Macro Photo thread

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37Flipper

494 posts

184 months

Wednesday 27th April 2016
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rich888 said:
37Flipper said:
First post in here so please be gentle!!

I'm very dangerous when I'm ill... I woke up on sunday morning and decided that I meeded a macro lens, it doesn't help when you live in Norwich and you have Wex on your doorstep!!

Anyway, I couldn't find any tiny furry animals around the house so I had to use what I could find. I've now discovered I need a ring flash as the camera just bumped up the ISO.. It never ends.. Anyway, heres a couple of trial shots. C&C welcome :-)

Can you guess what it is? by Paul Dolphin, on Flickr

Pellets by Paul Dolphin, on Flickr

Pellet by Paul Dolphin, on Flickr

Herbs by Paul Dolphin, on Flickr
Lovely photos, is the first photo a strainer of some kind judging by the perforations in the metal. I don't think it's a cheese grater. The air pellet photo looks very good indeed as does the photo of the herbs. 10/10.

It's at times like this that I wish I lived closer to a specialist camera shop, or perhaps not judging by how much kit I would end up buying!
Thank you, you are correct it's not a cheese grater. But it's not a strainer too. My wife thought it was a cheese grater and she looks at it every day!!

I think it's great to live so close to a specialist camera shop, but I'll never have any money though as I'll just want to spend all my money in there!!!

Bring on the clowns

1,339 posts

183 months

Wednesday 27th April 2016
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Is it the grating on a microwave oven?

Bring on the clowns

1,339 posts

183 months

Wednesday 27th April 2016
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Is it the grating on a microwave oven?

37Flipper

494 posts

184 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
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Bring on the clowns said:
Is it the grating on a microwave oven?
No, but a few years ago, loads of people were trying to get this!!

DibblyDobbler

11,257 posts

196 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
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Just getting the macro gear warmed up for another season - nothing suitable available yet from Fuji so still shooting with my Canon 760 + 100mm. Lighting from MT24 with multiple diffusers smile



Hoverfly by Mike Smith, on Flickr

rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
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37Flipper said:
Bring on the clowns said:
Is it the grating on a microwave oven?
No, but a few years ago, loads of people were trying to get this!!
Is it a shaver foil?

rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
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DibblyDobbler said:
Just getting the macro gear warmed up for another season - nothing suitable available yet from Fuji so still shooting with my Canon 760 + 100mm. Lighting from MT24 with multiple diffusers smile



Hoverfly by Mike Smith, on Flickr
Great pic, how on earth did you manage to take this photo because every time I've tried they fly away in a split second (no pun intended). Have been looking at various prime lenses with a longer reach and the 135mm f2 looks kind of interesting but a bit expensive and is like gold dust on the second-hand market, whilst the 85mm doesn't offer me with much of an advantage over my current 50mm.

DibblyDobbler

11,257 posts

196 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
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rich888 said:
Great pic, how on earth did you manage to take this photo because every time I've tried they fly away in a split second (no pun intended). Have been looking at various prime lenses with a longer reach and the 135mm f2 looks kind of interesting but a bit expensive and is like gold dust on the second-hand market, whilst the 85mm doesn't offer me with much of an advantage over my current 50mm.
Thanks smile It can be a bit hit and miss but a greater working distance will clearly help so you are on the right lines. I shoot with a 100mm + Raynox 150 so can get 1:1 mag from slightly further away or up to about 1.5:1 at minimum distance. Very hard work with a 50mm mind - suggest a 100 and maybe try a Raynox also smile

maccboy

632 posts

137 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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Is it the detail on a London Olympic Torch?

37Flipper

494 posts

184 months

Monday 9th May 2016
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maccboy said:
Is it the detail on a London Olympic Torch?
clap Spot on!

rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Monday 9th May 2016
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37Flipper said:
maccboy said:
Is it the detail on a London Olympic Torch?
clap Spot on!
I thought you said you took macro photos of objects around the house, does that mean you have an actual London 2012 Olympic Torch in your posession?

rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Monday 9th May 2016
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DibblyDobbler said:
rich888 said:
Great pic, how on earth did you manage to take this photo because every time I've tried they fly away in a split second (no pun intended). Have been looking at various prime lenses with a longer reach and the 135mm f2 looks kind of interesting but a bit expensive and is like gold dust on the second-hand market, whilst the 85mm doesn't offer me with much of an advantage over my current 50mm.
Thanks smile It can be a bit hit and miss but a greater working distance will clearly help so you are on the right lines. I shoot with a 100mm + Raynox 150 so can get 1:1 mag from slightly further away or up to about 1.5:1 at minimum distance. Very hard work with a 50mm mind - suggest a 100 and maybe try a Raynox also smile
Cheers DD for the advice, these last few warmer days have brought out quite a few reasonably slow moving insects including bees and also a few pesky wasps. Like you have said, it's been nearly impossible to photograph them close up using the 50mm lens. The 100mm lens you recommended is certainly far more affordable than the 135mm f2 lens I've been considering, so will need to keep an eye out for any used examples on eBay or one of the specialist camera shops.

