Interesting Macro set-up/photographer

[hcase]

In my many hours of procrastination for exams I came across this guy (those who also frequent pentaxforums may have seen him already)... Anyway it just goes to show you (yet again) that one doesn't need the latest most expensive lenses to pull off some amazing shots. And i thought it was interesting enough to share especially for those who like macros.

I believe he mostly uses a k200d, either a 50mm tak or 28mm pentax reversed on the end of extension tubes... and focus stacks his images...

You can see his flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/opoterser/

A couple of his photos:

[wisie]

Awesome

Would be interested to see how much of the image is actually cropped?

[PunX0r]

Wow these are awesome, are there any good tutorials floating around on this super macro style photography?

[jars121]

+1 for the above statement.

[triggerpeg]

Awesome work! Insect macro work is all about the technique and skills and not about the equipment. In fact its less about photography and more about knowing the environment and the insects behaviors.

Having a look at Thomas's photo it looks like he be a "tree hugger" naturalist. ....or a UNIX admin. lol

[Lukey]

To be fair, sure, macro can be done with this cheaper equipment, but fuck it's a pain in the ass to actually do. You guys ever done reverse macro work? For most lenses it can get -very- annoying. Can have cool results, but realistically, i'd prefer to buy a 1:1 macro (even a cheap one like the tamron 90mm) than stuff round with this kind of setup if I were to take macro shots fairly often.

Canon MP-E 65mm, diffuser, 580EX, and life would be much nicer to you.

Yes you don't NEED awesome gear to take these shots, but it makes it a hell of a lot easier . When you're outside, worried about the rear element of your lens, your subject matter moving, changing the aperture and manually focusssing with a near pitch black focus screen you'll begin to realise why it can be such a pain. Particularly if the focus has a couple of tight spots, or the aperture doesn't click overly well into place, etc etc.

[hcase]

Originally Posted by Lukey

To be fair, sure, macro can be done with this cheaper equipment, but fuck it's a pain in the ass to actually do. You guys ever done reverse macro work? For most lenses it can get -very- annoying. Can have cool results, but realistically, i'd prefer to buy a 1:1 macro (even a cheap one like the tamron 90mm) than stuff round with this kind of setup if I were to take macro shots fairly often.

Canon MP-E 65mm, diffuser, 580EX, and life would be much nicer to you.

Yes you don't NEED awesome gear to take these shots, but it makes it a hell of a lot easier . When you're outside, worried about the rear element of your lens, your subject matter moving, changing the aperture and manually focusssing with a near pitch black focus screen you'll begin to realise why it can be such a pain. Particularly if the focus has a couple of tight spots, or the aperture doesn't click overly well into place, etc etc.

Yeah of course totally agree.. That is same as why AF is for the win and everything stuff manual focusing all the time. However, in the same regard you can pick up extension tubes from evilbay for like $30 (which i might to do to increase the magnification my macro past 1:1). Yeah reversing a prime seems way too much hassle IRL. Also the pentax's have that little green button to approx. work out exposures on manual (non A) lenses which makes life easier...

Of course, a cannon mpe 65mm would be sweet

[Zee]

Extension tubes are the way to go. Just remember, name brand tubes have cleaner air inside them, for sharper focusing

Z...

[Hi-tek]

Originally Posted by hcase

Yeah of course totally agree.. That is same as why AF is for the win and everything stuff manual focusing all the time. However, in the same regard you can pick up extension tubes from evilbay for like $30 (which i might to do to increase the magnification my macro past 1:1). Yeah reversing a prime seems way too much hassle IRL. Also the pentax's have that little green button to approx. work out exposures on manual (non A) lenses which makes life easier...

Of course, a cannon mpe 65mm would be sweet

The 65mm MP-E doesnt have auto focus. Just got one and its pretty hard to use actually since you focus by physically moving back and forth. Aperture control is handy though :P

[myeewyee]

How does he manage focus stacking? Surely insect movement + handheld shakiness + tiiiny depth of field at 4:1 + wind would make it a major PITA to align successive shots.

I tried some 2:1 macro today with a 50mm reversed onto a 100mm and that = fail. I am jealous

[mpot]

Originally Posted by Zee

Extension tubes are the way to go. Just remember, name brand tubes have cleaner air inside them, for sharper focusing

Cheap ones don't have electrical contacts, so you have to manually set exposure and focus.

[Hi-tek]

Originally Posted by myeewyee

How does he manage focus stacking? Surely insect movement + handheld shakiness

Tripod + dead insects

Or maybe manual aperture control on the lens + flash?

[Lukey]

Originally Posted by Hi-tek

The 65mm MP-E doesnt have auto focus. Just got one and its pretty hard to use actually since you focus by physically moving back and forth. Aperture control is handy though :P

I don't use auto focus for macro anyways, it's never quite accurate enough imo, particularly when you're filling an entire frame with a bees head or something for example, you want focus to be spot on, and sometimes (particularly on the cheaper units) it's just not up to scratch.

I find moving forward/backwards quite a good way to focus tbh, although does it not have a focus ring at all?....

[Hi-tek]

Originally Posted by Lukey

I don't use auto focus for macro anyways, it's never quite accurate enough imo, particularly when you're filling an entire frame with a bees head or something for example, you want focus to be spot on, and sometimes (particularly on the cheaper units) it's just not up to scratch.

I find moving forward/backwards quite a good way to focus tbh, although does it not have a focus ring at all?....

Its more like a focus/zoom ring; you're going from 1x to 5x magnification.

So its fine to use it specifically as a focus ring, but say you want 5x magnification, you're gonna have to move it back and forth.

[phreeky82]

IMO the biggest issue with the ultra cheap tubes (those without electrical contacts) is the inability to compose + focus when wide open while taking a shot with it stopped down. You can get around it with an older adapted lens with an aperture ring, but still have to turn it between focus/compose and taking shot (and that == the lose).

The best place to "ghetto" a macro setup is the flash, whether it's attempting to use the built-in somehow, an external with some sort of diy diffuser with it on a cord, or a diy ring light.