MacroPhotography: For the Off-Season?

[Rob Wadsworth]

Its snowing outside. Roads are closed. I can make it as far as the barn on foot. The walls feel like they are closing in...

Here's a thought that I read on one of todays threads that made a lot of sense to me. To invest a bit in Macro photography; I only need the lens because I have nearly everything else to do it. Including the time spent indoors during the snow season.
Since storms for the most part - are few and far between - and I need to have an activity that keeps my photographic skills (or "chops") at their peak. Or, even to extend and continue the leaning process.

In fact, the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro ($490/Adorama) is supposed to be xlnt for portraits and many other photo opportunities.

Some Pro photographers recommend this lens to pupils as "the best bang-for-buck"; and this is not limited to Canons - of course. It has also also been referred to as "the best fun-per-buck".

The amount of money spent is saved on the expense of gas - because you are looking into an inner world no farther than your own back yard. Where color, contrast, insight, and sharpness pays huge dividends in personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment that can be shared with friends. What's not to like?

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

Biggest reason I want one is to capture static shock/"lightning" from your finger to whatever, inside the dry winter indoors, using the ol socks on carpet rub. I used to do it with my sony. I think a macro lens on the canon would be fun for that.

 

[Melanie Kern-Favilla]

In fact, the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro ($490/Adorama) is supposed to be xlnt for portraits and many other photo opportunities. Some Pro photographers recommend this lens to pupils as "the best bang-for-buck"; and this is not limited to Canons - of course. It has also also been referred to as "the best fun-per-buck".

I paid $444 (free shipping/no tax) at abesofmaine.com Very happy with them. I also got my 100-400mm L IS from them. The 100mm is very, very flexible. It's nice and sharp and very quiet. You don't need a flash and you can definitely shoot handheld.

Here are a couple of sample shots taken with my 100mm f2.8...

Now, if you want to spend a little more money (okay, a lot more) on a more interesting - albeit less versatile - lens, check out the Canon MP-E 65mm 1x-5x f2.8 lens. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/183199-GREY/Canon_2540A002_Macro_Photo_MP_E_65mm.html It's at B&H for $839.95

This lens is incredible for super-duper detail. While the 100mm f2.8 is a 1/1 ratio (lifesize shot), the MP-E 65mm goes all the way to FIVE TIMES lifetime size! 5/1! With the 100mm, if you took a photo of a dime, you'd see the whole dime. With the MP-E, you can make the year on the dime take up the whole frame.

Again, amazing detail and clarity, but it ain't cheap. The problem with this lens is light (or lack thereof). With this lens, you have to get VERY close to your subject (about 2"). Therefore, you're blocking most of the light. You really need to use a flash, unless you do strictly tripod work. And you need a good exterior flash. I have the Canon MT-24 Twin Flash, but that's another $600. But the results are really great.

Here's a couple of sample shots taken with the Canon MP-E 65mm.

You can see tons of MP-E Shots on my website. Just click on 'florals' or 'insects.'

Melanie

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

All these shots are excellent. I'm particularly fond of the insect shots with the MP-E. I think the second insect shot is a 'lacewing(?); but the color makes it good enough to eat! The Mantis must have a trying shot; what was the distance between the lens and the subject?

I started shooting some macro shots with a 4 y.o. Minolta Z20; but it only shoots in JPEG. It doesn't have the same macro capability of the MP-E - but they are still genuine fun to shoot. Nothing is safe when I see something worth shooting!

The 100mm is what I am interested in right now; but now I see that the MP-E is truly a piece of fine workmanship too. Now that I have an XTi - that is...

How does equivalent Nikon, Pentax, etc, do in the 5:1 macro field.
Anyone form those 'camps' have some photos to show off?

 

[Mike Deep]

I'm cheap - I rigged up a macro lens using a Zuiko 50.

That extra barrel is the front element from a zoom lens.

It works well and produces about 0.75x magnification. The catch is the working distance is 1-2".

 

[Melanie Kern-Favilla]

All these shots are excellent. I'm particularly fond of the insect shots with the MP-E. I think the second insect shot is a 'lacewing(?); but the color makes it good enough to eat! The Mantis must have a trying shot; what was the distance between the lens and the subject?

How does equivalent Nikon, Pentax, etc, do in the 5:1 macro field.
Anyone form those 'camps' have some photos to show off?

Thanks, Rob! Yep, that certainly is a lacewing. He's actually sitting on a window screen! You can see how much magnification is actually going on there.

Believe it or not, the Mantis was extremely patient. He sat there and let me snap his photo for about 15 minutes...until I finally pissed him off and he jumped on my camera. Scared the hell out of me! I was actually only about 2 1/2" from him. You have to get very very close with this lens. That's why insects can sometimes be a challenge with this particular lens.

FYI, this is a manual focus lens. Also, there is an extremely shallow DOF. It makes shots difficult at times. Check out this review for lots of great info.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-MP-E-65mm-1-5x-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx

I don't think that Nikon (or any other camera company) offers this kind of magnification. 5x is really amazing. A grain of salt looks like a giant ice cube!
What a fun lens!

Melanie

EDIT: Great dragonfly shot, Mike! I know there's a way to increase magnification with a teleconverter....

 

[Dick McGowan]

The good thing about owning the Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5 EX is that it has macro capabilities. I can use it for storm chasing and macro, all for a whopping $350 and I don't need the red stripe to have good results!

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

Thanks Melanie, now I'm going to have to try and get that 65mm! Jeez, those are all great. I will certainly have a nightmare a Praying Mantis is eating me tonight however. Getting a good macro lens almost scares me. I'll be messing with everything lol. Sigh, if only I didn't already need a new cam as it is.

 

[Melanie Kern-Favilla]

Lol, sorry, Mike. Didn't mean to put all of those vicious ideas, lenses and insects in your head.

It's an incredible lens. I love the MP-E. I've probably taken more photos with that lens than with any other lens that I own. It opens up a whole new world, especially when it's coooold outside. Go to a greenhouse in the winter and set up shop. Fun!

BTW, you can go to cameralensrentals.com and rent the 100mm for cheap! I've used this company a couple of times and they are great.

http://cameralensrentals.com/shop/category.asp?catid=4

And Dick, Great macros!

Here's another shot of a different mantis. This gal was extremely patient with me. I even picked her up a couple of times and repositioned her, so that I could take a better shot.

Check out the remnants of butterfly wings (she ate the butterfly) on her nose and face. You can see how shallow the DOF is...Look at her right antennea. It's completely out of focus, and we're only talking about 1/2"!

Melanie

 

[Darren Addy]

If you are looking for an excuse to indulge your LBA (lens buying addiction) you certainly can buy a macro lens. But if you just want to take some macro shots, one low cost way to do it is to get a Reverse Ring Adapter for your lens/camera mount.

A Reverse Ring Adapter screws into what is usually the filter end of your camera lens and allows you to mount it BACKWARDS on your camera body. This gives you very high magnification and shallow depth of field. You need to move the camera close to the object to focus (so is not as versatile as a standalone Macro lens).

Here's a shot I took with a normal 50mm f/2.0 lens (off an old film camera) with a 49mm reverse ring adapter, attached to my K200D (shooting in aperture priority mode).

With the shallow depth of field you are advised not to handhold your shots (as the one above is) because it will not be tack sharp. One accessory that looks very handy for whatever macro setup you use is a macro slider rail, like this one.

Other options are to attach the lens you already have to extention tubes or bellows.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

Melanie:
Did you get any pics of the Mantis scarfing the butterfly?
I'm sure that would end up getting an 'R' rating; but it would have the makings of ultra-commercial/potential.

Isn't it true that one can purchase Mantis at garden shops because gardeners use them as insect control?

All of the shots out there are great in in terms of color and subject.
Bring 'em on!

 

[Melanie Kern-Favilla]

Melanie:
Did you get any pics of the Mantis scarfing the butterfly?
I'm sure that would end up getting an 'R' rating; but it would have the makings of ultra-commercial/potential.

Oh, don't I wish. I arrived on the scene right after the bug-o-cide. I saw remnants of the wings on the leaf that she was sitting on. I have a butterfly bush on the side of my house. I was hoping to see one chowing down on a butterfly, but no luck.

Isn't it true that one can purchase Mantis at garden shops because gardeners use them as insect control?

All of the shots out there are great in in terms of color and subject.
Bring 'em on!

Thanks, Rob! I haven't looked to deeply into it, but yes, I've heard that you can buy them online. Heyyyy, that's cheating!

Mel

 

[Melanie Kern-Favilla]

By the way, I didn't mention that (for instance) the last mantis shot was taken at about 2x. That means that I could zoom in all the way to 5x and i could get even more detail! The problem is that anything above 3x, you really can't shoot handheld, even w/the flash. It's difficult.

Mel

PS: Since we're talking about bugs, check out this shot I took w/my converted infrared camera (w/50mm f/1.8) the other day. He landed on my hand and I thought he was pretty neat. He was actually bright red in color but the infrared doesn't show those kind of colors...

 

[Melanie Kern-Favilla]

Here's one more for ya: It's my husband's eyeball and a little bit of Photoshop.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

Mike Deep showed some real ingenuity with that lens conversion, and did v.well with it.
He got a lot of color and detail on the eyes of the dragonfly that I didn't know were possible with a 50mm!

Dick McGowan's Sigma turns a trick with the Macro feature of the lens; Sigma's stock gained some big points in my eyes today. I think wasps make great subjects too. I have a few macro shots of a Katydid-Hawk (kin, and smaller to - the 'Tarantula-Hawk') Take care when shooting one of these - though. They aren't aggressive toward people; but if it stings you - it holds the distinction of having the most painful sting on the N. American continent of any insect! Non-lethal; but agonizingly painful! If given nectar from fruit; it gets them drunk and docile. The Tarantula Hawks are as bis as an outstretched hand; the Katydid-Hawk are as long as your finger and their sting is nearly as painful! Quite common on the Plains; known also as the 'Digger Wasp'...

Darren Addey's lens ring kit w/barrel extension made use of parts available to get similar macro effects. Saving money and using available and qualifying lenses to do macros.

Personally, I learned a bunch today!
BTW-This is my first thread on STORMTRACK...

Melanie's powerful macro shots with her powerful MP-E lens and 100mm turned in a very intimidating performance!
I want go outside and smash my own camera now!

I hope others will join in and show us some more macro shots.
Melanie - maybe you can encourage others to show their stuff?
You obviously know how to use your ultra-cool lens and camera to the max!

Since this is the off-season - I appreciate good photos and would like to see more macros from the STORMTRACK crew.