Macro Photo thread

[rich888]

DibblyDobbler said:

rich888 said:

DibblyDobbler said:

LongQ said:

DibblyDobbler said:

I can't remember! Might have been the 150 - I was swapping between them trying to decide which I prefer

So, which one gets the vote?

And how do you know?

So far I have been using the 150 far more often than the 250 - the 150 gives up to almost 2x mag - i.e. a scene width of around 1.5 centimeters so unless the bug is really small it is plenty (and I don't tend to shoot really small stuff!)

Hi DibblyDobbler, sorry to resurrect this thread but I've been tinkering around in the back garden taking close up pics using the 50mm 1.8 prime lens and now realise that I can't get close enough without some sort of macro lens, I called in to my local camera shop yesterday who suggested some sort of telescopic adapter which was approx 40mm long which was split into three rings depending upon the magnification needed, but the cost was approx £165, I've been trawling through past threads on PH and found this macro thread. You mention using a Raynox adapter in either 150mm or 250mm which is substantially cheaper than the extension or telescopic rings (not sure what the correct name is), do these Raynox adapters fit the Canon range of cameras or are there different varieties available, I have a 700D, and does the auto-focus still work or is it case of switching to manual focusing.

Sorry for all the questions but the Raynox does seem to offer an inexpensive way into macro photography, just don't want to go and order the wrong diameter adapter for my camera!

Hi Rich. No trouble at all

Macro extension tubes are one way to do it - £165 seems like a heck of a lot though! You can pick up Kenko tubes for around £50/£60 if I recall correctly and they work fine. There are also cheaper ones (ie £5ish) but they don't allow you to set aperture so are of limited use IMHO.

The Raynox lenses are my preferred method - a year ago I would have scoffed at the idea of putting a cheap bit of glass in front of a nice lens but there's no arguing with the results - see above. They are also very easy to use - your 50mm will have a 52mm filter thread I guess and the Raynox will clip on to anything with between 52mm and 67mm (without the need for step up/down rings) so you should be good to go. I would suggest the Raynox 150 as a good starting point - the 250 gives more mag but also less dof - I have both but usually use the 150.

My 2p worth for free - hardest thing to get right with macro is the lighting so this is worth thinking about. Naked flash gives a harsh and unpleasant light so most good macro shooters use some sort of diffusers. Worth looking into if you are keen.

Cheers

Cheers DD, does the auto focus still work using the Raynox lenses?

I think you may be right about starting with the Raynox 150 version having looked at some of the final results on here, though the Kenko tubes also look affordable if they are in the £50-£60 region. I don't have any diffusers at the moment and the flash on the 700D doesn't tilt upwards, so will have to rely on good ambient lighting for the time being till I've looked at what Amazon has to offer.

The photos posted on here of various hairy insects are fantastic and it's also worth remembering that most of these flying things don't just wait around whilst you compose the shot like in a traditional portrait pic. I remember some months ago spotting a Maggie perched high up on a branch, I grabbed my camera from nearby, swung round, zoomed in, went for the shot, and as my finger went down on the shutter button it was gone - I was gutted!!!

[DibblyDobbler]

rich888 said:

Cheers DD, does the auto focus still work using the Raynox lenses?

I think you may be right about starting with the Raynox 150 version having looked at some of the final results on here, though the Kenko tubes also look affordable if they are in the £50-£60 region. I don't have any diffusers at the moment and the flash on the 700D doesn't tilt upwards, so will have to rely on good ambient lighting for the time being till I've looked at what Amazon has to offer.

The photos posted on here of various hairy insects are fantastic and it's also worth remembering that most of these flying things don't just wait around whilst you compose the shot like in a traditional portrait pic. I remember some months ago spotting a Maggie perched high up on a branch, I grabbed my camera from nearby, swung round, zoomed in, went for the shot, and as my finger went down on the shutter button it was gone - I was gutted!!!

Yes auto-focus still works within limits (ie not to infinity) but I generally manual focus anyway for close-up work.

Re diffusers - some of the best ones are completely homemade and cost pennies! If you're keen do some Googling. It's very tricky with no flash - you'll need to open up the lens (ie low f number) to keep a decent shutter speed and will lose depth of field (which will already be in short supply!). I usually aim for 1/200 + f11-f14 + low-ish iso but you'll only get this with flash

[rich888]

DibblyDobbler said:

rich888 said:

Cheers DD, does the auto focus still work using the Raynox lenses?

