Macro Photography; A short guide to getting some gear for tiny subjects
photography·@darkb4dawn·
0.000 HBDMacro Photography; A short guide to getting some gear for tiny subjects
<html> <p>I originally became interested in photography through macro shooting. A few years ago, I had a Sigma 100mm prime lens with a "macro" feature that featured a 1:2 magnification ratio. I used this with my 35mm film camera and had a blast.</p> <p>Somewhere, along the way I sold off my macro gear and moved on to other styles of shooting, forgetting about my love of macro entirely.</p> <p>Fast forward to now. I am again hot for macro photography, the problem is that I do not have a true macro lens or other means of getting really up close.</p> <p>I spent this week shopping around and deciding how I would equip myself with macro gear. Let me share just a few things with you, I'd bet (especially with this weeks Photo Challenge featuring macro photography) that this will help at least a few people out.</p> <p><em>(Sample image, distributed under a creative commons license)</em></p> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/l4my75r7x/bee_macro_insect.jpg" width="1066" height="800"/></p> <p><strong>First what is "Macro" photography?</strong></p> <p>Technically, macro photography is when the lens will produce a subject on the sensor at life size, a 1:1 ratio. How this actually looks will vary greatly depending on your camera.</p> <ul> <li>So if the sensor inside your camera is 36x24mm (the size of 35mm film and the digital sensor in a full frame DSLR such as a Canon 5d), then a strawberry that is roughly 36x24mm will fill the frame.</li> <li>Now if you look at my Olympus micro four thirds camera, it has a smaller sensor size of roughly; 21 x 17 mm. So the same strawberry of 36 x 24mm will over fill the frame and a smaller 21 x17mm berry will fill the frame.</li> <li>Looking at a cell phone with it's tiny sensor (iPhone = 5x3.5 mm) you can see that all other things being equal the 36 x24 mm strawberry would be huge and at 1:1, something only the size of that 5x3.5mm sensor would fill the screen.</li> </ul> <p>So, what I am showing here is that at a 1:1 magnification ratio, a SMALLER sensor can produce a true macro image of a very small subject. That is why some really great macro shots can be taken with a cell phone that has been granted the ability to "see" a 1:1 magnification ratio. (more on this later)</p> <p>So all other things being equal, a small sensor has an advantage over a larger sensor in making small things look really big and fill the frame.</p> <p><strong>What about less than 1:1 magnification??</strong></p> <p>Often magnification as low as 1:4 is called macro by manufactures. </p> <p>1:4 means at the closest focusing distance for a given lens, something could be photographed at 25% of life size on the sensor. So, based on the information in the previous section, the ability of this magnification to create a great macro effect will depend on the sensor being used. I'd say with a smaller sensor, 1:4 magnification is more than adequate for excellent macro effect, while with a larger sensor it is not really enough.</p> <p><em>this image shows how the same strawberry compares to several sensor sizes (images chosen from creative commons images)</em></p> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/v5mqjcxzh/magnification.jpg" width="1280" height="481"/></p> <p><br></p> <blockquote><strong>Okay, enough about that. What to buy??? Here are my recommendations based on camera type.</strong></blockquote> <p><strong>DSLR with a Full frame sensor or a APS-C sensor</strong></p> <ul> <li>I consider these sensor types to be large and thus require a lens set-up that achieves a 1:1 ratio.</li> <li>You can simply buy a macro lens that is rated at 1:1 magnification</li> <li>if you choose a shorter lens (say 50mm vs 100mm) you will have to position the camera much closer to your subject. That might suck if say your subject might run away, bite you or maybe you will block a lot of the light and/or cast a shadow on the subject.</li> <li>I recommend a 90mm equivalent or longer macro lens for DSLRS</li> <li>in order 4 sweet options all with 1:1 magnification are ...</li> </ul> <p> <em>Canon EF 100mm f/2.8, Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED , Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro , Sony 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens</em></p> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/qxryalwjx/macro_lenses.jpg" width="1280" height="335"/></p> <p><br></p> <ul> <li><strong>Another option is extension tubes</strong></li> <li>They typically cost much less than buying a 1:1 macro lens.</li> <li>They do reduce the light that gets to the sensor so you might end up really needing a tripod</li> <li>You can stack them for extra magnification</li> <li>since they add length, the magnification power of the lens is increased.