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Ivanq Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #1 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better I’ve been shooting macro for the past 5 months or so and it’s become something I really enjoy. Now I would like to expand my equipment to enable me to capture images greater than 1:1 but even after reading a considerable amount on the subject I’m a bit uncertain on how to get to 2:1 or maybe even 3:1. Here’s the equipment I have now for macro: Nikon D90 Sigma 150 2.8 macro Nikon R1 with two SB-200s Nikon SB-600 Monfrotto 055XPROB tripod 4-way Focusing Rail Radio Shutter Release What would you suggest for me to add to allow me to get to higher magnification? I’m not looking for bargain basement equipment but rather good materials that will do a decent job. I have no problem learning new equipment because I’m retired and time is not a problem. I’ve looked at tubes and even a bellows. I do shoot outdoors primarily but would like to try some indoor subjects too. Thanks for any advice - - - Nov 13, 2009 at 02:38 AM

LordV Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #2 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Think you have 3 possibilities with that lens to get to 2:1. 1. A set of kenko ext tubes will get you close to 2:1 (around 1.8:1 I think) 2. A 2X TC 3. An add on dioptre or reversed lens on the front around +7 dioptre. A reversed 50mm lens on the front would give you upto 4:1. A bellows system with a shorter lens say 30 to 50mm lens wil give you zoom macro capability. Suspect I would go for the ext tubes first and use them with the 150mm. Brian v. Nov 13, 2009 at 06:54 AM

Dalantech Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #3 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Hey Clifford, IMHO the problem is that 150mm lens: To get to 2:1 with it you'd need about 100mm of extension (simple math says 150mm of extension, but all macro lenses lose some focal length at minimum focus. That 100mm figure is a rough guess). Not real practical, and adding distance between the aperture blades and the image plane is going to increase diffraction as well as the magnification. Reversing another lens onto that 150mm might give you better image quality, but you'll still be shooting with a "bazooka". Since you have some money to spend on gear why not pick up Nikon's 60mm macro lens + a full set of Kenko extension tubes (the set that's compatible with Nikon). I've got no experience with Nikon gear, but if the 60mm macro is anything like Canon's EF-S 60mm lens then it will lose a lot of focal length at minimum focus and a full set of tubes will get you to almost 3:1. Maybe someone with some experience using bellows can hop into this thread and give you some advice on them -since it looks like you shoot with your rig on a tripod / focusing rail bellows and a sharp reversed prime lens might also be a good option. Also check out the rev 50 revisited thread -lots of good advice there! Edit: Brian and I were replying to this one at the same time Nov 13, 2009 at 07:03 AM

LordV Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #4 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Just to add although it shouldn't give near 2:1 by theory, the 150mm with 68mm of ext tubes does give near 2:1 in practice - someone measured the mag on another forum and came up with an 11mm FOV width on a 1.6 crop camera. Mind you I'm not sure that was a photograph - might just have been a viewfinder view. Brian v. Nov 13, 2009 at 08:25 AM

Ivanq Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #5 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Thanks for all the help. I'd forgot to mention that I have Sigma's 1.4 TE. I'll order some tubes today and try that out. I've been looking for an excuse to get the Nikon 60mm macro so that might be an option too. In any case you've given me a place to start. Nov 13, 2009 at 02:16 PM

TheBat Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #6 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Ivanq wrote: Thanks for all the help. I'd forgot to mention that I have Sigma's 1.4 TE. I'll order some tubes today and try that out. I've been looking for an excuse to get the Nikon 60mm macro so that might be an option too. In any case you've given me a place to start. It might be an idea to get the 'older' 'D' series 60 micro if you are going to use it with tubes? That way you will still be able to manually control the aperture. BTW, if you get Kenko tubes, the 60 micro and your D90 will still be able to 'communicate' the metering for i-TTL lighting. . . . Bruce Nov 14, 2009 at 12:57 AM

friscoron Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #7 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better I'm disappointed that there's not a universally accepted best way of getting to 2:1 or beyond. I see so many great macro photos on this forum, yet it still seems that so many photogs are using different ways of increasing those ratios. I just got the Nikkor 105 macro (I'm pretty sure it was 105) and am eager to start shooting, but am already wondering how I can take it beyond 1:1. Ron Nov 14, 2009 at 01:10 AM

TheBat Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #8 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Hi Ron, Please don't think that I'm directing this toward you as an individual, but I think that far too many people are getting hold of a 'macro' lens and then looking at macro forums to see what is possible with thier new toy and then asking "how can I do that?" I think the best answer, me included, is to plan an approach to macro and use the knowledge of the experts from this forum. For example, I have found out that it is better to get hold of the older D series micro Nikkor so that the aperture can be set manually with extension tubes. If you have the newer G series lens then you will need Kenko tubes to be able to use the full metering system. I've stopped all random purchases and are now sitting back and trying to formulate a proper plan/approach to the style of macro that I want to pursue. . . . Bruce Nov 14, 2009 at 03:24 AM