I think you may be right about starting with the Raynox 150 version having looked at some of the final results on here, though the Kenko tubes also look affordable if they are in the £50-£60 region. I don't have any diffusers at the moment and the flash on the 700D doesn't tilt upwards, so will have to rely on good ambient lighting for the time being till I've looked at what Amazon has to offer.

The photos posted on here of various hairy insects are fantastic and it's also worth remembering that most of these flying things don't just wait around whilst you compose the shot like in a traditional portrait pic. I remember some months ago spotting a Maggie perched high up on a branch, I grabbed my camera from nearby, swung round, zoomed in, went for the shot, and as my finger went down on the shutter button it was gone - I was gutted!!!

Yes auto-focus still works within limits (ie not to infinity) but I generally manual focus anyway for close-up work.

Re diffusers - some of the best ones are completely homemade and cost pennies! If you're keen do some Googling. It's very tricky with no flash - you'll need to open up the lens (ie low f number) to keep a decent shutter speed and will lose depth of field (which will already be in short supply!). I usually aim for 1/200 + f11-f14 + low-ish iso but you'll only get this with flash

Great stuff, Raynox is on order and I've Googled how to make a homemade diffuser, and you know what, I've been over-thinking how to make them! Seems like a polystyrene cup or an ex 35mm film container would work well when placed over the pop-up flash unit on my 700D, here's where I learned about these ideas: http://www.photographycourses.biz/videos/creative/...

Thank you for the tip about the shutter speed and aperture settings, will give me a good place to start with.

[DibblyDobbler]

rich888 said:

Great stuff, Raynox is on order and I've Googled how to make a homemade diffuser, and you know what, I've been over-thinking how to make them! Seems like a polystyrene cup or an ex 35mm film container would work well when placed over the pop-up flash unit on my 700D, here's where I learned about these ideas: http://www.photographycourses.biz/videos/creative/...

Thank you for the tip about the shutter speed and aperture settings, will give me a good place to start with.

You're very welcome - look forward to seeing some shots! There's a guy on Talk Photography getting amazing results with a 50mm + Raynox + a paper plate diffuser!

[Cainey]

A couple of handheld shots with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

[Ed_P]

It's cold and wet so I'm photographing springtails again. Here's a species first recorded in the UK in 2008. About 1mm long.

Calvatomina nr. superba by Ed Phillips, on Flickr

[V8Wagon]

If your anticipating astounding macro shots look away.

After my brief affair with the Tamron macro lens last year which I sent back I had to wait until Christmas until Santa brought me a cheapy Raynox clip on lens to play with. So, there are no insects around this time of year so all has been quiet....until yesterday when I heard my wife exclaim "Urrrghh, what is THAT?"

So here is is...it was tiny and a bu**er to focus on using the EOS M.

I had the misfortune to come face to face with this distasteful little thing today.

"The brown-headed larva spins a silken case that is open at both ends. When crawling, the larva's head, thorax, and three pairs of legs protrude out of the case, and drag it along. According to Internet sources, the larva feeds on a variety of material, including hair, fur, silk, felt, feathers, woolen clothing, upholstered furniture and carpets. It apparently prefers darkness and soiled clothing, and is not fond of synthetic fabrics, such as nylon and polyesters."

Horrid little thing that was about half the size of a grain of rice.

It was really difficult to get focus with my EOS M , EF-S 55-250 with a Raynox DCR 250 on the front.

I'm not looking for any praise for the photo.....just wanted to show off the ugly little critters that share our homes and workplaces with us.

[silobass]

I did a macro workshop at the weekend that was great fun. They had a few creatures from afar for us including tree frogs, couple of gecko things, preying mantis and a few others. I can easily recommend the guys at Chameleon photography (http://www.chameleonphotography.eu/) if you are interested in this sort of thing, they put on a great workshop and know their stuff, not only about the animals but the photography too.

Here's one that I liked. I do have more but I've not touched them up yet.

The Conductor by Graham, on Flickr

[toasty]

silobass said:

I did a macro workshop at the weekend that was great fun. They had a few creatures from afar for us including tree frogs, couple of gecko things, preying mantis and a few others. I can easily recommend the guys at Chameleon photography (http://www.chameleonphotography.eu/) if you are interested in this sort of thing, they put on a great workshop and know their stuff, not only about the animals but the photography too.

Here's one that I liked. I do have more but I've not touched them up yet.

The Conductor by Graham, on Flickr

Nice shot! Thanks for the heads up on the course, I think I'll pop along to one of those.

[dinkel]

Wow - great effort.