</li> <li>search DIY extension tubes online and you can se that some people just make their own for practically no cost at all.</li> </ul> <p><em>a set of inexpensive tubes, shown stacked together</em></p> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/bp72ty971/extension_tubes.jpg" width="407" height="500"/></p> <ul> <li><strong>Close up filters are a third option.</strong></li> <li>They are very inexpensive.</li> <li>You thread them on to the front of your lens, buy ones where the "mm" number matches the diameter of the lens you will use them on. If you want to use them on different sized lenses you will buy a set for each lens.</li> <li>Like the extension tubes, they can be stacked to increase the magnification factor.</li> </ul> <p><em>A set of Tiffen close up filters and a set of Hoya close up filters</em></p> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/igxhwsy6l/close_up_filters_3.jpg" width="1011" height="500"/></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>What to buy if you have a Micro Four thirds Camera?</strong></p> <ul> <li>Just like with the DSLR section above you can use extension tubes and magnification filters.</li> <li>The sensor is smaller at 1/2 the size of a full frame. That means you could get by with less than 1:1 magnification and still get great results.</li> <li>Olympus makes a superb 60mm (120mm full frame equivalent) 1:1 macro lens.</li> <li>That is the lens I just purchased for myself yesterday. I was able to buy it at Olympus's website, refurbished for $319. A very good deal. I am super excited for it to arrive.</li> </ul> <p><em><strong> </strong></em><em>Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens </em></p> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/ss9upgpvx/olympus_60mm.jpg" width="500" height="500"/></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Reversing the lens with an adapter</strong></p> <ul> <li>This is an inexpensive option for all DSLRS and Micro Four Thirds cameras.</li> <li>These adapters screw in the front threads of your non-macro lens and then mount it to the camera body backwards.</li> <li>You lose usually lose auto focus.</li> </ul> <p><em>Adorama reversal ring, Canon reversal ring and extension tube in one (this particular piece maintains autofocus controls)</em></p> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/i6pzdgjkd/reversal_rings.jpg" width="911" height="450"/></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Cell Phone Macro</strong></p> <ul> <li>With such a small sensor if you can get to a 1:1 magnification ration, the macro ability of a cell is pretty incredible.</li> <li>There are many, many lenses and lens kits designed to attach to a cell phone in various ways. I am sure the quality varies. I have not used any of these lenses yet but I am about to order some.</li> <li>Again there are very many to pick from. A quick look on amazon or similar websites will bring up a bunch of very cool options for macro and other cell phone lenses.</li> </ul> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/78epv9uz1/cell_lens_9.jpg" width="1058" height="800"/></p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>A few things to keep in mind</strong></p> <p>Remember getting accurate focus is much harder. Your depth of field (the slice of area in focus) is very narrow when you are up so close. Plan to take a handful of shots of each image in order to ensure one of them is critically focused.</p> <p>A tripod would come in very handy and well as a remote shutter release; or use the cameras built in timer shutter release function, vibration and hand shake are a bigger problem with a small subject.</p> <p>You may also want to invest in a RING LIGHT FLASH.</p> <p>***This is the next thing on my list. I did not research them fully yet, and I have never owned one. I do know they can be very beneficial to getting great lighting on your little subject.***</p> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/unwn0meq5/ring_light.jpg" width="800" height="800"/></p> <p><br></p> <p>To wrap up, this is not a complete guide. That said I do hope it has you going a great direction. Have a blast with your image gathering and I can't wait to see what you all come up with during the Photo Challenge and the coming future.</p> <p>Best wishes !</p> <p>my blog is at @darkb4dawn 11:11</p> <p><em>(sample macro, image under creative commons license)</em></p> <p><img src="https://s20.postimg.org/g79dm1p8t/orchid_macro.jpg" width="1207" height="800"/></p> <p><br></p> <p>* the two beautiful sample macro images, are images that have been released by creators/artists royalty free for all usage*</p> <p><br></p> </html>
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