Welcome to Macro Photography for beginners. Since the early days of writing this website you may have noticed that certain areas of macro photography and camera equipment have been neglected. There are several reasons for this, In most cases this is just because I've not got around to these ones yet, but mainly I have tried to concentrate on the equipment, software and techniques best suited to the absolute beginner to macro photography - from the point of view that this person may have very little experience of cameras or photography. Although macro photography can be difficult [or a bit of a challenge as we prefer to describe it!] it is a skill that is worthwhile learning. It is surprising how often close-up and macro photography can be useful during everyday life as well as dedicated work or projects. I once used macro photography to prove that a computer's optical CD drive scratched my disks in a legal dispute. If it was not for the digital images my case would have been very difficult to prove. In fact, I am convinced that without the photographs the dispute would not have been settled without going to court. I've also found macro photography useful for taking images of electrical circuits or components when wiring or soldering devices together. These are just a couple of recent examples but with some thought I'm sure I could think of several more. It is not accidental that I have neglected to write about reversing rings [also called reversing adapters, reversal rings and reversal mount amongst many other things] on this website in my previous macro photography posts. The fact is, I’m not really a big supporter of this type of device for beginners but accept that reversing rings and bellows should be covered in more detail to enlighten and inform beginners of the many benefits and pitfalls of their use in macro photography. I have therefore decided to write this post for those who are interested in some of the more obscure methods of macro photography. In this post we will look at the good old fashioned reversing ring and bellows whilst investigating some of the ways in which they can be used. At this point I would like to provide a big word warning and would advise readers to place their medication and a stealthy dictionary in a handy position.
Finding the right reversing ring for your camera
A reversing ring is an adapter that (as the name suggests) allows a camera lens to be attached to the camera in reverse i.e. the wrong way round. When the lens is reversed it can focus very closely. One of the main benefits of using a reversing ring is that you can connect any brand of lens to your camera provided that it has the correct size of filter thread. It is also an opportunity to use or recycle a lens that no longer works properly due to mechanical failure, for example if the electronic motor has developed a fault and will no longer auto-focus. This creates an opportunity to use a very high quality camera lens that would be otherwise gather dust in the junk drawer.
When selecting a revering ring or adapter you need to search by camera brand name, for example Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Konica, etc. In addition you will also have to determine the filter thread size of the lens to be reversed this is often displayed on the lens barrel. The most common thread sizes are 52mm 55mm, 62mm, 67mm and 72mm. Reversing rings are not the best selling photography products and stock levels will often be quite low. Problems of low stock are more prevalent with the most obscure filter thread sizes and with the lesser known camera brands. To further complicate matters it may be possible or necessary to use a reduction ring. This is an additional adapter ring used to reduce a large diameter filter thread to a smaller diameter filter thread. This can be incorporated if there is no reversal ring in the correct thread size for your particular choice of lens. A reduction ring can also be used to increase the distance between the lens elements and the cameras digital sensor. This allows the lens to focus closer to the subject and is effectively the same as using an extension tube.
Now, before we all get over-excited and decide that there is no need to spend good money on a proper macro lens, when we can just reverse a kit lens instead, for a fraction of the cost, there are (as always) some negative aspects to consider. The reversing ring is a device that worked better with old fashioned SLR film cameras than modern SLR digital cameras. The most obvious downside is that you lose auto-focus (obviously – because the lens contacts are facing outwards) and will need to set the aperture in advance, which is easier with older lenses that have an aperture ring. The lens contacts are vulnerable to being damaged whilst the lens is reversed and may need to be protected. This can be achieved by making a protective cover from a spare rear (screw-on) lens cover.
Although the low cost of buying a reversing may seem somewhat appealing to beginners of macro photography, they are of limited use on a digital SLR camera. In addition, it is worth considering that there may be further costs involved in getting the lens to work in reverse. It is widely accepted that not all lenses work in reverse [they were never designed to work this way]. Most camera lenses that can be reversed provide a fairly poor alternative to a high quality macro lens. There are plenty of rational reasons why a beginner to macro photography should avoid making or buying a lens reversing ring or adapter. If the main points above are not enough how about the fact that you could cause irreversible damage to the camera and/or lens. This can happen if the reversing ring breaks or too much weight is attached to the camera. In addition, this damage is classed as misuse and will not be covered by the manufacturer's warranty for the camera or the lens. In the unlikely event that you manage to successfully reverse a lens on a digital SLR and manage to get good results, you will be faced with further tribulations. The camera metering system relies on its ability to communicate with the lens. This is an important factor when setting the flash for macro photography.
Bellows
The name bellows has been borrowed from those medieval devices once used to pump air into fires to intensify the level of heat. The same technology also filtered down into musical instruments such as organs, concertinas and accordions. So you may be forgiven if the term bellows conjures up strange medieval images of a smithy hammering a red hot horseshoe on an anvil. In photography the bellows obviously have the same corrugated appearance but their use is purely optical rather than pneumatic. In photography bellows is the term used to describe an expandable tube that allows the lens to be moved nearer or further away from the focal plane (digital sensor or film). Spend time reading macro photography books or internet forum posts and you will often find references to the strange and wondrous bellows. If you think digital macro photography is difficult spare some sympathetic thought for previous generations of dedicated macro photographers. There are still many photographers who use bellows and they can be used with digital cameras. The main benefit of using a bellows is that you can obtain very high levels of magnification. In addition, bellows are not expensive to buy in comparison to high quality macro lenses.
Reversing a lens on another lens by using a coupling ring
If you feel like throwing convention out of the window completely how about reversing one lens on the end of another lens? Although it initially sounds utterly preposterous, in principle it is not much different to using a set of bellows. This works by mounting the first lens (for example a 300mm telephoto lens) conventionally to the camera, then mount the second lens (for example a 28mm lens) using a coupling ring adapter. The coupling ring screws into the filter threads of both lenses.
