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04-25-2016, 08:50 PM   #1
rlatjsrud
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Super macro

Well Im really interesting to shoot beetles in studio. I tried several times with 50mm f2.8 but I need longer lens due to studio equipment. I don't shoot too tiny bugs. I have beetle like huge insects that people might feel scary. I tried with 4x5 camera for class assignment but it was quite difficult that I have to put the lens really closer to the beetle and the lighting was very limited due to the distance between the bug and the lens. DFA 100mm is nice and I'm thinking to try 645 FA 120 or other medium format macro lens tho. Any thoughts about those lenses?

On the other hand, how do you achieve deep depth of field? I saw the video that the photographer used several pics together in photoshop without using F32 or else. How do you achieve full deep dof?

04-25-2016, 09:17 PM   #2
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Search on "focus stacking"
04-25-2016, 09:36 PM   #3
rlatjsrud
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QuoteOriginally posted by jatrax Quote
Search on "focus stacking"
Any recommendation for tripod and head?
04-25-2016, 09:49 PM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by rlatjsrud Quote
Any recommendation for tripod and head?
For macro?
Usually for macro you go with a focusing rail, especially for high magnification macro. So a tripod that is sturdy enough to handle the gear and a good head. There are literally thousands of combinations and dozens of threads about tripod choice. Personally I use Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs and the Acratech ball head. But there are many choices. Then you need a focusing rail, mine is a very old Pentax one but they are easy to find.

The focusing rail moves the lens closer by very tiny movements and you do not refocus after each shot. So you end up with a 'stack' of photos each with a tiny slice of the subject in focus. This then gets combined in software.

04-25-2016, 11:41 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by rlatjsrud Quote
On the other hand, how do you achieve deep depth of field? I saw the video that the photographer used several pics together in photoshop without using F32 or else. How do you achieve full deep dof?
Focus stacking. See Focus Stacking Tutorial From Start To Finish (disclosure - my site)

Last edited by Nass; 04-26-2016 at 11:44 AM.
04-26-2016, 12:53 AM   #6
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Are the beetles alive or dead?

If they are alive (moving) then focus stacking wont work. Then you will be limited to using a smaller aperture like f/16-45, with a flashlight, ring flash or other strong light source. How small are the bugs? Like 1 cm or 5 cm? If they are in the 1 cm range you should find a dedicated 1:1 macro lens (no zoom) in the 90-200 mm range. If they are more like 3-5 cm or more it could be enough with the Tamron 28-300 macro you have in your profile. If you are on a tight budget you could also try to use one of your lenses to photograph the bug through a large simple hand held magnifier.

If the bugs are dead, then a focusing rail and focus stacking may give fantastic sharp results with long enough depth of field even at smaller apertures. When shooting dead bugs you can use long shutter speeds to get a good exposure at low ISO in stead of using a strong light source. Another technique that is possible for dead bugs is to reverse the lens. You need a reverse ring to attach the lens front side, to the camera mount. This may give you larger magnification then 1:1 depending on the lens.
04-26-2016, 05:10 AM - 1 Like   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by Nass Quote
disclaimer - my site
Should be "disclosure"

04-26-2016, 09:35 AM   #8
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Not that I've done any of this myself, but I've also seen set-ups where the subject is moved in small, precise increments rather than (or sometimes as well as) the camera. https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnhallmen/6689335483
04-26-2016, 11:36 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Nass Quote
(disclaimer - my site)
It's a great site
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