[rich888]

A few photos I took of some flowers purchased earlier today using my 700D fitted with a 50mm f1.8 lens (which is the 1st pic), then using a mixture of Kenko extension tubes and also using a Raynox 250 macro conversion lens. Apologies but I'm not sure which are which in my haste before the wife planted them!

Have been wandering around the house looking out for some hairy spiders to photograph but they all seem to have hibernated.

Please note that the images shown below have been reduced in resolution for use on the forum.

[RobbieKB]

Are any of you seasoned macro-ers on 500px? I write for them occasionally and I'm writing an article on macro. Link me your profile if you have one and if you've got a 'top tip' for people new to this discipline, let me know and I'll credit you.

[wrayvon]

So I thought I would finally get around to joining up and actually posting something, rather than just lurking

My first attempt at a bit of macro photography:

Bee1 by Sam Wray, on Flickr

Bee2 by Sam Wray, on Flickr

I realise nowhere near the standard on here, but you've got to start somewhere, right?

C&C very much welcome!

[DibblyDobbler]

wrayvon said:

So I thought I would finally get around to joining up and actually posting something, rather than just lurking

My first attempt at a bit of macro photography:

Bee1 by Sam Wray, on Flickr

Bee2 by Sam Wray, on Flickr

I realise nowhere near the standard on here, but you've got to start somewhere, right?

C&C very much welcome!

Welcome Sam - these are very good and right up with the standard

I've no real crit as such - most macro togs use a flash so they can stop down for more depth of field (eg f16 + 1/200 + low iso) but this brings about other issues (eg harsh light which means you need flash diffusers) - your approach has been to bump up the iso and the results look good to me so crack on

[rich888]

Took these macro photographs at mid-day today of the same tulips I photographed yesterday and was quite surprised with the results.

Am still looking out for a hairy spider or fly to focus on but they all seem to be in hiding.

[wrayvon]

DibblyDobbler said:

Welcome Sam - these are very good and right up with the standard

I've no real crit as such - most macro togs use a flash so they can stop down for more depth of field (eg f16 + 1/200 + low iso) but this brings about other issues (eg harsh light which means you need flash diffusers) - your approach has been to bump up the iso and the results look good to me so crack on

Thanks! I've seen your shots, so I'm taking that as a massive compliment Have just purchased a cheapo ring flash, hopefully this will help me too.

Thanks again

[rich888]

Cainey said:

A couple of handheld shots with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Fantastic photo of the spider and shows what can be achieved, I took a few photographs today and encountered a few teething problems which I'm hoping you or someone else might be able to provide a bit of guidance on.

Am using a Canon 700D camera and 50mm f1.8 lens, combined with Kenko extension tubes (2 rings 12mm + 20mm) for macro purposes, however the DOF is extremely shallow at f5, so the legs or body tend to be blurred depending upon what is focused on, yet when I try to increase the DOF to say f11 the shutter speed drops to a crawl, so I end up with motion blur and it's way too dark even when the ISO is set to 800 which I thought was too high but seemed the only way to lift the shutter speed. I've tried a few times using the built-in flash plus polystyrene cup diffuser (thanks DD for the suggestion), but the problem is that the lens/extension tubes get in the way of the flash so I'm getting shadow over the spider because the lens is so close. Is there a way round this or is it simply a case of taking the photographs on a bright day or finding a bigger spider, are these ring flash units any good in this instance?

I also noted that I needed to set the metering to 'spot metering' and used a single focus point when in auto focus mode which did seem to work remarkably well. Will probably try 'continuous shooting' instead of 'one shot' and perhaps try 'al servo' instead of 'single shot' when the focus is set to manual.

I managed to take one photo in a brighter position which I've posted below which was 1/50sec, f5, ISO 800, and flash OFF, unfortunately this spider was quite fast moving and wouldn't stay in one place for very long, must have been a shy one!



One a lighter note, the first spider I found lurking in the outside meter box was about 25mm long (including legs), so you can imagine I was crouched down, camera in hand and approx 50mm from him when he leapt forward with an astonishing bound of speed...

Not half as fast as I moved backwards in response

Edited by rich888 on Monday 21st March 22:34

[DibblyDobbler]

rich888 said:

Fantastic photo of the spider and shows what can be achieved, I took a few photographs today and encountered a few teething problems which I'm hoping you or someone else might be able to provide a bit of guidance on.

Am using a Canon 700D camera and 50mm f1.8 lens, combined with Kenko extension tubes (2 rings 12mm + 20mm) for macro purposes, however the DOF is extremely shallow at f5, so the legs or body tend to be blurred depending upon what is focused on, yet when I try to increase the DOF to say f11 the shutter speed drops to a crawl, so I end up with motion blur and it's way too dark even when the ISO is set to 800 which I thought was too high but seemed the only way to lift the shutter speed. I've tried a few times using the built-in flash plus polystyrene cup diffuser (thanks DD for the suggestion), but the problem is that the lens/extension tubes get in the way of the flash so I'm getting shadow over the spider because the lens is so close. Is there a way round this or is it simply a case of taking the photographs on a bright day or finding a bigger spider, are these ring flash units any good in this instance?

There's no easy answer Rich - this is one of the inherent issues with macro photography. To get decent dof you would generally stop down but this will kill your shutter speed (all other things being equal). Getting a flash working is the usual route to get around this but with extensions tubes you will have issues with shadows as you have found (thought you were getting a Raynox? this probably wouldn't happen with it as it doesn't add much length). You really want to pick up a decent flash - suggest a Marumi ringflash as a starter - cheap but works ok and mounts to the front of your lens so no issue with shadows

[Ed_P]

Yes, flash is definitely the answer. Specialist macro flashes are expensive, but there are many ingenious devices using speedlights. Flash enables you to get good DoF, fast shutter speeds and low ISO, like with this bee shot:

Hairy-footed Flower Bee by Ed Phillips, on Flickr

[rich888]

DibblyDobbler said:

rich888 said:

Fantastic photo of the spider and shows what can be achieved, I took a few photographs today and encountered a few teething problems which I'm hoping you or someone else might be able to provide a bit of guidance on.

Am using a Canon 700D camera and 50mm f1.8 lens, combined with Kenko extension tubes (2 rings 12mm + 20mm) for macro purposes, however the DOF is extremely shallow at f5, so the legs or body tend to be blurred depending upon what is focused on, yet when I try to increase the DOF to say f11 the shutter speed drops to a crawl, so I end up with motion blur and it's way too dark even when the ISO is set to 800 which I thought was too high but seemed the only way to lift the shutter speed. I've tried a few times using the built-in flash plus polystyrene cup diffuser (thanks DD for the suggestion), but the problem is that the lens/extension tubes get in the way of the flash so I'm getting shadow over the spider because the lens is so close. Is there a way round this or is it simply a case of taking the photographs on a bright day or finding a bigger spider, are these ring flash units any good in this instance?

There's no easy answer Rich - this is one of the inherent issues with macro photography. To get decent dof you would generally stop down but this will kill your shutter speed (all other things being equal). Getting a flash working is the usual route to get around this but with extensions tubes you will have issues with shadows as you have found (thought you were getting a Raynox? this probably wouldn't happen with it as it doesn't add much length). You really want to pick up a decent flash - suggest a Marumi ringflash as a starter - cheap but works ok and mounts to the front of your lens so no issue with shadows

Cheers DD for the info, yes I have the Raynox 150 and 250 lenses but they weren't in the bag when I encountered the hairy spider in the gas meter. Will certainly give them a try now that the insect population is coming out of hibernation.

I find the extension tubes extremely good for photographing flowers close up with being able to interchange the tubes for differing magnification and haven't until now realised how difficult it is to try and macro photograph a tiny spider or bee. I never even considered the flash shadow problem until I encountered it yesterday, so it looks like I will be doing a little more spending on a ring flash. I took a look on Amazon last night but was somewhat overwhelmed by what was on offer, so thank you for the recommendation.

Ed_P said:

Yes, flash is definitely the answer. Specialist macro flashes are expensive, but there are many ingenious devices using speedlights. Flash enables you to get good DoF, fast shutter speeds and low ISO, like with this bee shot:

Hairy-footed Flower Bee by Ed Phillips, on Flickr

Ed, now that is one very impressive macro photo, once again the standard of photography on this forum continues to astonish me by its high levels of excellence.

From what has been said it does look like a flash may be the answer because good DOF, low ISO, and a reasonably high shutter speed seem nigh on impossible without decent lighting. The ring flash units for sale on Amazon weren't too expensive and it appears that they can be adjusted for brightness, I seem to recollect that they can also be used for lighting purposes as well as flash which would be very useful feature to have.

There are several buddleia bushes growing nearby which attract hundreds of butterflies in the summer months, so I hope to take a few photographs then. Most of the butterflies tend to sunbathe in the sunshine so it should be relatively easy to find a few models to test out my new macro skills.

Thanks again for all the tips and tricks guys