Reversing the lens on the bellows
Using a lens with the bellows is likely to cause several types of image distortion. You may or may not have suffered from some of these photographic problems in the past. Lens errors are usually unwanted effects or distortions of the image. An aberration, according to the dictionary, is the failure of light rays to converge in one focus because of a defect in a lens. Now I'm going to use some words that are usually only reserved for camera lens reviews in glossy photography magazines. Common problems associated with using bellows include colour fringes (a type of image distortion known as chromatic aberration or achromatism). Coma aberration is the blurring of objects at the edge of the field of view. Vignetting is a reduction of brightness our saturation at the periphery (edges) in comparison to the centre of the image. Un-sharpness [which sometimes referred to as softness] and is the description of an image or part of it that is not in sharp focus.
So the problems of using these antiquated devices or a combination of them with digital technology will often outweigh any financial benefit. The main complaint against using bellows for macro photography is that they are often regarded as being too delicate. It is widely accepted that this type of photography is not best suited to nature photography. The over-fiddly set-up is one of the main reasons that bellows are ill-suited to active or moving subjects. To operate bellows successfully with a digital SLR camera it is likely that some additional components will be required. A remote switch (also known as a cable release) and a sturdy tripod are a useful combination for reducing camera shake. Configurations of equipment obviously vary depending on the brand & model of camera, lens and bellows used. However, it is highly likely that you will require some extension tubes to gain optimum results from the bellows. It is definitely surprising to learn that a bellows system method is still a very popular method of macro photography. This is most likely to be due to the high magnification involved. This is varies depending on the setup used but is often x3 to x18 [or above]. In many cases this can be achieved with very little financial outlay.
Macro Photography for Beginners
Firstly it’s good to be back writing about macro photography again, and I’ve enjoyed delving into the subject of reversing rings and bellows. It is my opinion that beginners to macro photography would be better suited to a digital SLR camera with dedicated macro lens. Most of the impressive digital macro photography that you see will be taken in this way. The easiest and most popular way of getting closer is to add a set of extension tubes. I’m not completely opposed to using bellows or reversing rings. I’ve seen some outstanding photography taken with this type of equipment. I just don’t think they are the best way for beginners to get involved in macro photography. Although there are always a few exceptions, perhaps if you are interested in learning about or experimenting with the Scheimpflug principle, bellows might be a better option.
If you take swift look at the popular Canon MP-E 65mm f2.8 1-5x Macro Lens, you can see by its shape, that it is designed on the principle of reversing a standard lens. It also has no auto-focus which makes it even more similar to a reversed lens. If reversing a lens on a digital SLR worked as efficiently as it did with film cameras and lenses with aperture rings, I would have been first in line to buy one when I first took up macro photography.
Marvin Africa
Writer and Macro Photographer
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Macro Photography and Lighting Kits
Welcome to Macro Photography for Beginners
In this post I will be writing mostly about the differences of using continuous lighting and strobe lighting kits for macro photography. In previous posts on this blog the articles have mainly been directed towards outdoor macro photography. Indoor close up and macro photography is often referred to as still life or simply studio photography. It is an important discipline with regard to product photography and for keeping records of collections. It can be achieved on a shoe string (little expense) but generally good photography studio lighting kits are expensive. This can be a limiting factor for the budding beginner to macro photography. There are different ways to achieve good macro results in a studio. A choice has to be made between working with continuous light or with a flash studio lighting kit.
The first thing to do is to figure out the differences between working with continuous lights and a strobe (or flash) photography kit. In the beginning most photographers experiment with DIY studio lights often built from materials found around the home. DIY studio lights obviously vary in quality and capabilities depending on their construction. There are plenty of websites that will provide details of how to build DIY studio lights for macro photography. The most commonly discussed method in the UK is to use two or 500w Halogen site lamps. This probably is one of the cheapest and safest ways to experiment with DIY studio lights. Please don't attempt to build elaborate lighting inventions that are unsafe or likely to be dangerous. In addition please note that this type of studio lighting (halogen site lamps) will get very hot. Another reason to consider buying a proper photography light kit instead of DIY studio lights is the thorny issue of colour temperature.
What are Redhead lighting Kits?
Redhead is a type of lighting that is used by professional studio photographers. Originally introduced by a company called IANIRO. The term redhead has now become a generic term for all the similar or cloned lighting kits that have suddenly appeared on the market. The original redhead lamps were actually closer to orange in colour. These 1000w lights gained popularity due to their innovative open face (bowl shaped) design. This made the lights easier to accessorise by easily adding various types of filters over the open face of the lamps. The IANIRO redhead lighting kits are expensive and not really designed for the beginner to studio photography. There are several decent replica lighting kits available like the De Sisti Cosmobeam 1000w open-face lighting kits. (the ones I looked at did not even include the bulbs!) In fact De Sisti Cosmobeams can be bought individually. Whichever way you look at it, redhead light kits are expensive studio lights and not really the best option for the smaller macro photography set up. Arri Lighting kits, are another popular barn door, open faced redhead, individual stand lights that fall into the same category, but interestingly their light heads are blue. (spawning the confusing new search term of bluehead lighting).
There are lots of manufactures of photo lighting kits but they are mainly designed for lighting portrait photography (or similar which equates to large areas). Where a typical set-up may use up to four or more lights to get the most out of the subject. De Sisti, Arri, IANIRO and other brands allow you to buy individual lights and build your own bespoke kits. In most cases a single barn door, open face light and stand would cost more than a complete basic macro photography studio lighting kit. In other words, unless you are actually building a full size photography studio these lights (which are excellent) are not the best option for lighting macro subjects. Instead we need to turn our attention towards strobe lighting kits or less expensive brands of continuous lighting. When discussing photography the word strobe is interchangeable with the word flash. New and improved innovations in continuous lighting and studio flash kits are always being brought to the market.
