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Archive 2008 · Whats your macro lighting setup?

  
 
Sissel
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


I am looking for a way to light my macros best possible. Now I am using the internal flash with a light tunnel or a diffuser that I put on my lense to diffuser the internal flash. The diffuser can be used with my external flash, the Sunpak 383 on the camera too, but I have not tried it so much yet. I also have a stofen omnibounce to put on my Sunpak.

It would be great if you folks could post pictures of your macro lighting setups, so I could get inspiration to how I should light my macro the best.

My home made light tunnel:


My diffuser with internal flash:



My diffuser and external flash setup:


The macro solutions I have tried this lighting with, is:

-Stacking lenses (reverse one lense at anothter for example: Nikon 50mm f1.8 at Nikon 28-80mm, Nikon E 28mm f2.8 at Nikon 105mm f2.5 AIS)
- Close up lense 500D (on Sigma 70-300 APO, Nikon E 75-150)
- Macro Teleconverter, Vivitar Macro focusing teleconverter(With 50mm f1.8 for 100mm f3.6 and 1:1, with a borrowed Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro for 2:1 and together with PK-13)
- Extension Tube, PK-13 (Together with the Vivitar Macro Focusing Teleconverter and Nikon 135mm f2.8 AIS and togehter with a Sigma 50mm f2.8 and the VMFTC)

Also have a reverse adapter on my way, try to reverse a 50mm and a 28mm direct to my camera.


Edited by Sissel on Mar 02, 2008 at 11:18 AM GMT

Edited by Sissel on Mar 02, 2008 at 11:20 AM GMT

Edited by Sissel on Mar 02, 2008 at 11:39 AM GMT

Edited on Mar 02, 2008 at 05:39 AM



Mar 01, 2008 at 03:04 AM
LordV
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Pic of my macro setups below - lots more info here http://www.flickr.com/groups/topic/66514/

Brian V.




Mar 01, 2008 at 03:48 AM
Sissel
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


LordV wrote:
Pic of my macro setups below - lots more info here http://www.flickr.com/groups/topic/66514/

Brian V.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1179/1031826627_71f765c063.jpg


Where do you find brackets so that you can put your flashes in those positions? I guess it helps a lot to have the ability to put it near the lense in that way, especially when you use setups like I do, with reverse lenses and things like that.
And what does these kind of brackets cost?



Mar 01, 2008 at 03:58 AM
LordV
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Sissel wrote:
Both my brackets are a bit DIY- the nearest I've seen is a Hakuba LH-1 ballhead bracket available on ebay (cheap) but I think I'd replace the ballhead on them with a mini ballhead with a male screw fitting rather than a flash clamp fitting (the flanges on some flash cords break off easily).

Brian V.


Edited on Mar 01, 2008 at 05:02 AM



Mar 01, 2008 at 05:02 AM
frans_vdm
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Pics of my macro setups below:



A max of 6 external flashes can be connected. Now I make new ledsflashunits
Here the first highpower led modules:



5 blocks of 4 highpowerleds will be the new setup. Leds are a mix of white, red, blue and green types. The use of leds make it possible to better control the duration and to give multiple flases into the same picture. Colors may be focussed to an small part of the picture for special effects.

For flying insects an other setup is used:



An external second mechanical shutter is added for this application.
Frans.



Mar 01, 2008 at 05:48 AM
Sissel
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Hmm...LordV,you just gave me an idea to try to make a kind of flash bracket of the equipment I have. This is what I have:

*Hama flash bracket
*Nikon AS-15 Flash adapter
* Sunpak 383 Super flash
* Sunpak small wire to connect from sync adapter to flash
* Flashgun adapter

The flashgun adapter can tilt the so it goes more beside the lense. Only need some way to fasten it to the bracket without destroying it. Should have found a cold shoe thing with a stud in the other end, but I guess that is hard to fin

Edited on Mar 01, 2008 at 05:54 AM



Mar 01, 2008 at 05:54 AM
Dalantech
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


You slay me Frans

Here's a shot of my current rig:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/2283591768_a5baf75bc4_b.jpg

With an explanation here: http://nocroppingzone.blogspot.com/2008/02/macro-rig-for-2008.html

How I use the MT-24EX: http://nocroppingzone.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-i-use-mt-24ex.html

Some samples of the quality of light that I'm getting:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2274434692_4554beab93_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/2260290647_684d0be928_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2171/2252186577_f3422a21c3_b.jpg



Mar 01, 2008 at 06:23 AM
hassy99
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


is that bubble wrap on your flash heads?


Mar 01, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Dalantech
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


hassy99 wrote:
is that bubble wrap on your flash heads?


No: http://nocroppingzone.blogspot.com/2008/02/macro-rig-for-2008.html



Mar 01, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Tom Harpstead
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Sissel,

Here is my simple set up,

http://www.canelabistro.com/images/P1010941.jpg

http://www.canelabistro.com/images/P1010942.jpg

The working part is "fun foam" wrapped around the flash, and a Bogen 233B.

Oops, I forgot that to get the flash at over the subject I adapted a "bike light mount" to the end of the flash bracket.

