Macro Lighting Rig

Kit in photo:- Pentax *istD, 2 x Pentax AF240FT, 2 x Hot Shoe Adapter F, 2 x 5P Extension Cord F, 2 x Stofen Omnibounce diffusers, Stroboflex twin flash bracket, Manfrotto 055ProB tripod + 804RC2 3-way head. Lens is a Sigma EX DG IF 180mm 1:3.5 Macro.

The arms of the Stroboflex can be extended by about another 4 inches by adding more joints so that the flashes can be mounted higher if necessary. With a shorter lens like the Pentax-F, FA or D-FA 100mm Macro, a flash head can be positioned over the top of the lens to illuminate the subject from above.

Whilst the Hot Shoe Adapters are not configured in the recommended way, this setup works fine giving me TTL flash control, which I can't get with the K10D unless I use the heavier (and more expensive) AF360/540FGZ units.

The Stofen diffusers are actually from my AF360FGZ's and don't fit too well, necessitating the use of tape to keep them in place.

Can we see an example of a macro shot taken with this setup?

Certainly. These were taken today to illustrate the lighting. I've not used this rig in the field yet, I'm still playing with it.

Rig used is as shown at the head of the topic except shots were taken hand held (no SR ), with/without diffusers, and 2 different lenses as stated below.

The subject is one of our house guests. Anybody know what it is? It's body length (without wings and 'tails' is about 4mm).

SMC Pentax-FA 100mm Macro, direct lighting - no diffusers. Note the harsh shadows.




SMC Pentax-FA 100mm Macro, direct lighting - with diffusers. Note the softer shadows.




Sigma EX DG IF 180mm Macro.

This is another quick 'n dirty shot to show a result using the K10D + 2 x AF360FGZ's with Omnibounce diffusers in wireless mode, the popup flash was used as a controller.


K10D, 2 x AF360FGZ, Sigma EX DG IF 180mm Macro ( very heavily cropped) 4mm Subject was about 500mm from the end of my lens.

Thanks for that. There's enough modelling to see the subject properly and it doesn't seem quite so flat as a ringflash. With a ringflsh though it's possible to add a small flashgun to one side to create that modelling.

Anyway, nice work, but not so sure about the model. I've seen prettier...

looks very similar to a creature we get around here.
we call them "Fishfly"s
believe they have no mouth, don't actually eat anything. They live thier lives in the larvae stage and then morph, into that, hoping to live just long enough to breed.
around here they get about 3 cm long.

It's a mayfly.

Interesting flash setup. Using the same lens I just use a hotshoe mounted AF360 with a lumiquest softbox that works very well. That said, I don't use the lens hood.

Right you are!!!

link

Excellent looking rig Peter.

I will goggle Loc-Line and see what i come up with. Should be able to buy it off the shelf somewhere. :
Thanks mate

Thanks for the ID. I've used a Lumiquest Softbox too, and it is good. If you use long extension tubes or bellows for higher magnification though, a hotshoe mounted flash may not do the job because the subject to lens distance can be very small. Your subject would then be in the shadow of the lens/hood.

For these test shots I dispensed with the hood on the Sigma, and the Pentax lens doesn't have a removeable one.

I've not used this rig in anger yet, I'll post some 'proper' pics when I do.

What do you mean by this :
They look setup ok to me. I use this setup myself.

Ideally (according to any Pentax DSLR/flash manual, P184 of the K10D manual) the adpters/cables should be daisy chained in series, not stacked in parallel like I have them. To do it as the manual describes, I'd have to buy an off-camera adapter, which I didn't want to do.

From the pics I've seen of your rig, you use two slightly different adapters, one is the Hot Shoe Adapter F, and the other . . . isn't. Mine are both Hot Shoe Adapter F.

It all seems to work fine anyway. I chose to use the AF240FT's for TTL compatibility with the *istD. To get the same compatibilty with a K10D I'd have to use 2 x AF540FGZ's which is way too expensive and heavy. I've now got the whole lot in one bag so when I get the time to go out I can just grab it 'n go.

I made a couple of diffusers out of a plastic box i found in the closet. Held on with some velcro. They also pack flat for easy storage in my bag.
[IMG]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x261/ClarkyinAus/Diffuser.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x261/ClarkyinAus/Diffuser2.jpg[/IMG]

I also found some of that Loc-Line tubing listed on E-Bay. Is the stuff you have half inch or 3 quarter :
IC&ih=021" rel="nofollow" class="outlink" target="blank">link

Thanks for giving me the name of it. I will get some and see what i can do with it.

The ID of the narrowest part of the tube is 3/4". The OD of the widest part is about 1".

I'm guessing from that that these are from their 3/4" range.

I'd be interested to see what you come up with.

Fantastic setup, and what a great macro of a Mayfly. I wish I could get the same results with the Mayfly, but every time I try a shot like that I always end up with the critter either flying away or smashed by my grand son. LOL