Interfit Lighting Kits
Interfit are a manufacturer known for their range of affordable studio flash kits. They also make lighting specifically for use with light tents. This is continuous lighting is ideal for indoor close up and macro photography. Interfit cool-lites provide daylight balanced illumination (5200k). The great thing about these light is that they output soft uniform diffused light. When used with a light tent or light pod they are ideal for all types of still life photography including close up and macro work. The lighting can bought as a kit and also each individual product can be bought separately. Interfit take this a stage further with Super Cool-lite 5, which are also daylight balanced fluorescent lamps but more powerful. Super Cool-lite 5 are equivalent to 500w of tungsten lighting (per head). These can be obtain separately or as a twin head kit. Cost-wise we are still in the ballpark of a single high specification redhead light. The difference being that you get everything else thrown in inclusive of the all important bulbs! It is my opinion that a beginner to macro photography would be perfectly content with the interfit cool-lite 5 twin lighting kit and a light pod. However, Interfit also make a more powerful Cool-lite 9 which is equivalent to 1000w (per head) of tungsten lighting. Please note that these more powerful lights are intended for lighting larger spaces. I only mention them for those who are looking for dual purpose lights or to accommodate any geeks that may be passing by. Interfit's newest addition is the Cool-lite 655 which obviously provide even more powerful lighting equivalent to 1320w (per head) of tungsten lighting. I would imagine that these are more suited to lighting larger areas that a small macro photography light pod or light tent. As an added point of interest, this type of lighting (all these afore mentioned) can also be used for video making. If you often dabble in film making these type of Interfit studio lighting can be used for good affect in your video scenes. In addition if you have the time or opportunity I recommend taking a look at the range of flash accessories called Interfit Strobies.
Elinchrom
Elinchrom, creative image lighting technology based at Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Elinchrom are known for producing some of the best studio lighting kit. They specialize in flash units rather than continuous lighting. Their extensive range of products is primarily directed towards the professional photographer. Products include compact flash units BX 500 RI and BX 250 RI, RX 300, RX 600, RX 1200 WS compacts. They also manufacture a range of prosumer products aimed at the Hoi polloi. This range contains two flash lighting units, the D-lite 2 and D-lite 4. They may not be the least expensive but they are possibly the most aesthetic. If you are in the market for studio flash lighting then Elinchrom is certainly something worth considering.
Bowens
Bowen are one of the most recognisable names when it comes to studio lighting kits. Their continuous lighting products are divided into three distinctive categories of Studiolite, Unilite, and Trilite. Bowen provide the perfect lighting kit for macro photography with the Unilite Table-top Studio Set. The kit contains two Unilites, light stands and a Cocoon light pod. The Cocoon is a variation between a light pod and a light tent. It made of four translucent diffuser panels that simply zip together. This is one of the most cost effective entry level lighting solutions for beginners to still life macro photography. Bowens also manufacture an extensive range of compact flash heads to cater for all tastes. This range is also divided into three categories of Gemini, Gemini R and Gemini Pro. They can be purchased as monolights, lighting kits or travelpak kits.
Kaiser Photography Light Kits
Kaiser Fototechnik takes a different approach to macro photography lighting than most of the other companies in this field. They manufacture a unique range of products that include some quite unconventional lighting kits. Instead of the usual light pod lit uniformly from both sides, they have created a range of Shooting Tables. These are open-topped surfaces that can be lit in various ways. This type of product seems naturally more suited to product photography. They also sell light boxes such as the Pro-lite Basic 2. Light boxes provide an evenly lit white surface encased in a metal housing. Kaiser are certainly an innovative company making some quite remarkable photography products. It is unfortunate that they have such a weak web presence. In comparison to most of their competitors Kaiser are almost invisible on the internet. It would be a wise decision for Kaiser to build a more up-to-date website and generally improve their marketing strategy. Whilst digital photography continues to grow in popularity demand for lighting equipment is going to be high. If you have had problems tracking them down here is the link to their website: Kaiser Fototechnik
Lastolite
If the name Lastolite seems familiar, it is most likely because they were the company who original manufacturer of the collapsible reflector. The company has evolved since those days and now specialized in all types of backgrounds and lighting control for the photographic and video industries. Their range of continuous lighting kit extends to two options. The RayD8 c3200 and the RayD8 c5600. Lastolite also manufacture a range of flash/strobe studio lighting kits with the brand name Lumen8. These kits are available in 200w and 400w variations. There is a small amount of information about these products on Lastolite's website. However, they also provide the option to download a comprehensive brochure. The range of light tents called Cubelite may be of particular interest.
Microsync Digital
Microsync manufacture wireless radio sync systems. These are used to fire the studio strobe lights in synchronisation with the camera shutter release. Microsync claims to manufacture the smallest and smartest way to fire strobes (and/or and SLR). Wireless radio sync systems work by fitting a transmitter to the camera's universal hot shoe. Connect the receiver into strobe unit's sync input to complete the system setup. To fire the strobes and the camera shutter in synchronisation it is possible to use a second transmitter (connected to the camera) and receiver. The transmitters and receivers must be set to different channels.
