Options for macro photography

Correlli

I actually own the AI-S version of the 200 mm f/4 Micro. I think it is a good lens but from what I have heard the AF version is a different beast.

spraynpray

I had a close-up photograph do quite well in a competition recently what esoteric gear did I use? My 18-105VR with an £18 +3 diopter close-up filter screwed on and natural light.

Start your wife off gently with stuff like that and see where it leads is my advice.

heartyfisher

...

Weight...I think the camera and lens increase their weight about five times when I try to shoot macro..... )

LOL so true !

heartyfisher

Hmm ... I really don't think you need a dedicated macro lense.. "Half the size of a regular post card" is huge in terms of macro. A D3200 with a kit lense should be more than fine.. at worst you can just crop!

Msmoto

I have shot macro with the following....primarily experimenting.

20mm f/2.8 with reversing ring
50mm f/1.4 with reversing ring
28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro with extension tubes
85mm f/1.8G with extension tubes
135mm f/2.0 with extension rings
And, now with the 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro Nikkor.

The biggest difference with the 105.......ease of use. Being able to go 1:1 and have AF, exposure almost figured for you, these make it much easier. However, I am still in a steep learning curve. I am leaning toward f/32 as a base aperture setting, and this requires flash. The dedicated macro lens allows the small aperture and thus a bit more DOF.

I suspect the really nice macros are the ones using focus stacking, but this is not something I plan on doing. Maybe this is because I grew up with film and without a computer I do not believe focus stacking is possible.

proudgeek

I would agree that the 105 stays sharper at smaller apertures than other similar lenses. I suspect it was designed to do so. However, I would have to believe that it's at its sharpest slightly more wide open. I recently read an excellent article on focus stacking on Nikon's U.S. site. I'd like to try it at some point, on the cheap, using a handheld external flash with commander mode, a cheap macro rail, and a trial version of software like Helicon. As you can see by the article, it's a technique that can get expensive in a hurry. But hey, it's photography, why should that come as a surprise?
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/h91fgucv/techniques-flower-power.html

itsnotmeyouknow

The 200 f/4 micro is an excellent lens, the margin for error is very small indeed.

heartyfisher

We are going so off topic ! LOL

Msmoto

Yes, this focus stacking for nice macro....the lights and rail...$2000......Then lens, camera, tripod, head....

But, if a client wants a nice image, the special equipment should be paid for in the one shot.

paulr

Wow Msmoto If thats the going rate for one shot I best make sure my Passport is up to date and join the American Dream

Golf007sd

@paulr: Remember the old saying: "Go West young man...go West!"

Msmoto

I will have to admit, the last time I actually worked as a pro was in the early 1970's. But, I had some nice accounts and we routinely shot with budgets in the $2,000-5,000 range. But, in those days, before the internet, magazine and other printed copy advertising was much more prominent.

Almost any image going in a national publication should bring adequate money in to produce it properly. Back then we did such things as build fiberglass rocks and take live goats into the ocean.....And I was standing in knee deep water with a Hasselblad 500c....

Oh, wait....this is the macro thread.....but I will make it up.....I have my new homemade macro soft light ready and will shoot some in the next day or so....

spraynpray

Show us a pic of your creation Tommie :-B

Msmoto

Worst photos I have ever taken:






But, it worked quite well.....for the first time out.

Golf007sd

@Msmoto: Love the duck-tape work on the defuser. :P

dissent

NIce work there, Msmoto. Teh duct tape is de rigeur with a lot of macro shooter's diffusers that I've seen posted online. Look forward to more sample shots.

SquamishPhoto

But I could not find any zoom lenses with a Macro option.

http://www.bythom.com/70180macrolens.htm

Used copies can be had online for $1000 or more.

TaoTeJared

What Squamish posted (70-180mm) is the only true macro zoom that I know of. Never seen one go below $1,200 on e-bay and have seen mint one's go for $2,500. Zoom lenses that say "macro" actually mean "close focus" and are not macros. A true macro gets 1:1, many of the zoom's that are labeled macro get 1:8 and I have seen some that can get even as good as 1:5. Not sure why they can label them macros, but it has been done for decades.

