lens length marco....speed light macro

[dullbird]

Hi people

i have never embarked upon macro work as of yet!! but would like to give it a wirl at some point

what sort of lens do people use for there macro work

do you used fixed lenses....if so what size

i have been looking at a nikon 60mm that has a 1:1 which i'm assuming you need,

or i have seen tamron 90mm but i'm thinking tamron might not be fast enough for that sort of work

also what speed lights do people use for there work also

i know a couple of the guys have pointed out there speed lights on another post but thought it would be good to have a thread dedicated so i can come back and reference on this when its time to buy:)

thanks

lou

[phasmoides]

Hi,
For macro stuff I use a Nikon D200 and a Tamron 90mm macro lens this is very good in most aspects of macro photos. Sharpness is very good and size/weight is fine. The only negative - and this will depend on the sort of macro stuff you intend to do - the focus mechanism is a little cludgy and noisy.
If you do plants this is only annoying but for insects, spiders or small animals this is not a good thing and may make another choice better. The Nikon macros are very good and the new 60mm version is quite appealing. However, as I do mostly plants, my Tamron 90mm lens will be around for a while yet.
For lighting I use a Sigma Flash EM-140DG and find it bullet proof for good closeup results and it is very easy to setup and use. Each bank is switchable so some degree of shading is possible. The unit is made to work very well with the Nikon iTTL protocol. If I could not have this flash I would probably have the Nikon RC1 etc. system. I have had a good play with one of these and they are good if a little fiddly.
I use a SB800 for normal flash work and find it very good indeed - there is a SB900 just out but I have not caught up with it yet.
Good luck

[CowsGoMoo]

I've got the Nikon 60mm f2.8 macro and Sigma 150mm f2.8. Neither are very fast at Auto Focus, however most of the time I use manual focus for macro work anyway so it's not a problem.

Both lenses are nice and sharp and get good reviews. I'm happy with both. I got the 60mm first and added the 150mm later. Depending on what you are taking macro pics of, the longer length lets you stand off little critters and such without scaring them.

I did some macros in the Jenolan caves first with the 60mm and found I couldn't get close enough to some of the formations. Next visit I took the Sigma 150mm and did much better.

Although they are both f2.8, most of the macro work will use much higher f numbers to increase the depth of field. This means you need more much more light. The pop up flash on the D200/D300 doesn't really cut it because the lens tends to stop the light getting right in front where the subject is. You may be able to use some kind of diffuser setup though. Many people get excellent results with homemade jobbies from white plastic and cardboard.

I've used single off camera SB800 speedlight, twin off camera SB800's and the Sigma EM-140DG ring flash. They all have their place depending on situation. For example Ringflash through chicken wire at Jenolan does not work! You get hazy chicken wire shapes all over the picture due to the reflection off the wire. In this case I used a single handheld flash slightly to one side.

The other thing you can consider is extension tubes. They are simply open ended rings that go between the macro lens and camera body. They reduce the minimum focus distance and allow you to get much closer. I've got a Kenko set consisting of 12mm, 20mm & 36mm. They can be stacked in any combination and fully work with my D200/D300 AF and exposure metering etc.

http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/images/kenkotube.jpg

Here's a cute little critter sitting on a handrail from a walk near Jenolan Caves. The cool air made him a little sluggish so he sat still for me.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/1847.jpg

[dullbird]

mate fantastic picture

when i see your pics makes me want to have a crack at macro more and more

i'm glad you guys think the nikkon os ok as i have been watching one on ebay


so is it better to do macro work with a fixed lense rather than macro work with say a 24-70 lense that has macro in its title?

[CowsGoMoo]

Lou,

I've never tried with a zoom lens. Generally they don't have the minimum focus range that a macro can have. This can be overcome somewhat by extension tubes however.

Another way some people do it is to get an adapter ring and mount another (prime) lens in reverse. I've seen some amazing stuff with old 50mm lenses reverse mounted.

Do a google of macro reverse mount lens

I think any of the well known brands in the range of 90mm - 150mm will be perfect depending on budget and what you want to do with it.

For me I've found little critters and real small stuff is best taken with the 150mm. Sigma also makes a 180mm and 200mm are available too.

I used the 60mm for taking photos of some damaged water fittings the other day at work. In this case the 60mm worked best. Probably could have used the 18-70 for this too if I wanted though.

[dullbird]

had a look at the reverse mount looks good think i'm going to get a reverse ring once i have brought a prime.....as they are not that expensive.


i have just brought some inexpensive tubes from ebay $24 free postage...i thought i would give them ago

if they dont work well not the end of the world....for 24 bucks but gives me something to play around with until i get the othr avenue sorted.

now to track down a speed light:)

[CowsGoMoo]

had a look at the reverse mount looks good think i'm going to get a reverse ring once i have brought a prime.....as they are not that expensive.


i have just brought some inexpensive tubes from ebay $24 free postage...i thought i would give them ago

if they dont work well not the end of the world....for 24 bucks but gives me something to play around with until i get the othr avenue sorted.

now to track down a speed light:)

Good stuff. Interested to see how it goes.

[dullbird]

hey cowsgo

you have the sigma flash with the set up around the front of the lense

are you happy with the performance of that? do you only use it in macro work or do you use it for everyday shots that need a bit of light also?

if you do....do you have some examples of shots you have used that set up in

was thinking about getting the sb800 but i noticed you commented on it being an ok flash as long as what your taking isn't moving.....i'm assuming this comment is in regards to macro work! so i was wondering if you used it in other applications

reason i ask, of course is cost!! the sb800 is around the 450 mark the sigma setup you have is around the 330 mark:)

[dmdigital]

You can pick up a SB800 from B&H Photo's in NY, USA for about AU$330-350 including postage. Very good flash unit, but doesn't do the same as a ring flash. The sigma unit is better suited to macro as is the macro system by Nikon. I use a flash on a circular rail now as I can also mount the SB800 forward of the camera this way for telephoto. It also lets me move it closer for macro too.

I'd be looking at the SB800 (or new SB900) first over the ring flash unless you are going to do a lot of macro work. Also remember the SB800 will work remote from the camera (even on a D80 I believe)