Macro Photography for Beginners
I hope that this article about photography and lighting has been insightful. The major decision has to be whether to use strobe studio or continuous studio lighting effects. When using strobe lighting you have to use a trial and error method. A light meter can be a useful device for setting up your studio lighting. Gossen are a company that make an impressive range of light meter products. Any good brand of light meter will be a useful acquisition for studio photography. Continuous studio lighting is the simplest of the two lighting effects because it provides a what you see is what you get scenario. If you don't need to light a large area you can survive with less powerful lighting. It is important to ensure that the lighting is daylight balanced. If the lighting is not daylight balanced you may encounter some colour temperature problems. The use of filters, gels, grey cards (for setting a custom white balance) and a light meter can help resolve some of these colour temperature problems. It is probably cheaper and easier to just get daylight balanced bulbs in the first place! There can also be problems with some types of lighting creating a lot of excessive heat. This becomes a more significant predicament if you are photographing heat sensitive subjects, for example, certain types of food. To summarise then, from the point of view of a beginner to macro photography. Take a look at all the studio lighting kits available by all the best known brands. Read about photography and lighting until your face is glowing like an incandescent light bulb. Decide whether you want to use continuous or strobe lighting (or perhaps use both if you prefer). Buy a decent studio lighting kit with daylight balanced bulbs or buy the individual components for a bespoke kit (if you are confident about getting it right). Use a good quality light tent or light pod for the best macro photography results.
Marvin Africa
Read next post about Reversing Rings and Bellows
In this post I will be writing mostly about the differences of using continuous lighting and strobe lighting kits for macro photography. In previous posts on this blog the articles have mainly been directed towards outdoor macro photography. Indoor close up and macro photography is often referred to as still life or simply studio photography. It is an important discipline with regard to product photography and for keeping records of collections. It can be achieved on a shoe string (little expense) but generally good photography studio lighting kits are expensive. This can be a limiting factor for the budding beginner to macro photography. There are different ways to achieve good macro results in a studio. A choice has to be made between working with continuous light or with a flash studio lighting kit.
The first thing to do is to figure out the differences between working with continuous lights and a strobe (or flash) photography kit. In the beginning most photographers experiment with DIY studio lights often built from materials found around the home. DIY studio lights obviously vary in quality and capabilities depending on their construction. There are plenty of websites that will provide details of how to build DIY studio lights for macro photography. The most commonly discussed method in the UK is to use two or 500w Halogen site lamps. This probably is one of the cheapest and safest ways to experiment with DIY studio lights. Please don't attempt to build elaborate lighting inventions that are unsafe or likely to be dangerous. In addition please note that this type of studio lighting (halogen site lamps) will get very hot. Another reason to consider buying a proper photography light kit instead of DIY studio lights is the thorny issue of colour temperature.
What are Redhead lighting Kits?
Redhead is a type of lighting that is used by professional studio photographers. Originally introduced by a company called IANIRO. The term redhead has now become a generic term for all the similar or cloned lighting kits that have suddenly appeared on the market. The original redhead lamps were actually closer to orange in colour. These 1000w lights gained popularity due to their innovative open face (bowl shaped) design. This made the lights easier to accessorise by easily adding various types of filters over the open face of the lamps. The IANIRO redhead lighting kits are expensive and not really designed for the beginner to studio photography. There are several decent replica lighting kits available like the De Sisti Cosmobeam 1000w open-face lighting kits. (the ones I looked at did not even include the bulbs!) In fact De Sisti Cosmobeams can be bought individually. Whichever way you look at it, redhead light kits are expensive studio lights and not really the best option for the smaller macro photography set up. Arri Lighting kits, are another popular barn door, open faced redhead, individual stand lights that fall into the same category, but interestingly their light heads are blue. (spawning the confusing new search term of bluehead lighting).
There are lots of manufactures of photo lighting kits but they are mainly designed for lighting portrait photography (or similar which equates to large areas). Where a typical set-up may use up to four or more lights to get the most out of the subject. De Sisti, Arri, IANIRO and other brands allow you to buy individual lights and build your own bespoke kits. In most cases a single barn door, open face light and stand would cost more than a complete basic macro photography studio lighting kit. In other words, unless you are actually building a full size photography studio these lights (which are excellent) are not the best option for lighting macro subjects. Instead we need to turn our attention towards strobe lighting kits or less expensive brands of continuous lighting. When discussing photography the word strobe is interchangeable with the word flash. New and improved innovations in continuous lighting and studio flash kits are always being brought to the market.
Interfit Lighting Kits
Interfit are a manufacturer known for their range of affordable studio flash kits. They also make lighting specifically for use with light tents. This is continuous lighting is ideal for indoor close up and macro photography. Interfit cool-lites provide daylight balanced illumination (5200k). The great thing about these light is that they output soft uniform diffused light. When used with a light tent or light pod they are ideal for all types of still life photography including close up and macro work. The lighting can bought as a kit and also each individual product can be bought separately. Interfit take this a stage further with Super Cool-lite 5, which are also daylight balanced fluorescent lamps but more powerful. Super Cool-lite 5 are equivalent to 500w of tungsten lighting (per head). These can be obtain separately or as a twin head kit. Cost-wise we are still in the ballpark of a single high specification redhead light. The difference being that you get everything else thrown in inclusive of the all important bulbs! It is my opinion that a beginner to macro photography would be perfectly content with the interfit cool-lite 5 twin lighting kit and a light pod. However, Interfit also make a more powerful Cool-lite 9 which is equivalent to 1000w (per head) of tungsten lighting. Please note that these more powerful lights are intended for lighting larger spaces. I only mention them for those who are looking for dual purpose lights or to accommodate any geeks that may be passing by. Interfit's newest addition is the Cool-lite 655 which obviously provide even more powerful lighting equivalent to 1320w (per head) of tungsten lighting. I would imagine that these are more suited to lighting larger areas that a small macro photography light pod or light tent. As an added point of interest, this type of lighting (all these afore mentioned) can also be used for video making. If you often dabble in film making these type of Interfit studio lighting can be used for good affect in your video scenes. In addition if you have the time or opportunity I recommend taking a look at the range of flash accessories called Interfit Strobies.
