Adventures in Macro Photography

Mike Fitz

Mike Fitz

Joined
Jun 18, 2008
Messages
1,223
Off topic, but I wanted to share some of the pictures I took today on a ramble through a local nature reserve. I finally broke out a Macro lens I picked up a couple years ago but had never used. Sorry about the lack of knife content, now that I know the lens works, those will be coming in the future...

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I really like macro...

Thought it looked kinda cool...still experimenting. :D
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I am better with stuff like this:

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I gotta get some good knife pictures next!

ZcouT- It's a 90mm Tamron Macro lens on a Nikon D50. They were all shot in "Auto/Macro" and straight outta the camera. I haven't brought myself to the point where I'm doing anything in Manual mode yet.
 
I have a $400 dollar camera and do a pretty good job, IMO. If, or when (Damn Jerry) :D I get some cash, I would like a D300.
 
The D300 is really nice from what I hear. I'd like a D90, but since I still shoot most stuff on auto anyway, I'm not sure I really need one. There's a rumor the D300 is getting replaced in the late winter/ spring, so prices might drop after the year's out.
 
Good stuff, Mike! Keep up the good work.

I love nature macro photography and photomicrography. Here are a few of mine:

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Are we ALL into macro?

I shoot with a D70 now, but did all my macro with an older FE2 and PB4 (my F4s wouldn't fit on the PB4) and reversed lenses, stacked lenses, etc. ( ie: the hard way....) ;)

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Very high magnification... this is a tiny mite on the abdomen of a beetle:
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Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
You guys are killing me. I have a hankering to get a nice Nikon (Not a D300, something cheaper lol) and get into photography. Macro shots always appealed to me as well.

Great shots all around and always welcome in my book :thumbup:
 
Awesome pics all around. I wish I had the talent you all have.

Mike...how did you get the bee to stand still for you?
 
Great pics!! I love macro photographing also but I've never did it. Still don't know why. Need to grab my camera:D
 
wow gents.

all the pics above are killer.


gotta get a macro lens.


any recommendations on a good one ????
 
knife hunter said:
wow gents.

all the pics above are killer.


gotta get a macro lens.


any recommendations on a good one ????
Click to expand...

Depends on your camera body. I'm a Nikon guy, and I have the incredible Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 and 200mm f/4. These are older, manual focus lenses. The 55 is fairly affordable (and doubles as a fantastic all-around lens), while the 200 is pricey.

If you have a newer auto-focus Nikon, the 105mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor is sweet, and about $750. The 200mm f/4 Micro is about $1350. The 60mm f/2.8 Micro ($460) is nice too, but you don't get much working distance with the shorter focal-length Micros... you end up VERY close to your subject. They make a 45mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor with perspective control... you can pick that one up for a little under $2K.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
desmobob said:
Depends on your camera body. I'm a Nikon guy, and I have the incredible Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 and 200mm f/4. These are older, manual focus lenses. The 55 is fairly affordable (and doubles as a fantastic all-around lens), while the 200 is pricey.

If you have a newer auto-focus Nikon, the 105mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor is sweet, and about $750. The 200mm f/4 Micro is about $1350. The 60mm f/2.8 Micro ($460) is nice too, but you don't get much working distance with the shorter focal-length Micros... you end up VERY close to your subject. They make a 45mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor with perspective control... you can pick that one up for a little under $2K.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
Click to expand...



awesome,

thank you


I shoot a Nkon D80 , had a 200 and wife didnt like that it didnt have the auto function, so I traded it for some more Busses:D


I have the 18-200MM VR1:3.5-5.6 and use the macro settings but they dont seem to be that good?

IS this lense adequate and its just my technique that needs improving?
 
knife hunter said:
wow gents.

all the pics above are killer.


gotta get a macro lens.


any recommendations on a good one ????
Click to expand...

One of the great (and unusual) things about macro lenses is that they are almost all optically excellent, regardless of focal length, model, or manufacturer (including 3rd party lenses).

Personally, I prefer the longest focal lengths possible for most of my macro photography. Also, personally, I find that autofocus has almost no value for macro photography.

If you care to read an article about the benefits and drawbacks with different macro lens focal lengths:

http://www.mikespinak.com/articles/Quick Takes/qt003macrolensconsider.html
 
Evolute said:
One of the great (and unusual) things about macro lenses is that they are almost all optically excellent, regardless of focal length, model, or manufacturer (including 3rd party lenses).

Personally, I prefer the longest focal lengths possible for most of my macro photography. Also, personally, I find that autofocus has almost no value for macro photography.

If you care to read an article about the benefits and drawbacks with different macro lens focal lengths:

http://www.mikespinak.com/articles/Quick Takes/qt003macrolensconsider.html
Click to expand...
There's a ton of truth here, I've used a Sigma 50mm 2.8 Macro, Sigma 150mm 2.8 Macro, Canon 100, Canon 180 and currently use a Tokina 100 mm 2.8 macro. All are excellent!
 
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