Have been trying out the Raynox 150 and 250 lenses as you suggested but find them a little bit fiddly to attach, whilst the extension tubes are a lot easier, time will tell which yield the better results, though having seen the excellent standard of macro photographs you are achieving with the Raynox, think that perhaps I ought to persevere.

Thanks again for your help and advice smile

37Flipper

494 posts

184 months

Tuesday 10th May 2016
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rich888 said:
37Flipper said:
maccboy said:
Is it the detail on a London Olympic Torch?
clap Spot on!
I thought you said you took macro photos of objects around the house, does that mean you have an actual London 2012 Olympic Torch in your posession?
Yes, my wife was lucky enough to be chosen to carry the torch.


LongQ

13,864 posts

232 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
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I note that Canon have announced (yesterday) an EOS-M fit 28mm Macro lens with built in lighting.

An interesting sort of development. Somewhat random perhaps?

http://www.eflens.com/ef-lenses/ef_m_28_f35_macro_...





Ed_P

701 posts

268 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
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LongQ said:
I note that Canon have announced (yesterday) an EOS-M fit 28mm Macro lens with built in lighting.

An interesting sort of development. Somewhat random perhaps?

http://www.eflens.com/ef-lenses/ef_m_28_f35_macro_...
Yes, I read about this. Looks interesting, and additional light is the key to macro photography IMHO. I wonder if the intensity is variable with a Flash Exposure Compensation-type of control? I use the Canon MR24-EX TwinLite which can give a nice "wash" of light if controlled properly (see below). But the setup is big and heavy and takes a bit of getting used to. BTW, your link doesn't work for me.

Male Mining Bee by Ed Phillips, on Flickr

LongQ

13,864 posts

232 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
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Ed_P said:
BTW, your link doesn't work for me.
Lovely shot Ed.

I can't find a problem with the link - it works for me with right click and open in a new tab (FFox) but maybe that's because it will be cached anyway.

It is truncated on screen though if you are cutting and pasting what is displayed.

Only 2 light output levels it seems and at the price ($300 US) I doubt it will be hugely sophisticated.

From the blurb:

"Tapered lens top shape makes it easy to capture high-quality images at close range without casting shadows."

I assume that means shadows from the lens blacking natural light.

DibblyDobbler

11,257 posts

196 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
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Ed_P said:
Yes, I read about this. Looks interesting, and additional light is the key to macro photography IMHO. I wonder if the intensity is variable with a Flash Exposure Compensation-type of control? I use the Canon MR24-EX TwinLite which can give a nice "wash" of light if controlled properly (see below). But the setup is big and heavy and takes a bit of getting used to. BTW, your link doesn't work for me.

Male Mining Bee by Ed Phillips, on Flickr
Excellent as usual Ed smile Do you run your MT24 on ETTL mode?

Link ok for me too... looks an interesting idea - no good to me now though as I move over to Fuji (if they ever get a decent macro lens released!)

Ed_P

701 posts

268 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
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DibblyDobbler said:
Excellent as usual Ed smile Do you run your MT24 on ETTL mode?

Link ok for me too... looks an interesting idea - no good to me now though as I move over to Fuji (if they ever get a decent macro lens released!)
Yes, ETTL. I dial the FEC up or down depending on the scene. Minus 1 EV for the bee shot IIRC ...

NB: Link works fine for me now.

DibblyDobbler

11,257 posts

196 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
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Still not much going on up here - too cold! Best effort from what I could find today... any idea what it is?



Black Fly by Mike Smith, on Flickr

ETA - St Mark's Fly it seems smile

Edited by DibblyDobbler on Sunday 15th May 22:30

Ed_P

701 posts

268 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
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DibblyDobbler said:
Still not much going on up here - too cold! Best effort from what I could find today... any idea what it is?



Black Fly by Mike Smith, on Flickr
I would guess St Mark's Fly (or something related). They tend to start emerging in late April (around St Mark's Day) and are on the wing into May. Tend to fly with their legs hanging down. Important pollinators apparently.