Elinchrom
Elinchrom, creative image lighting technology based at Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Elinchrom are known for producing some of the best studio lighting kit. They specialize in flash units rather than continuous lighting. Their extensive range of products is primarily directed towards the professional photographer. Products include compact flash units BX 500 RI and BX 250 RI, RX 300, RX 600, RX 1200 WS compacts. They also manufacture a range of prosumer products aimed at the Hoi polloi. This range contains two flash lighting units, the D-lite 2 and D-lite 4. They may not be the least expensive but they are possibly the most aesthetic. If you are in the market for studio flash lighting then Elinchrom is certainly something worth considering.
Bowens
Bowen are one of the most recognisable names when it comes to studio lighting kits. Their continuous lighting products are divided into three distinctive categories of Studiolite, Unilite, and Trilite. Bowen provide the perfect lighting kit for macro photography with the Unilite Table-top Studio Set. The kit contains two Unilites, light stands and a Cocoon light pod. The Cocoon is a variation between a light pod and a light tent. It made of four translucent diffuser panels that simply zip together. This is one of the most cost effective entry level lighting solutions for beginners to still life macro photography. Bowens also manufacture an extensive range of compact flash heads to cater for all tastes. This range is also divided into three categories of Gemini, Gemini R and Gemini Pro. They can be purchased as monolights, lighting kits or travelpak kits.
Kaiser Photography Light Kits
Kaiser Fototechnik takes a different approach to macro photography lighting than most of the other companies in this field. They manufacture a unique range of products that include some quite unconventional lighting kits. Instead of the usual light pod lit uniformly from both sides, they have created a range of Shooting Tables. These are open-topped surfaces that can be lit in various ways. This type of product seems naturally more suited to product photography. They also sell light boxes such as the Pro-lite Basic 2. Light boxes provide an evenly lit white surface encased in a metal housing. Kaiser are certainly an innovative company making some quite remarkable photography products. It is unfortunate that they have such a weak web presence. In comparison to most of their competitors Kaiser are almost invisible on the internet. It would be a wise decision for Kaiser to build a more up-to-date website and generally improve their marketing strategy. Whilst digital photography continues to grow in popularity demand for lighting equipment is going to be high. If you have had problems tracking them down here is the link to their website: Kaiser Fototechnik
Lastolite
If the name Lastolite seems familiar, it is most likely because they were the company who original manufacturer of the collapsible reflector. The company has evolved since those days and now specialized in all types of backgrounds and lighting control for the photographic and video industries. Their range of continuous lighting kit extends to two options. The RayD8 c3200 and the RayD8 c5600. Lastolite also manufacture a range of flash/strobe studio lighting kits with the brand name Lumen8. These kits are available in 200w and 400w variations. There is a small amount of information about these products on Lastolite's website. However, they also provide the option to download a comprehensive brochure. The range of light tents called Cubelite may be of particular interest.
Microsync Digital
Microsync manufacture wireless radio sync systems. These are used to fire the studio strobe lights in synchronisation with the camera shutter release. Microsync claims to manufacture the smallest and smartest way to fire strobes (and/or and SLR). Wireless radio sync systems work by fitting a transmitter to the camera's universal hot shoe. Connect the receiver into strobe unit's sync input to complete the system setup. To fire the strobes and the camera shutter in synchronisation it is possible to use a second transmitter (connected to the camera) and receiver. The transmitters and receivers must be set to different channels.
Macro Photography for Beginners
I hope that this article about photography and lighting has been insightful. The major decision has to be whether to use strobe studio or continuous studio lighting effects. When using strobe lighting you have to use a trial and error method. A light meter can be a useful device for setting up your studio lighting. Gossen are a company that make an impressive range of light meter products. Any good brand of light meter will be a useful acquisition for studio photography. Continuous studio lighting is the simplest of the two lighting effects because it provides a what you see is what you get scenario. If you don't need to light a large area you can survive with less powerful lighting. It is important to ensure that the lighting is daylight balanced. If the lighting is not daylight balanced you may encounter some colour temperature problems. The use of filters, gels, grey cards (for setting a custom white balance) and a light meter can help resolve some of these colour temperature problems. It is probably cheaper and easier to just get daylight balanced bulbs in the first place! There can also be problems with some types of lighting creating a lot of excessive heat. This becomes a more significant predicament if you are photographing heat sensitive subjects, for example, certain types of food. To summarise then, from the point of view of a beginner to macro photography. Take a look at all the studio lighting kits available by all the best known brands. Read about photography and lighting until your face is glowing like an incandescent light bulb. Decide whether you want to use continuous or strobe lighting (or perhaps use both if you prefer). Buy a decent studio lighting kit with daylight balanced bulbs or buy the individual components for a bespoke kit (if you are confident about getting it right). Use a good quality light tent or light pod for the best macro photography results.
Marvin Africa
Read next post about Reversing Rings and Bellows
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Macro Tripod Problems
Welcome to Macro Photography for beginners. It’s been quite a long time since my last post about the differences between EF and EFs lenses. It does however share the similar traits of being written long ago and then being resurected from an old hard drive. The key element that stands out above all else in macro photography is the inventiveness of the photographers involved. A keenness to experiment is vitally important to obtain the unusual and interesting viewpoint or individual effects that will make your work stand out. This is why it annoys me (only slightly) when I see forum threads or blog comments that ask what settings should I use for macro? or what aperture and shutter speed for macro? and which ISO speed for macro? These settings cannot be pre-defined in advance otherwise camera settings would be simply standardised to reflect the simplicity required for each photographic situation. It is the fundamental aspect of the art of photography to be able to set the camera up manually. Although this can be complicated initially, it boils down to two main objectives.
