggest is a little high-radius USM to give it a bit more punch - try something like 50%, 180px, 0. On the subject of reverse mounting there's another option - you can hack open an auto extension tube and increase the cable length and then mount that on the end, much cheaper than the Novoflex option, but just as functional :) Anyway, as usual excellent work! :-D

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

Superb macro! and nice training!
Colors are wonderful
TFS, Laurent

Great shot, Gerhard.
You don't need a macrolens, this is so close and sharp.
Great colours, well composed and good POV.
The note is very informative about macro,
Excellent work, my friend.

Hi Gerhard, very enjoyable note and the image is great. The fly is a very colourful blowfly and when they are this close there is something attractive about them.

I tried Adrian's suggestion but I wasn't over happy with it (probably me) so I did a workshop going a different route. I hope you don't mind and I hope you like it.

Impressive capture! Ours aren't quite as colourful - or maybe my equipment for capturing them is not up to the same standard as yours..
Excellent details on this chap ;-))

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-07-17 17:54]

Yes Gerhard, not bad, not bad ;-))))
This is one of most amazing close-ups on TN for sure! And your posts with infos about macro hardware are also superb. Big congratulations for such shot!

BTW - Paul's WS is also perfect.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2005-07-17 18:24]

Hello Gerhard,
A very nice macro!
Clear detail and fantastic colours.
Nicely done and an excellent note.

TFS

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2005-07-17 21:34]

Superb macro!
The colour and details are excellent, great dark background.
TFS!

Gerhard, this is a great photo. Great colours, sharpness excellent, a very nice composite. TFS

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-07-18 2:38]

Hello Gerhard!
Wonderful shot.Colors,dark BG,lighting,sharpness,razor sharp details are perfect.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-07-18 3:17]

What a pretty Blowfly Gerhard! So large and so sharp. Awwwwesome. Pity it's a blowfly!
Excellent information - thank you... thank you...

Hello Gerhard!
Superb capture.Details,sharpness,POV and composition are perfect.Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-07-18 6:13]

Excellent picture Gerhard. Razorsharp details, good POV & DOF. Note is very informative. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Magnificent colour Gerhard. Looks like a metallic body.. maybe Robo-Fly! Ahh... the things we don't see with the naked eye! Macro photography opens up a whole new world. Wonderful work. Tjis is an 11 out of 10! Perfect. TFS.

A Gallery/Variety of colors all with a small insect,indded amazing,and although we know this fact but when we can see it(like this shot),again made us surprise,at least for me!
Excellent capturing you did Gerhard,xcellent background you had and managed for it,wonderful macro,and very well detailed,it's PERFECT,no doubt.
very informative shot,too,and great useful note you prepared here,like a lesson for me:)
nicely done,Gerhard.
Best Regards
M

Excellent capture Gerhard! Really like these metallic colors up tight like this. I think Paul's workshop adjusting the contrast? helped here some..Excellent sharpness, details and DOF. It's a great series, exceptional notes. Very well done.

Gerhard, with this second chapter, the information is getting very complete. A great educative work you are doing here. I apreciate it.

Composition/placement: ****
Exposure: *****
Focus/sharpness: ****
DOF: ***
POV: ****
Impact: ****

Overall: ****

*Acceptable, **Average, ***Good, ****Great, *****Outstanding

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6165] (21068)
  • [2005-07-18 17:10]

That is just amazing, Gerhard. That is totally unreal. Congratulations on an outstanding shot. TFS. : )

Hello Gerhard.
Impressive capture, the sharpness could be better, the colours are excellent. ! ! Finished of comment reading.
Excellent. I've used inverted lens with my G3. Is very hard, we need to be so close.
Thanks for the explanation.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-07-18 22:44]

Hello Gerhard!
Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Very strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: very interesting.
Thank you very much for sharing MF.

Hello Gerhard,
Leave to repeat me, this photograph is also impressive! Quality is there. And once again thank you for the technical note.
TFS, cordially,
Jean-Patrick

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-07-19 7:54]

Gerhard, I'm not skilled in dealing with these devices, but I do admire the ones who are.

Excellent and colorful shot. A very beautiful insect, a great photo with an excellent pov.

Awesome. I have been looking at your makros the whole morning and it is inspiring.

Where did you get the Kenko extension though?

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 440 W: 10 N: 504] (2372)
  • [2005-07-19 10:39]

what you prepare for us for the next time? the colour scheme of this fly and the details and textures are awesome! congratulations.

  • Great 
  • omnia Silver Star Critiquer [C: 34 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-07-19 22:58]

spectacular, thanks for the helpful info too

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-07-24 11:43]

WOOOOw !!! Wonderful and interesting shot for this superb fly ! Good pose, outstanding colors and great details ! Congratulations Gerhard and thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-07-25 9:33]

Bliksem!! Vir die foto en die note! Vertel my eerder hoe het jy die een geneem :)

This is absolutely stunning. One day when I am big, I would like to take pictures of small things like you do.

Groetnis!

  • Great 
  • Athila Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 305 W: 232 N: 432] (1564)
  • [2005-10-05 12:46]

Great shot,
Exposure: perfect
Lighting: excellent
Forcus: Dead on
DOF: More than sufficient (side view is a good choice)
Technical note: Very informative and accurate
Overall score: 6/5
TFS image and knowledge ;o)

  • Great 
  • rimas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 155 W: 3 N: 610] (4273)
  • [2005-10-11 9:33]

Fantastic image! Structure and colors of body are impressive. An excellent presentation of that insect and about macro work.
Very well done

great macro
eveerything is the best

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