What lens and set up can produce similar results?
Posted 21/02/2012 - 10:38
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Star - these shots are from Thomas Shahan. He is a very well known macro shooter and admired for his superb macro shots. To imitate these would take a lot of patience, skill and learning (including most importantly how to shoot using a snoot/diffusers and how control your flash, either on or off camera, for macro shots).
To shoot these you would need a dedicated macro lens (I forget what he uses - other than a Canon with their famous, US$1,000, MPE-65 macro lens) and either reverse another prime lens onto that or use extention tubes - for still life a focusing rail and then stacking multiple shots would drive you extreme detail.
To begin with I suggest buying a macro lens in the 90-105mm range (NOT in the 35-50 range) and get used to shooting that at 1:1 magnification first.
To shoot these you would need a dedicated macro lens (I forget what he uses - other than a Canon with their famous, US$1,000, MPE-65 macro lens) and either reverse another prime lens onto that or use extention tubes - for still life a focusing rail and then stacking multiple shots would drive you extreme detail.
To begin with I suggest buying a macro lens in the 90-105mm range (NOT in the 35-50 range) and get used to shooting that at 1:1 magnification first.
http://frogfish.smugmug.com/ Pentax. Pentax DA*300/4, Cosina 55/1.2, Lens Baby Composer Pro & Edge 80, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
Posted 21/02/2012 - 10:40
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This video will help
You need more than the macro lenses you mentioned. A reversed manual lens (e.g. 28mm) would be good. See video 2:20, and 2:26 = 28mm reversed with extension tubes (but is a 'focus stacked' image from 10 images!)
His camera setup shown at 0:56 onwards
Oh, and a LOT of patience and practise!!
Matt
You need more than the macro lenses you mentioned. A reversed manual lens (e.g. 28mm) would be good. See video 2:20, and 2:26 = 28mm reversed with extension tubes (but is a 'focus stacked' image from 10 images!)
His camera setup shown at 0:56 onwards
Oh, and a LOT of patience and practise!!
Matt
http://www.mattmatic.co.uk
(For gallery, tips and links)
(For gallery, tips and links)
Posted 21/02/2012 - 10:44
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I'm no expert, but a longer focal length allows you to be further away from the subject. So while a 100mm and 35mm macro will give a similar sized end result you need to be 3 times closer with the 35mm.
If you hope to capture skittish creatures a 100mm may be a better option, however if you find you do most of your photography at 35mm or 50mm then they may be better suited to your other photographic endeavors.
Having looked at his flickr images a lot of these were taken with a reversed 50mm prime. In which case you can buy the basic equipment quite cheaply. You just need a manual 50mm lens and a reversing ring, once any lens is reversed all auto features are lost so you need a lens with a manual aperture setting.
Hope this helps, I'm sure someone will expand on this.
Neil
If you hope to capture skittish creatures a 100mm may be a better option, however if you find you do most of your photography at 35mm or 50mm then they may be better suited to your other photographic endeavors.
Having looked at his flickr images a lot of these were taken with a reversed 50mm prime. In which case you can buy the basic equipment quite cheaply. You just need a manual 50mm lens and a reversing ring, once any lens is reversed all auto features are lost so you need a lens with a manual aperture setting.
Hope this helps, I'm sure someone will expand on this.
Neil
Pentax K-5; Pentax DA 18-135mm WR; Pentax F 50mm f1.7; Tamron 18-250mm f3.5-6.3, Pentax DFA 100mm F2.8 WR Macro; Pentax 40mm F/2.8 Xs.
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I am thinking of either purchasing the Pentax 35mm Macro SMC DA f2.8 or the Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro, however I'm not too sure if I'm keen on a fixed focal length.
Pentax K3
Vivitar 28-200mm f3.5-5.3 A Macro
Tamron 90mm f2.8 SP DI Macro 1:1
Pentax smc DA 55-300mm f4.0-5.8 ED
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC
Pentax 18-135mm WR