1.A sharp image with good composition
2.Correct exposure (which is subjective and marginal adjustments can be made later to RAW files)
In addition to point 2 under-exposed RAW files can be converted to TIFF another lossless (though not always) format and then altered using Photoshop levels, often without any loss of detail. Although this is not the recommended method to aim for, it gets the job done and all is fair in love and war (as they say). To obtain sharp images with good composition comes from practice and using high quality equipment (which does not necessarily mean the most expensive). Anyone who wishes to use the same or similar set-up as myself will require the following (as of 2009 season onwards)
Camera Canon 300D/Rebel XT/Kiss
Lens Sigma 150mm APO
Teleconverter Kenko 1.4x DG Tele-plus 300
Flash Sigma EM140DG Ring Flash
Tripod Benbo Trekker Mark II (Modified) [considering replacing this with Gitzo Explorer for 2010]
Tripod Head Manfrotto 460mg 3 Way
Micro Rail Manfrotto 454 Micro Positioning Plate
Remote Switch Canon RS60E3
The tripod that I use is not really sufficient for the amount of weight involved. I’m currently using a Benbo Trekker 2 tripod which has been significantly modified to take the weight of my camera, lens, flash, tripod head and micro positioning plate. The alteration was quite simple and took place when the original components broke. This damage occurred when the tripod was free standing without the camera or any other weight/load. The problem occurred when the spring-loaded control knob for the swivel head came apart. It is made up of a bolt that is pre-moulded into a plastic housing. This is the part that you turn to tighten or slacken the swivel joint. I tried to contact the manufacturers of the tripod for advice but Paterson Photographic ignored all my emails. I did some research into the current status of the company and found that they had gone into hibernation. Customer service is important in my opinion and this lack of courtesy and professionalism by Paterson Photographic will effect my future decisions when buying photographic equipment in the future.
If you are using lighter equipment for macro photography the Benbo trekker 2 is not a bad option for a tripod. I would still recommend this type of tripod for beginners because of the overall design and price. Uni-loc tripods have a reputation of being of a better build quality. To use a head with 3/8 connection you will need to add 1/4 to 3/8 thread adapter.
*Kaiser 1/4 to 3/8 thread adapter. This allows the 460mg to connect to the Benbo Trekker tripod. This is not required on my modified trekker because I used a 3/8 connector to connect the head directly to the tripod. I have also used a bolt to strengthen the joint between the modified camera mount and the aluminium tube of the centre column. Removing the swivel joint has undoubtedly added extra strength to the tripod. There are still some limitations though, for example it would not be wise to swing the camera to the extreme left or right.
Image 1: Broken Benbo Tripod – Boingggg
Modified Benbo Trekker
I modified the tripod by cutting the swivel joint off with a hacksaw and then cleaned up the rough cut with a sand-paper block. Drilled a pilot hole through the centre, this is a small hole for the larger drill bit to follow. I used a 3/8” threaded screw (I happened to have a spare one, but you can buy them from camera stores) to attach the Manfrotto 460mg tripod head to the modified camera mount with the addition of a large rubber washer. (found in my garden shed!) The whole assembly was then fitted back onto the aluminium tubing of the centre column. An additional modification was made to ensure that that the camera mount could not rotate. This was a simple task of drilling another pilot hole through the mount and the centre column. A larger counter bore was added to the plastic camera mount. An M5 bolt and flanged hex nut (these are naturally inverted – in other words they go in upside down). Once tightened the Benbo tripod modification was complete. I tested the tripod with camera, lens, flash and micro positioning plate and it worked. I’m confident that my camera and equipment is secure on the tripod but still somewhat disappointed with the outcome. The tripod has lost some functionality which formerly allowed the camera to get very close to the ground. I am now unable to get extreme close up shots of wild flowers due to the length of the centre column. I am left with two options…
1.Cut the centre column shorter with my hacksaw
2.Buy a new tripod
Option 1. I have nothing to lose by cutting the centre column shorter. Also gives me the chance to remove the ugly superfluous hook off the other end at the same time. [it is done]
Option 2. This is the expensive option and although not totally out of the question, I decided to try and get through the rest of the season with the Benbo.
I decided to shorten the centre column of my tripod by cutting it in half. This allows the camera to be set up closer to the ground. I am now starting to find the Benbo more frustrating to use then in previous seasons. I suspect that this is because I am no longer a complete beginner in macro photography. When I set-up my camera now precision and speed are my main concerns. The modification of the centre column was surprisingly quick and easy. The aluminium tubing is easy to cut through with a hacksaw. I used a file to clean up the saw cut thereby removing any sharp edges. I sense that this is the last season that the Benbo will be used for my main tripod support. I am now disillusioned by its performance in the field after several years of good service. It may just be that as each season passes I become grumpier and more demanding. I don’t really know what it is but when it comes to macro, tripod options are limited.
My research reveals that the man who invented the Benbo tripods is also responsible for the Uni-loc tripods. In fact if internet forums are to be believed the Uni-loc tripods are more advanced and of a higher quality. I can not verify this but it certainly would not come as a surprise. Manfrotto make popular tripods with both the 190x Pro B and 055 Pro B carbon fibre tripods gaining a lot of adulation and praise. Despite this, there is always a few negative reviews just enough to plant a few seeds of negative doubt in the mind. The same can be said for the Gizto Explorer range which is praised and slandered in fairly equal measure. In actual fact it is not spoken about enough to hazard a guess as to its merits but it looks a very useful piece of kit. It is definitely the strongest candidate for botanic macro photography (or any other close to the ground subjects). Macro Photography is not simply about buying the best gear from the local photography shop. It is also about understanding what is required and experimenting until you find the best solution. Most of the equipment that I use looks like it was rescued from a skip.
I also use several home made (aka heath robinson) devices including a flash diffuser, ripstop nylon windbreak and diffuser and also (new 2009 season) a bracket that holds the ring flash away from the camera.
