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Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 12:52 am
by cvoinescu
Extension tubes/rings are even less expensive than that, and less fiddly in my experience.

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 3:33 am
by JeremyBP
kbob, that looks really nice!

As someone who uses a DSLR as their primary camera, and is too cheap to get a macro lens, I usually just set up a few feet away on a tripod with a zoom lens, and really take my time getting the focus just right. You can get pretty good results. For example, this was taken from about four feet away.

DSC_0041.jpg
That's an M6x1 thread, as a size reference.


I've heard of flipping around lenses, but have never done it. I'll put it on my list of things to try.

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:34 am
by flurin
orcinus wrote:.. you can always just get a suitable threaded coupler ring and mount a 50mm lens in reverse on whatever other lens you have. That will result in a much shorter minimum focusing distance.


As I was a student I "modified" my father's SLR Camera with a coupler-ring and a DIY-tube. This was a cheap solution but useful.
Unfortunately now I'm missing the "D" for Digital. :)

PentaxWithRing.JPG

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:48 am
by flurin
Inspired by this video:

http://cnettv.cnet.com/diy-iphone-macro ... 31027.html

I experimented with my iPhone (3GS, 3.2 MP camera!)
iPhoneMacroLens.JPG

and here is a sample:
Cylinder7.jpg

Blueline distance = 4mm, layer height = 0.25mm

This isn't surely the final solution :!:

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 3:12 pm
by orcinus
Extension tubes are fine too, yeah, except:
a) they increase the chances of you getting crap on your DSLR's sensor
b) you have to buy them or machine them.

Of course, reversing lens has a disadvantage of its own, besides fiddlyness: you need to have a spare lens (which is a bit of a chicken and egg problem - if you have one, you're likely to be a slight bit more enthusiastic about photography and then you're quite likely to already have a macro lens).

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:27 pm
by flurin
@kbob
Thanks for your feedback, I like the Canon DSLR + Macro Lens. Let's see.

@orcinus
Thanks for your comments. The Pentax Camera is almost 40 years old! It isn't my intention to use the coupler ring and tube with a new digital camera. It's only nostalgia.

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:46 am
by macona
My Canon 60D + Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED, just sold the 60D and got a 5D Mark II. These pics are from about 8" away.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67292116@N ... 019439145/

Image
Bee and Clover by macona, on Flickr

Image
Federal Pocket Watch by macona, on Flickr

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 1:15 pm
by bdring
The depth of field really blows on most macro photos. Some people use some digital layering techniques to help. Those light field cameras can do some amazing depth of field on macro shots in the right conditions.

https://pictures.lytro.com/lytroweb/pictures/431197

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 2:04 pm
by JeremyBP
That micro nikkor lens is amazing. Soooo expensive, but amazing.
We used one in a lab I interned at for taking pictures of water droplets blowing by in high-velocity jets of air. We would set it up so the septh of field was tiny (about 80um), and then we could take little "slices" of the test chamber.

It's awesome for portraits too.

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:23 am
by macona
Yeah, it is pretty stinking expensive, though I got mine for a real good deal, about $600.

The shallow DOF is easily solvable, just use more light and step down the aperture. Though that really only works with photos, I took this video with the lens and had to keep it open to get enough light: