Macro... Not a Clue!

stokes

stokes

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Tom
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So im off to the eden project in a couple of weeks with the mrs for her work and am thinking about hiring a macro lens from lensforhire for the trip.

Now, if i hired a Nikon 105mm F2.8 Micro lens would i get nice macro shots out of the lens, or do i need to be looking at getting some extension tubes too?

Im looking for photos of bugs and the like..... Going to get my flash setup somehow too (looked at the "Macro gear thread) for inspiration.

Thoughts please....
 
A lots going to depend on what you're expectations are.

Might sound odd but some people like just 1:1 some people like more Magnification.

So if your happy with just 1:1 then yes the 105mm will be fine.

Also depends on what you want to take pictures of if its butterflies then a 105 might not be the lens for you.

Can I suggest you have a look in the macro forum and see what type of images your hoping to achieve and then perhaps can give some guidance on if the 105 on its own will be sufficient.

Oh and just a warning Macro is addictive but if its your first time trying, be prepared for lots of frustration and to have a lot of pictures discarded.
 
Nez said:
Also depends on what you want to take pictures of if its butterflies then a 105 might not be the lens for you.

Oh and just a warning Macro is addictive but if its your first time trying, be prepared for lots of frustration and to have a lot of pictures discarded.
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Ive taken lots of shots of butterflies with the 105 macro, works perfectly well for me

Agree macro is very addictive you will be wanting your own as soon as :)
 
Oh I'm not saying you cant get butterflies with a 105 (I know I never seem too :bang: ;) ) just if its the main interest than a 150 or 180 might be better.
 
i think i will just take the plundge and hire one, have it for a week (im on my holidays) and play around. Now to look on ebay for a cheap flash bracket :)

Will give stuart a call and check its in stock as they are showing yellow at the moment
 
To be honest, i have no "main" interest, just felt that a trip to eden would be a good chance to have a play. ive got a whole day there on my own and have been told it wont take that long to look around.

I will photograph anything that moves :)
 
Nez said:
Oh I'm not saying you cant get butterflies with a 105 (I know I never seem too :bang: ;) ) just if its the main interest than a 150 or 180 might be better.
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Aye your probably right as you need more stealth with a 105mm, I just looked at your flickr Neil added you as a contact fab work,

Added you as well Tome I thought you were already a contact seems not you are now LOL
 
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105nikkor d --- check the link in my sig for pics. Some are with basic (tenner) tubes.


I personally think its a great lens. Well worth borrowing. If its the vr lens should be better :)

If you look back through the flickr links, there should be a load from the butterfly farm in Stratford... :)
 
stokes said:
Indeed. looking up flash brackets now, and a cord :)
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The biggest problem I had with setting up flash for macro was stability when walking around, everything finished up revolving like a windmill after 10 minutes!

If you like I'll link you to the stuff I bought in the end, not the cheapest option but by no means the most expensive.

It is rock steady though.
 
For a simple solution I attached one of these:
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/suppo..._flexible_arm_with_mini_ball_30cm/8438_p.html
that's the expensive item.

to an ordinary flash bracket:
http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/9097/show.html
and used an off camera TTL flash cord also from Jessops.

The flexible arm is incredibly strong and easily supports my 430 EX and diffuser with no movement.

For a diffuser I use
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-lumiquest-softbox/p1008535
and bought the extra velcro strap so I didn't have to stick the diffuser to the flashgun.
hope this helps.
 
using a sb900 im thinking that the flash might fit straight onto the bracket without the need for the flexible arm ?
 
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The problem with fitting the flash straight to the bracket is that the lens will shadow a lot of the light, you could make a snoot to 'beam' the flash to the end of the lens though.
 
Condensation is a major problem in the Eden domes, if your camera is cold. Shouldn't be too bad at this time of year.
 
You must have a bracket of some sort in order to illuminate at very small distances.
The flexible arm screws into a threaded hole on the straight bracket.

The good thing about the arm is the tiny ballhead at the tip. I can position the flash to face any direction I want very easily and it's rock steady.. The engineering is excellent, made in Deutschland!
 
I find the SB-900 is too big and heavy for macro work. I much prefer the humble SB-400 as its small size makes it much easier to position and it has enough power for small apertures at macro distances.
 
I'm Probably going to slap myself for doing this but can I be the voice of reason and say if its only for one day and all your doing is hiring the lens just get yourself a cheap C bracket, flash cord

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cowboystudi...02II/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1312264384&sr=8-4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SC-28-CAMER...8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312265128&sr=1-8

and you could look for something like this or even make your own diffuser its not hard and plenty of people do make there's

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opteka-Univ...5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312265039&sr=1-5
 
stokes said:
one of these would do the job? :)

http://www.fotosense.co.uk/manfrott...=JjJDCRWcLdVULB1fTY9WQbD_XDagW7F10piaIO1QV5Q=
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i've never seen one in action but I wonder whether it may be too big or cumbersome to carry around.

Nez said:
I'm Probably going to slap myself for doing this but can I be the voice of reason and say if its only for one day and all your doing is hiring the lens just get yourself a cheap C bracket, flash cord

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cowboystudi...02II/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1312264384&sr=8-4
Click to expand...
That was the kind of device I had trouble with. Walking around and moving the camera gradually loosened the tightening knobs. Would be ideal for a static setup on a tripod.

On the other hand it could just be my hamfistidness!
 
footman said:
That was the kind of device I had trouble with. Walking around and moving the camera gradually loosened the tightening knobs. Would be ideal for a static setup on a tripod.

On the other hand it could just be my hamfistidness!
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Oh I Agree there not ideal But for trialling out for a day's worth of macro it might be a better solution than the added expense and if the op finds he likes it then you can always use the parts to make a frankenstein of a bracket at a later date.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I've got a defuser for the sb900 so ill use that and have decided to go with a cheap bracket setup and a cheap jessops ttl cord for the minute. I could have got them cheaper from china but as the lens is arriving on Friday for about 10 days I needed to ensure it would get here sharpish.

I will then later review whether or not I like macro and knowing me will end up buying a lens and a nikon rc1 setup as the Su800 would be good to have to use cls on my sb900's for other photography. As my d3 does not have a pop up flash to control the sb900's ( waits for Davekiddle to say " I told you so" lol )

Thanks all for your help. The manfrotto arm does look wicked but probably far to heavy to hand hold for to long
 
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