Dalantech Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #9 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better friscoron wrote: I'm disappointed that there's not a universally accepted best way of getting to 2:1 or beyond. I see so many great macro photos on this forum, yet it still seems that so many photogs are using different ways of increasing those ratios. Ron Hey Ron, That's almost like getting mad at two different cooks cause they don't scramble eggs the same way A lot of what you see someone doing in macro depends on their experience and the techniques that they like to use. Putting enough extension on a 100mm lens to get to 2:1 might be perfectly acceptable to someone who shoots using a tripod and a focusing rail. But to someone who shoots hand held all that extension, and the weight of the lens being further away from the camera, might seem unbalanced and difficult to use... Nov 14, 2009 at 06:59 AM

LordV Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #10 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better friscoron wrote: I'm disappointed that there's not a universally accepted best way of getting to 2:1 or beyond. I see so many great macro photos on this forum, yet it still seems that so many photogs are using different ways of increasing those ratios. I just got the Nikkor 105 macro (I'm pretty sure it was 105) and am eager to start shooting, but am already wondering how I can take it beyond 1:1. Ron The most used way of getting to 2:1 with a macro lens around 100mm or smaller is to use extension tubes. Beyond 2:1 you start getting into the realms of reversing a lens onto the front of macro lens - eg a 50mm lens will give 3:1. As is usual though there are lots of different ways to do things such as reversing lenses directly onto the camera body which vary in their ease of use. Brian V. Nov 14, 2009 at 08:20 AM

friscoron Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #11 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Thanks for your responses, guys! Like you mentioned, Bruce, I'm trying to assimmilate a plan to get the equipment I need to start doing some macro. It's really exciting to me to see the fabulous macro shots you guys are posting. I know I have a lot to learn, it's going to be a fun process, and I'm looking forward to getting started. Another question. When you reverse a lens, does that mean you reverse the 50 mm lens, then attach your macro? Or do you shoot simply through the reversed lens? Ron Nov 14, 2009 at 08:02 PM

LordV Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #12 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better friscoron wrote: Thanks for your responses, guys! Like you mentioned, Bruce, I'm trying to assimmilate a plan to get the equipment I need to start doing some macro. It's really exciting to me to see the fabulous macro shots you guys are posting. I know I have a lot to learn, it's going to be a fun process, and I'm looking forward to getting started. Another question. When you reverse a lens, does that mean you reverse the 50 mm lens, then attach your macro? Or do you shoot simply through the reversed lens? Ron The easiest reversed lens to use is one reversed onto another lens ( a shorter lens onto a longer lens) the reversed lens acts like an add on dioptre lens and is normally used wide open and focused on infinity, focus and aperture are still controlled by the main lens although the total focus range is pretty limited. So the 50mm lens is reversed onto the macro lens which is attached to the camera body. You can reverse a shortish lens (normally 30 to 50mm) directly onto the camera body. This can give upto about 3:1 magnification but is much harder to use as you have to preset the aperture so is actually easier with an old manual lens. Brian v. Nov 14, 2009 at 08:41 PM

orionmystery Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #13 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Excellent input from all I tested with the raynox dcr250 on my newly acquired sigma 150...gave me like 2.3 : 1 Nov 17, 2009 at 02:23 AM

M Vers Online Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #14 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better I use a 1.4x TC in combination with kenko tubes with my Sigma 150 to go beyond 1:1. TBH I'm not quite sure what magnification it gets me but if I had to guess I'd say right around 2:1. Nov 17, 2009 at 02:59 AM

M Vers Online Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #15 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Shot a quick test today with the Sigma 150 and an assortment of combination's. RAW-JPEG conversion only: Bare (1:1) +12mm Tube +20mm Tube +36mm Tube +68mm Tube +1.4x TC +1.4x TC+68mm Tube Nov 21, 2009 at 11:19 PM

TheBat Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #16 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better A good set of pics and a really good example of what can be expected from the various 'add-ons'. Perhaps the use of a ruler as a subject might have been even more helpful? I was very interested at the lack of light fall-off with the extra extension tubes. I would have thought that the pics would have become a lot darker? Bruce Nov 21, 2009 at 11:35 PM

M Vers Online Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #17 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better TheBat wrote: A good set of pics and a really good example of what can be expected from the various 'add-ons'. Perhaps the use of a ruler as a subject might have been even more helpful? I was very interested at the lack of light fall-off with the extra extension tubes. I would have thought that the pics would have become a lot darker? Bruce No ruler to be found, not sure where I last used it. As for lighting, a flash was used therefore the lighting was fairly regulated. Nov 21, 2009 at 11:44 PM

Ivanq Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #18 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better That's a great series as it really shows me a lot. Thanks - - - Nov 22, 2009 at 01:33 AM

TheBat Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #19 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better M Vers wrote: No ruler to be found, not sure where I last used it. As for lighting, a flash was used therefore the lighting was fairly regulated. Haha, I know what it's like. . . . if it's anything like my house, the bloody kids have got it and not put it back!!! Bruce Nov 22, 2009 at 04:43 AM

Dalantech Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #20 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Excellent post Matt!! Nov 22, 2009 at 06:30 AM

M Vers Online Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #21 · Confused on how to get to 2:1 or Better Dalantech wrote: Excellent post Matt!! Thanks, John. I still haven't taken a ruler to my monitor to figure magnification gains though (since I can't find one). Looks to me like I get slightly more than 2:1 with the complete set of tubes and the TC. Nov 22, 2009 at 02:59 PM

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