There are certainly a multitude of big decisions to make when contemplating which equipment to buy. Internet photography forums are testimony to this fact and often a good source of information. The problem is that unless several forum posters are all agreed on the subject matter, it is still difficult to build an accurate picture of how good or bad a particular product is or whether it would be suited to your own particular requirements. It does not matter how bad the reputation of some products on the market, there are always people on the internet recommending it. The question is who this person? Perhaps the MD of the company involved or an idiot with no idea which end of the kettle to blow into to make it work! The same problem operates in reverse with products with excellent reputations for quality. Just as you are about to make a purchase after several months of in depth research, you find one solitary review slating the product and suggesting that to buy it would be folly. This obviously plants further seeds of doubt in the mind and the struggle for equipment continues. This is also the fuel that feeds photography forum threads. Anyone can join in with the phenomena by posting this question in a photography forum of your own choice Which tripod for Macro Photography?
I am sure that if you do this you will get an array of answers with words like Benbo,Benro, Giottos, Gitzo, Manfrotto 190x Prob, scattered around like a bag of marbles on a child’s bedroom floor. If you are not careful you could slip over on them and hurt your back.
Some answers will be detailed and complicated with talk of great gadgetry such as geared tripod heads, micro positioning plates (aka rails) and every conceivable addition imaginable (and otherwise). It is of course usually the syndrome known as “pea-cocking” and has nothing whatsoever with the question posted in the forums initially. If you analyze the posting on internet forums they tend to be just a load of people posturing. The reason for such behaviour is not always evident but sometimes makes interesting reading despite generally offering no help when deciding which tripod or other equipment to purchase. Examples of this are easy to find. I can put all this another way, what suits Roy575 from Cheshire might not be the right choice for JennyM from Arkansas. It stands to reason that people do not join forums to help people they’ve never met before choose the right equipment. Most people sign up to forums to promote themselves, their websites, their businesses etc.
Manfrotto 460MG 3D Magnesium Head
The reason that I recommend this particular 3 way head is because it is fairly inexpensive. Selecting (or even recommending) equipment for a beginner is difficult because people differ in their requirements and expectations. There comes a point where a line has to be drawn between what is a good general choice for a beginner, and what might be considered to be the next progression from that initial choice. In this case I would recommend the 460mg (or similar) for a beginner and the Manfrotto 410 geared head as a natural progression towards a more professional set-up.
The second point to consider is that some people prefer the freedom offered by a ball and socket head. A problem arises here because only an expensive (professional quality) ball and socket is generally good enough to cope with the weight demands of macro equipment. I have used a ball and socket and a 3 way head and found that they both have their pros and cons. It is also difficult adapting to one after spending a lot of time using the other type. In other words the way you use a tripod head is habit forming. I prefer to use a three way head these days but many photographers prefer to use a ball and socket.
In the end I spent most of 2009 practising my hand held photography skills.
Read my next post about Macro photography Lighting Kits
1.A sharp image with good composition
2.Correct exposure (which is subjective and marginal adjustments can be made later to RAW files)
In addition to point 2 under-exposed RAW files can be converted to TIFF another lossless (though not always) format and then altered using Photoshop levels, often without any loss of detail. Although this is not the recommended method to aim for, it gets the job done and all is fair in love and war (as they say). To obtain sharp images with good composition comes from practice and using high quality equipment (which does not necessarily mean the most expensive). Anyone who wishes to use the same or similar set-up as myself will require the following (as of 2009 season onwards)
Camera Canon 300D/Rebel XT/Kiss
Lens Sigma 150mm APO
Teleconverter Kenko 1.4x DG Tele-plus 300
Flash Sigma EM140DG Ring Flash
Tripod Benbo Trekker Mark II (Modified) [considering replacing this with Gitzo Explorer for 2010]
Tripod Head Manfrotto 460mg 3 Way
Micro Rail Manfrotto 454 Micro Positioning Plate
Remote Switch Canon RS60E3
The tripod that I use is not really sufficient for the amount of weight involved. I’m currently using a Benbo Trekker 2 tripod which has been significantly modified to take the weight of my camera, lens, flash, tripod head and micro positioning plate. The alteration was quite simple and took place when the original components broke. This damage occurred when the tripod was free standing without the camera or any other weight/load. The problem occurred when the spring-loaded control knob for the swivel head came apart. It is made up of a bolt that is pre-moulded into a plastic housing. This is the part that you turn to tighten or slacken the swivel joint. I tried to contact the manufacturers of the tripod for advice but Paterson Photographic ignored all my emails. I did some research into the current status of the company and found that they had gone into hibernation. Customer service is important in my opinion and this lack of courtesy and professionalism by Paterson Photographic will effect my future decisions when buying photographic equipment in the future.
If you are using lighter equipment for macro photography the Benbo trekker 2 is not a bad option for a tripod. I would still recommend this type of tripod for beginners because of the overall design and price. Uni-loc tripods have a reputation of being of a better build quality. To use a head with 3/8 connection you will need to add 1/4 to 3/8 thread adapter.
*Kaiser 1/4 to 3/8 thread adapter. This allows the 460mg to connect to the Benbo Trekker tripod. This is not required on my modified trekker because I used a 3/8 connector to connect the head directly to the tripod. I have also used a bolt to strengthen the joint between the modified camera mount and the aluminium tube of the centre column. Removing the swivel joint has undoubtedly added extra strength to the tripod. There are still some limitations though, for example it would not be wise to swing the camera to the extreme left or right.