No one has mentioned 60mm macro which has always been ranked among the sharpest lenses ever produced. If I'm trying to get the sharpest shot available I use that or the 105vr. Tamron's 90mm and 180mm (all versions) have always been reviewed and ranked very high on sharpness. Tokina's 100mm is also another good one.

I have heard good things about Nikon's 40mm macro but little about the 85vr but I'm sure it is good as well (just was never that interested and ever looked for any).

When it comes down to it, I have never heard any macro get less than a great review. My experience has taught me if you want to shoot bugs get the longest lens you can afford. Everything else any of the 60mm, 90mm, 100mm equivalents are great options. I prefer doing flowers, rocks, and other stationary objects and like the 60mm for that work as it has less compression/flattening than the longer lenses so it has more of a "3D" feel.

heartyfisher

Seriously guys.. the OP want to a simple and light setup for his wife to shoot "The size of the objects would be half the size of a regular post card and static.". Whats with these super duper Macro set up recommendations ?? ( ( ( ) ) ) >- >- >-

spraynpray

@Msmoto: Yes, that little lot doesn't look exactly lightweight does it! I suppose that is your 105VR so your working distance will be good for insects, but then that also puts the softbox further away too. I am going to do something very similar with my 60mm which will make the soft box close up and huge but doubtless I will lose many shots due to the insects taking flight.

@Tao: "I prefer doing flowers, rocks, and other stationary objects and the 60mm for that work as it has less compression/flattening than the longer lenses so it has more of a "3D" feel."

That is the upside of a shorter focal length/closer working distance lens (I hope).

Like I said at the top of the page though, my 'set-up' is normally just a screw-on close-up filter. Simple, cheap. light and gets results like this using natural light:

Correlli

Thanks everybody for the suggestions. Any of the true Macro lenses are out of our budget for this at the moment. The close-up lens suggestion was very good and I might have a closer look into that as well if needed.

I do own the 55 mm f2.8 Micro and the 200 mm f4 Micro, both in the AI-S version. We found the 55 mm to be too wide for her for the setup we have got and the stuff she is shooting and the 200 mm is a bit too long.

She tested the 28-105 f3.5-4.5 AF-D the its Macro mode in the 50 - 105 mm range is good enough for her.

So we currently think about what body to pair with it. We have tested the lens on a D5100 (currently about 460 €) and I am also considering both the D3100 (less expensive, about 280 € for the body and I also found a good offer for the D3100 inkluding the 18-55 and the 55-200 for 399 €) and the D90 (would also support AF on that lens - price about 460 € as well). AF is not really necessary as she does not mind focussing manually.

I am leaning towards the D3100 or is there any good reason to prefer the D5100 or even the D90 in that combo. She would use the camera in A mode most of the time.

Msmoto

Just a note...my "soft box" was made from cardboard...actually the Adorama box the lens arrived in. It was covered with white muslin, then painted with wall paint which was around the house. The mechanical parts are from an old flash bracket, a GPS mount, several ARCA Swiss connectors (I did purchase these) and plastic sheet from Lowes. The SB-800 is quite old as is the connector cable.

There is another modification I will make, using more diffusion so as to soften the light source.

Ironheart

The D5100 has an articulated screen, a huge bonus for macro setups IMNSHO.

pabs

I don't think anyone has mentioned the 105mm f2.8 AIS paired with the PN-11 extension tube. This is probably my favorite set-up. The focus ring on my copy is as smooth as the day the lens was made, and makes precision adjustments easy. The fact that this extension tube, which takes the lens to 1:1, has a built-in tripod collar not only makes finding the correct angle easy, but also gives the camera/lens set-up wonderful balance and stability. With a Manfrotto geared head and a Novoflex focus rack I have been able to get very sharp focus stacked shots using this lens.

paulr

Sounds an interesting set set-up, any chance of a Photo