Lighting for Macro...

1174 posts
15 years
Bradford

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:30 Link

Just wondered how some of you light up your macro shots...

I've tried off-camera flash and onboard flash using a DIY tubelike director thing (kitchen roll tube lined with foil...)

Both with mixed results (and no keepers as yet...) Seems I do best with natural light...

So, how do you light up your macros?

........................................................................
Digital:
Pentax K5- Vivitar 19mm 3.8; FA35mm f2; D-Xenon 100mm macro f2.8; DA50-200mm WR...
Flash:
Yongnuo YN-560; Vivitar 285HV; Cactus V4 triggers...
Film:
Pentax-MX & M50mm f1.4; Spottie & 55mm f1.8; MG & M40mm 2.8...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/

SteveEveritt SteveEveritt

1714 posts
16 years
Somewhere warm and sunny

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:32 Link

Diffused ringflash works for me

Flickr
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" (John Lennon)

dougf8 dougf8

2917 posts
16 years
another place

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:36 Link

The pringles tube with on-board.

Or a diffuse light tent with radio trigger flash top (EF500DG SUPER, left and right AF200T optical triggers.

Lurking is shirking.!

Edited by dougf8: 06/03/2013 - 20:37

DaveHolmes DaveHolmes

1174 posts
15 years
Bradford

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:38 Link

dougf8 wrote:
The pringles tube with on-board.

Do you use the lid as a diffuser?

dougf8 dougf8

2917 posts
16 years
another place

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:40 Link

DaveHolmes wrote:

dougf8 wrote:
The pringles tube with on-board.

Do you use the lid as a diffuser?

Its a rough and ready one with a rubber band and either tracing paper or a hanky.

I've angled the output so it is more down than forward thus the lid doesn't fit. A bit like this one http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-flashes-lighting-technique/146183-diy-...

Lurking is shirking.!

Edited by dougf8: 06/03/2013 - 20:43

DaveHolmes DaveHolmes

1174 posts
15 years
Bradford

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:41 Link

SteveEveritt wrote:
Diffused ringflash works for me

How do you diffuse ring flash without covering the lens? (this is possibly a stupid question isn't it?)

DaveHolmes DaveHolmes

1174 posts
15 years
Bradford

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:42 Link

dougf8 wrote:

DaveHolmes wrote:

dougf8 wrote:
The pringles tube with on-board.

Do you use the lid as a diffuser?

Its a rough and ready one with a rubber band and either tracing paper or a hanky.

I've angled the output so it is more down than forward thus the lid doesn't fit.

I'm with you... Going to try this soon!!

matwhittingto... matwhittington

1474 posts
17 years
West London,
UK

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:44 Link

I normally have a 540 flash with an omni bounce diffuser on it, normally wound down to -1 or more, on a cheapo remote TTL cord from the hotshoe. I can then hold it alongside the lens, either side, above or below it, or have it in the hotshoe, or pretty much anywhere else...

Cheers

Mat W

My Flickr: link

dougf8 dougf8

2917 posts
16 years
another place

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:45 Link

A bit like this one http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-flashes-lighting-technique/146183-diy-...

But I'm liking this http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?s=2ec39f2a15bc600c66b2fadc42483...

Lurking is shirking.!

Edited by dougf8: 06/03/2013 - 20:46

davidstorm davidstorm

4934 posts
15 years
Sheffield,
England

Posted 06/03/2013 - 20:45 Link

A home-made double-header flash diffuser, tubes with adjustable arms, made from empty Pringles Tubes and fitted over the end of a cheap (but powerful) manual flashgun. Cost £24 (including the flashgun) and produces bright, evenly lit shots with no shadows at F16 and ISO200, like this one which was shot with the Sigma 105 DG EX Macro, 2x Teleconverter and the above-mentioned flash setup.

Regards
David

Flickr

Nicola's Apartments, Kassiopi, Corfu

Some cameras, some lenses, some bits 'n' bobs

Plus Member cbrog cbrog

424 posts
15 years
Surrey

Posted 06/03/2013 - 21:04 Link

DaveHolmes wrote:

SteveEveritt wrote:
Diffused ringflash works for me

How do you diffuse ring flash without covering the lens? (this is possibly a stupid question isn't it?)

Why would you want to - ringflash units are often (usually?) designed to be used for macro work and are low powered with a very short effective range. I use the Vivitar Macroflash 5000 - two of which I picked up on eBay for less than £30 each.

See Leaf Cutter Bee in my portfolio.

Roger.

Edited by cbrog: 06/03/2013 - 21:12

nass nass

481 posts
17 years
Surrey

Posted 06/03/2013 - 21:08 Link

This works for me, although I use a different connector nowadays as PC-sync is a binary signal whereas PTTL requires a different signal. One thing to look at is the differential between the bottom of the eye and the top of the eye. It's a problem I havn't properly solved myself yet although I have a slightly different setup this year using a beauty dish. We'll see

Equipment For Reverse Lens Extreme Macro Photography by Johan J.Ingles-Le Nobel, on Flickr

... just another middle-aged guy with a hobby. I have an extreme macro learning site at extreme-macro.co.uk - Pentax-centric, your feedback and comments would be appreciated!

Edited by nass: 06/03/2013 - 21:10

nass nass

481 posts
17 years
Surrey

Posted 06/03/2013 - 21:14 Link

This is the sort of eveness you can get with a shape like this, although again this is a slightly different variant which actually stretches diffuser material quite far back too. Because of it being far back it means you can get a bit underneath the subject too. With this particular lens I have a huge working distance of about 10cm or so, so there's plenty of room for a diffuser on top

Small Elephant Hawkmoth by Johan J.Ingles-Le Nobel, on Flickr

... just another middle-aged guy with a hobby. I have an extreme macro learning site at extreme-macro.co.uk - Pentax-centric, your feedback and comments would be appreciated!

Plus Member cbrog cbrog

424 posts
15 years
Surrey

Posted 06/03/2013 - 21:21 Link

Shots like that make me want to give up macro photography

Brilliant.

Roger.

Renster Renster

98 posts
13 years
Chelmsford,
Essex

Posted 06/03/2013 - 21:55 Link

What an amazing shot!