Thomas



Edited on Mar 01, 2008 at 07:43 PM



Mar 01, 2008 at 07:36 PM
Sissel
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Some pictures taken with the internal flash and the diffuser:
(I think I maybe used the external flash with a stofen Omnibounce on a slave together with the internal flash on these)

A drop on a tulip:



Inside a tulip, some stamens:



Also a drop, but inside a tulip:


Some rose stamens:




A picture taken with the light tunnel:



Edited on Mar 02, 2008 at 05:47 AM



Mar 02, 2008 at 05:31 AM
MichAg92
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


The lighitng in your shots is beautiful, Sissel. My favorites are the drop on a tulip and rose stamens. Lovely.


Mar 02, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Hungtran10
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2016/2248150086_b7f1147467.jpg

here's my junk mail ghetto light diffuser, but i think frans takes the cake on this one! wow.

- hung



Mar 02, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Ron_M
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Check this person's difuser. Good excuse to eat Pringles. :-)

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=24854790



Mar 02, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Sissel
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Sissel wrote:
Hmm...LordV,you just gave me an idea to try to make a kind of flash bracket of the equipment I have. This is what I have:

*Hama flash bracket
*Nikon AS-15 Flash adapter
* Sunpak 383 Super flash
* Sunpak small wire to connect from sync adapter to flash
* Flashgun adapter

The flashgun adapter can tilt the so it goes more beside the lense. Only need some way to fasten it to the bracket without destroying it. Should have found a cold shoe thing with a stud in the other end, but I guess that is hard to fin



I found a solution to how to fasten the flashgun adapter to the hama flash bracket. Found some kind of screw wich fitted into the stud in the flashgun adapter, and persuaded my husband to drill a hole in the hama flash bracket, so I could fasten the bracket and flashgun adapter together.
Also tried to made a diffuser thing like LordV uses, with coke cans. Used paper towel and food paper (do not now the right word for this in english.)

Below is two pictures of the new setup:





Not quite sure how the flash should be positioned for the best light yet, trying out a bit, but getting most confused.
Do you position your flash higher than the lense and downwards or at the same height as the flash and from the side?

Edited on Mar 03, 2008 at 12:55 PM



Mar 03, 2008 at 12:33 PM
cairynest
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


lol wow guys...here i am starting out with the 100mm macro and the 580 2 and a simple diffuser thinking i can take on the world lool and then I see this post. I'm gonna go make some more money now. Then I'll buy some of the stuff you guys have here. thanks for driving me to go broke...


Mar 03, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Sissel
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Not quite sure how the flash should be positioned for the best light yet, trying out a bit, but getting most confused.
Do you folks position your flash higher than the lense and downwards or at the same height as the flash and from the side? Or what do you do? Anybody with any good advice?
Do you use it most for fill flash for the sun, or as a main light? Do you use any reflectors for filling in shadows?

Edited on Mar 04, 2008 at 02:37 AM



Mar 04, 2008 at 02:37 AM
LordV
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Sissel wrote:
Not quite sure how the flash should be positioned for the best light yet, trying out a bit, but getting most confused.
Do you folks position your flash higher than the lense and downwards or at the same height as the flash and from the side? Or what do you do? Anybody with any good advice?
Do you use it most for fill flash for the sun, or as a main light? Do you use any reflectors for filling in shadows?


Can only say my diffuser head ends up at a very slight angle to the lens pointing towards the subject. It is slightly to the side rather directly down. I suspect your arrangement may be a bit too much to the side and forward with the danger of shooting light directly into the lens.
As for use - my normal use is for the flash to be the main source of light - so the camera is in M mode normally around 1/200th F11 for 1:1 shots or less. I do frequently change the ISO between 100-400 so that the shot is only about 1 stop underexposed for natural light. If you shoot in Av or Tv (shutter or aperture priority) you will get a fill flash effect. You really need to test out any flash arrangement to see how it works out from a lighting and flash efficiency POV (you don't really want to be completely draining the flash with a single shot).
Part of the fun with macro is playing with lighting arrangements and seeing how they work for you.

Brian V.



Mar 04, 2008 at 03:03 AM
Sissel
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


So your diffuser head points more like paralell to the lense, but just with an slight angle towards the lense? Is it on the the same level as the lense, or higher? (My english understanding is not perfect, so sorry for any dumb questions )

On the photograph of my setup, the flash was just set up randomly (not planned) I have tried it out in different positions, but I think it is especially hard to find the right lighting way with this lense setup (Nikon 28-80mm with a 50mm AF-D f1.8), which has a very short workind distance. (Only a couple of cm) For this setup I use very small appertures, like f30-f40 for the most dof and fast shutterspeeds to use it handheld. Av or Tv I think could be used with this setup, because the lense fastened to the body is a af lense. But for all my other setups, I think I have to use M. I almost always do anyway. And the Sunpak has to be adjusted manually to.

The setup can be adjusted in different angles by the way. The bracket can of course adjusted forwards and backwards, the flash head bracket kan be adjusted from vertical to horisontal position and the flash itself is bounce and swivel head. So I have som possibilities.

Edited on Mar 04, 2008 at 03:21 AM



Mar 04, 2008 at 03:20 AM
LordV
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Whats your macro lighting setup?


Sissel wrote:
So your diffuser head points more like paralell to the lense, but just with an slight angle towards the lense? Is it on the the same level as the lense, or higher? (My english understanding is not perfect, so sorry for any dumb questions )



Yes the diffuser is approx parallel to the lens but does point slightly inwards and is approximately at 2pm position when viewed from behind.
The pics below may give you a better idea. As I said you really need to do some test shots under your normal shooting settings with the flash head in different positions to find what is best for you.









Mar 04, 2008 at 03:38 AM
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