photax
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Post by photax on Jul 4, 2010 9:58:24 GMT -5
Hi ! On Friday evening I purchased a Micro Nikkor 85mm/3.5 lens and mounted it to my D90 immediately. All my first 20 test shots had been blurred, or came with the wrong depth of field. So I switched off the Autofocus, turned the aperture to 36 and the ISO up to 1000 and took a picture of a 1cm “large” fly at my balcony: Yesterday I took this lens to the nature, hunted by one million mosquitos. And I recognized, that it is not easy to take such close-up views. The sharpness ( or the animal ) is gone after the slightest gust of wind. And you have to find a theme that would not fly away, or attack you, if you get there with the lens at 10cm distance. So I began with snails . I read that a tripod is recommended for this kind of photography, but I think this is rediculous. At the time you build up your tripod, the situation you want to picture is guaranteed gone. Does anyone else have experience with that stuff ? MIK
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Post by nikonbob on Jul 4, 2010 10:43:14 GMT -5
Mik
Not a lot of experience with macro but I think if you want to do bugs and such it might be better to hunt them when it is cool. Being cold blooded they seem to be almost inactive when it is cool giving you a chance to sneak up on them and set up a (much despised) tripod. A focusing rail is helpful on a tripod so you can set the lens on max magnification and just move the camera&lens back and forth to gain sharp focus. You can try moving you body back and forth also instead of using a tripod but I find the results are hit and miss. Your results look very good to me especially considering you used no tripod. That lens and D90 looks like it will be a good combination for you. How id the lens at normal shooting distances?
Bob
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jul 4, 2010 11:53:40 GMT -5
MIK, super photos.
I have only ever done hand held photos myself. I have always intended to have a proper go at macro photography, but never quite got there. I am sure the professionals are prepared to wait all day, if necessary, for that special shot. So they will put the camera on the tripod and wait for the insect or whatever come to them. The other option is to have a studio set and go out and catch the insect: everything is thus even better controlled.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2010 14:21:06 GMT -5
I have a 55mm f3.5 micro Nikkor thatI had modified to auto index so it will meter on my D300. I don't have the closeup ring for it but it still will get me down very close to the subject. And even though it's almost 40 years old, it is really sharp.
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photax
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Post by photax on Jul 5, 2010 12:59:25 GMT -5
Bob, maybe a focusing rail on a tripod would help ( I will think about this one ). I had the same idea: get up early, when it is cooler outside, but finally I thought: Come on, its weekend, and so I overslept the right time. I think it is a very good lens ( sells here for ca. 600.- USD ) Here is my first test picture with normal distance range: Dave, a nice idea with the studio set, but I guess I don’t want these little funny friends inside. Some days ago three hornets came visit me at home, making noise like helicopters . If I had the lens at that time, I don’t think I had have the nerve to take a close-up picture of them… Wayne, a good Nikkor is never obsolete. I handed my 1.4/50 to my son, who adapted it also. He still takes brilliant pictures . MIK
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Post by nikonbob on Jul 5, 2010 14:45:52 GMT -5
MIK
Can't say I blame you for sleeping in, my problem too. It looks like you got a winner there as it seems good close up and at normal distances.
Bob
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photax
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Post by photax on Jul 12, 2010 11:57:28 GMT -5
Hi ! I found out that taking these pictures with the camera mounted on a tripod is not reasonable. It simply takes too much time to build it up, because this tiny little animals are only sitting for seconds in front of your lens. And I don’t want to carry it on my back while hiking through the wood. As taking new pictures at the weekend, I noticed, that the grasshoppers don’t want to be photographed. They are always hiding behind a blade of grass. If you turn the lens right, the grasshopper will turn left and vice versa, still looking at you with one eye, funny creatures . My conclusion: I guess there is no standard way for taking sharp close-up pictures. Aperture around 36, high ISO, a calm hand and a DSLR. Years ago I had taken pictures with extension bellows mounted at Exaktas and some Russian stuff, but you can not compare the results at all. MIK
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jul 13, 2010 3:51:43 GMT -5
The only true macro lens I have used was thirty odd years ago. I think it was a 105mm with attached ring flash. I have come across this website, www.beautifulbugs.com/beautifulbugs/howto.htm, on close up and macro photography.
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photax
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Post by photax on Jul 15, 2010 6:36:07 GMT -5
Dave, Thank you for this informative link. Very interesting !
MIK
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jul 30, 2010 7:42:49 GMT -5
Four birthdays have come up today. One is rogprov who has a website www.provins.org.uk. Most of the photos in the gallery ties in well with the topic of this thread. If you haven't already had a look, Mik, it is well worth doing so.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jul 30, 2010 10:17:30 GMT -5
MIK,
You might consider a monopod. It is quick to set up, much steadier than hand held and more flexible and much more portable than a tripod. Up and down will still be limited but side to side and back and forth will be easy.
Whatever you are using now seems to be working very well for you. They are excellent pictures.
Mickey
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photax
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Post by photax on Jul 30, 2010 15:34:02 GMT -5
Hi Dave ! Have many thanks for this link. Very interesting pictures ! I took a picture last week, which would fit perfectly in this gallery: Hi Mickey ! This is a good idea, i do have a monopod somewhere hidden in a box. To look after it will be the second thing to do after breakfast tomorrow MIK
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