Macro options for DSLR cameras?

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#676957 25-Aug-2012 20:59

I got the non AF extensions first, but found I really needed the appature control to get enough depth of field, with it fully open it was hopeless and would only get a few mm in focus enough.

There is a very very fine line between enough DOF to see a whole ring, and getting your lights clear in the reflections.

I also ended up putting a white sport sock with a hole in the end over the lens to reduce the amount of black lens reflecting off the rings. Helped quite a bit but there is still some black visible.

Richard rich.ms

Jaxson

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#676969 25-Aug-2012 22:22

Thanks for the tip. Very American Pie of you there!

I noticed the cheap Pentax macro tubes are twice the price of the equivalent Canon options, so I'll hold out a week or so until I know if I've won a Canon camera! I take it you've all voted for People’s Choice Entry 08 right?

http://pgwphotos.co.nz/Voting/Vote

An honest Thanks! if you have....
More details here

silverbirch

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#683915 10-Sep-2012 15:29

I bought a set of Meike extension tubes off ebay which I mainly use with the nifty fifty, although have used with both the Canon 18 -55, and 50 - 250 also. I mostly use the 13mm tube, have had issues with focus and light on the longer tube.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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stevenz

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#683946 10-Sep-2012 16:01

FWIW - Deal Extreme do macro tubes _very_ cheaply and they do the job for static objects just fine. As long as you don't need them in a hurry... :)

If you're using it for jewellery photography, then Casio make a (fairly cheap) P+S camera that does excellent native macro photography (focuses down to 3cm) and combined with a lightbox produces excellent results (my father uses just this for watch/jewellery valuations). Not as cheap as a macro tube, but cheaper than a macro prime.

@KnightNZ

Jaxson

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#683956 10-Sep-2012 16:11

silverbirch: I bought a set of Meike extension tubes off ebay which I mainly use with the nifty fifty, although have used with both the Canon 18 -55, and 50 - 250 also. I mostly use the 13mm tube, have had issues with focus and light on the longer tube.

Which camera?

Did you find good results with the 13mm on the 'nifty 50'? -Examples...

edit:
the cheaper 50mm 'prime' seems stunningly good value:
http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/canon-ef-50mm-f1.8-ii-lens.html

silverbirch

275 posts

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#684101 10-Sep-2012 20:53

Okay - some examples. Most of my photography is outdoors so I'll try add some flowers. I've also had a go at indoor with a very makeshift one sided lightbox rigged up with a plastic shopping bag. There's all sorts of shadows etc and the white balance is awful!! But I think they show what the nifty fifty and some tubes are capable of :-)

IMG_4341 by roseyposey2009, on Flickr
Horseshoe brooch with plastic coated pin for size comparison. As I said the WB is way off!

IMG_4342 by roseyposey2009, on Flickr
Slightly different take.

DPP_01357 nasturtian by roseyposey2009, on Flickr
Outside in the evening, quite late I recall. Nifty fifty with 21mm tube

DPP_01508 calendula bud 5 x 4 by roseyposey2009, on Flickr
Late evening, almost dark, 133mm tube I think, on nifty fifty.

Camera is Canon 600D.

I bought my nifty fifty from Expert Infotech for $163 earlier this year.
http://einfo.co.nz/shop/canon-ef-50mm-f18-ii-p-12898.html

Ooh - it's even cheaper now!

Good luck. Be interested to see what you decide.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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silverbirch

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#684104 10-Sep-2012 20:55

Oops - that's the 13mm tube of course!

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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Fred99

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#684157 10-Sep-2012 22:32

Macro of our "girls" fighting off an intruder. This using a 200mm lens with 13mm auto tube, Nikon D300 with flash off-camera remote triggered as well as on camera flash. The wasp was in a bit of a mood and bees were a bit agitated - I could have got closer, but I'm not keen on operating a camera with a bee suit on.

silverbirch

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#684163 10-Sep-2012 22:40

Fred99:
Macro of our "girls" fighting off an intruder. This using a 200mm lens with 13mm auto tube, Nikon D300 with flash off-camera remote triggered as well as on camera flash. The wasp was in a bit of a mood and bees were a bit agitated - I could have got closer, but I'm not keen on operating a camera with a bee suit on.

nice shot!

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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silverbirch

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#684165 10-Sep-2012 22:44

DPP_01388 hydrangea by roseyposey2009, on Flickr

55 - 250 kit lens and Meike tube - probably 13mm but no record

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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Jaxson

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#684200 11-Sep-2012 06:21

Thanks guys, awesome examples and interestingly some macro shots with larger lens, such as the 200mm used on the bee shot. Does this approach offer you macro/tiny depth of field from a long way back?

And Silverbirch, yes I'm definitely going macro tubes initially at least. As Timmmay and co. mentioned earlier, this offers the best bang for my buck, especially if I'm not taking macro shots all the time. Just working out where to source them, and maybe if the 'electronic' option (at around $150ish on trademe) is a more complete way to go. Seems to give you auto focus, but you're likely to want to manually focus at this tiny depth of field anyway...

Thanks all. :-)

Zippity

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#684243 11-Sep-2012 10:09

Buy yourself a cheap lightbox http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/camera-accessories/flashes-lighting

Use a tripod, and set your camera with a small aperture and long exposure :)

I connect my camera to my laptop and use Zoombrowser or its equivalent.

silverbirch

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#684297 11-Sep-2012 11:41

Jaxson:
And Silverbirch, yes I'm definitely going macro tubes initially at least. As Timmmay and co. mentioned earlier, this offers the best bang for my buck, especially if I'm not taking macro shots all the time. Just working out where to source them, and maybe if the 'electronic' option (at around $150ish on trademe) is a more complete way to go. Seems to give you auto focus, but you're likely to want to manually focus at this tiny depth of field anyway...

Thanks all. :-)

Mine are electronic and I use mainly auto focus - my eyes aren't good enough for manual. I got them off ebay, probably have the invoice will have a look and post it if I find it.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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floydbloke

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#684355 11-Sep-2012 13:03

silverbirch:
Fred99:
Macro of our "girls" fighting off an intruder. This using a 200mm lens with 13mm auto tube, Nikon D300 with flash off-camera remote triggered as well as on camera flash. The wasp was in a bit of a mood and bees were a bit agitated - I could have got closer, but I'm not keen on operating a camera with a bee suit on.

nice shot!

+1 Nice work!!

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

Jaxson

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#689582 21-Sep-2012 18:38

Tubes ordered today from deal extreme... Sticking with Pentax for now.

After a 50mm (or 32mm) 'A' style prime lens too by the way if anyone's got a lead on one for Pentax k mount?

EDIT
Just got a f 1.8 50mm lens via trademe

So just waiting on the extension tubes from China now...

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