Image 1: Broken Benbo Tripod – Boingggg
Modified Benbo Trekker
I modified the tripod by cutting the swivel joint off with a hacksaw and then cleaned up the rough cut with a sand-paper block. Drilled a pilot hole through the centre, this is a small hole for the larger drill bit to follow. I used a 3/8” threaded screw (I happened to have a spare one, but you can buy them from camera stores) to attach the Manfrotto 460mg tripod head to the modified camera mount with the addition of a large rubber washer. (found in my garden shed!) The whole assembly was then fitted back onto the aluminium tubing of the centre column. An additional modification was made to ensure that that the camera mount could not rotate. This was a simple task of drilling another pilot hole through the mount and the centre column. A larger counter bore was added to the plastic camera mount. An M5 bolt and flanged hex nut (these are naturally inverted – in other words they go in upside down). Once tightened the Benbo tripod modification was complete. I tested the tripod with camera, lens, flash and micro positioning plate and it worked. I’m confident that my camera and equipment is secure on the tripod but still somewhat disappointed with the outcome. The tripod has lost some functionality which formerly allowed the camera to get very close to the ground. I am now unable to get extreme close up shots of wild flowers due to the length of the centre column. I am left with two options…
1.Cut the centre column shorter with my hacksaw
2.Buy a new tripod
Option 1. I have nothing to lose by cutting the centre column shorter. Also gives me the chance to remove the ugly superfluous hook off the other end at the same time. [it is done]
Option 2. This is the expensive option and although not totally out of the question, I decided to try and get through the rest of the season with the Benbo.
I decided to shorten the centre column of my tripod by cutting it in half. This allows the camera to be set up closer to the ground. I am now starting to find the Benbo more frustrating to use then in previous seasons. I suspect that this is because I am no longer a complete beginner in macro photography. When I set-up my camera now precision and speed are my main concerns. The modification of the centre column was surprisingly quick and easy. The aluminium tubing is easy to cut through with a hacksaw. I used a file to clean up the saw cut thereby removing any sharp edges. I sense that this is the last season that the Benbo will be used for my main tripod support. I am now disillusioned by its performance in the field after several years of good service. It may just be that as each season passes I become grumpier and more demanding. I don’t really know what it is but when it comes to macro, tripod options are limited.
My research reveals that the man who invented the Benbo tripods is also responsible for the Uni-loc tripods. In fact if internet forums are to be believed the Uni-loc tripods are more advanced and of a higher quality. I can not verify this but it certainly would not come as a surprise. Manfrotto make popular tripods with both the 190x Pro B and 055 Pro B carbon fibre tripods gaining a lot of adulation and praise. Despite this, there is always a few negative reviews just enough to plant a few seeds of negative doubt in the mind. The same can be said for the Gizto Explorer range which is praised and slandered in fairly equal measure. In actual fact it is not spoken about enough to hazard a guess as to its merits but it looks a very useful piece of kit. It is definitely the strongest candidate for botanic macro photography (or any other close to the ground subjects). Macro Photography is not simply about buying the best gear from the local photography shop. It is also about understanding what is required and experimenting until you find the best solution. Most of the equipment that I use looks like it was rescued from a skip.
I also use several home made (aka heath robinson) devices including a flash diffuser, ripstop nylon windbreak and diffuser and also (new 2009 season) a bracket that holds the ring flash away from the camera.
There are certainly a multitude of big decisions to make when contemplating which equipment to buy. Internet photography forums are testimony to this fact and often a good source of information. The problem is that unless several forum posters are all agreed on the subject matter, it is still difficult to build an accurate picture of how good or bad a particular product is or whether it would be suited to your own particular requirements. It does not matter how bad the reputation of some products on the market, there are always people on the internet recommending it. The question is who this person? Perhaps the MD of the company involved or an idiot with no idea which end of the kettle to blow into to make it work! The same problem operates in reverse with products with excellent reputations for quality. Just as you are about to make a purchase after several months of in depth research, you find one solitary review slating the product and suggesting that to buy it would be folly. This obviously plants further seeds of doubt in the mind and the struggle for equipment continues. This is also the fuel that feeds photography forum threads. Anyone can join in with the phenomena by posting this question in a photography forum of your own choice Which tripod for Macro Photography?
I am sure that if you do this you will get an array of answers with words like Benbo,Benro, Giottos, Gitzo, Manfrotto 190x Prob, scattered around like a bag of marbles on a child’s bedroom floor. If you are not careful you could slip over on them and hurt your back.
Some answers will be detailed and complicated with talk of great gadgetry such as geared tripod heads, micro positioning plates (aka rails) and every conceivable addition imaginable (and otherwise). It is of course usually the syndrome known as “pea-cocking” and has nothing whatsoever with the question posted in the forums initially. If you analyze the posting on internet forums they tend to be just a load of people posturing. The reason for such behaviour is not always evident but sometimes makes interesting reading despite generally offering no help when deciding which tripod or other equipment to purchase. Examples of this are easy to find. I can put all this another way, what suits Roy575 from Cheshire might not be the right choice for JennyM from Arkansas. It stands to reason that people do not join forums to help people they’ve never met before choose the right equipment. Most people sign up to forums to promote themselves, their websites, their businesses etc.
Manfrotto 460MG 3D Magnesium Head
The reason that I recommend this particular 3 way head is because it is fairly inexpensive. Selecting (or even recommending) equipment for a beginner is difficult because people differ in their requirements and expectations. There comes a point where a line has to be drawn between what is a good general choice for a beginner, and what might be considered to be the next progression from that initial choice. In this case I would recommend the 460mg (or similar) for a beginner and the Manfrotto 410 geared head as a natural progression towards a more professional set-up.
The second point to consider is that some people prefer the freedom offered by a ball and socket head. A problem arises here because only an expensive (professional quality) ball and socket is generally good enough to cope with the weight demands of macro equipment. I have used a ball and socket and a 3 way head and found that they both have their pros and cons. It is also difficult adapting to one after spending a lot of time using the other type. In other words the way you use a tripod head is habit forming. I prefer to use a three way head these days but many photographers prefer to use a ball and socket.
In the end I spent most of 2009 practising my hand held photography skills.
Read my next post about Macro photography Lighting Kits
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