Please post your macro setups

[Randy]

please post your macro setups

Camera,Lens,Tubes,Tripod, remote shutter release,flash, etc.

I shoot a D3, D300, Sigma 150 2.8 and a 300/4 AFS with the 1.4 TC and I'd like to 'get closer' shots like the great stuff I see here.

thanks !

 

[Spectre]

Randy,
I'm still new to the here, but...

Camera: D300
Lenses : 105 Micro VR, 300/4 AF-s
Tripod : Manfrotto 055MF4 Magfiber w/Manfrotto 322RC2 head
Release: Need to get one.
Tubes : Need to get one (PN-11)

 

[j.ankanpaa]

please post your macro setups

Camera,Lens,Tubes,Tripod, remote shutter release,flash, etc.

I shoot a D3, D300, Sigma 150 2.8 and a 300/4 AFS with the 1.4 TC and I'd like to 'get closer' shots like the great stuff I see here.

thanks !

Hi Randy!

I shoot with D200 mostly with Nikkor 300mm AF-S f4 with or without Nikon PN-11 tube. I sometimes also use Sigma 150mm.

I use a wired shutter always and MLU when possible. Always on tripod. The tripod I have used so far is Gitzo G2220...BUT on saturday one of the leg twist locks got brocken so I already ordered a new tripod which is a Manfrotto 055XB... I´ll probably order spare parts for the Gitzo and then sell it as I´m tired of those twist locks anyway ...The head I´m using is a Markins M-10

I don´t use flash at all...

 

[ccroy]

Very nice thread you thought of Randy.

It will be very informative to those like me, who are trying to get into this magical world of macro photography

I use manual focus macro lenses - Vivitar 90/2.5 (1:2), Kiron 105/2.8 (1:1), Vivitar 55/2.8 (1:1), Vivitar tubes MF, ordinay velbron tripod with d50

 

[MParker]

Camera - D70, D200, D1X, D2H
Lens - Sigma 50/2.8 EX Macro, Sigma 150/2.8 EX Macro, Sigma APO 300/4 EX Telemacro, Sigma APO 400/5.6 EX Telemacro
Flash - Nikon R1 ringlight
Diopter - Canon 72mm 500D Two-element diopter
Tubes - Kenko AF extension tube set
Bellows - none
Tripod - Gitzo 1327, Gitzo 3540L, Induro C413
Head - Kirk BH-1 with 1) Velbon macro rail or 2) dual Manfrotto macro plates crossed to provide 4-way movement.

 

[photofox]

My macro setup is usually a D300, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro and an SB800.

 

[liftoff]

Mine is a D80, the "old" 60mm nikkor micro, cheap tripod and not enough practice. I was recently surprised at how well my 300 f/4 does at close-ups (with a crop).

 

[Counter]

Nice thread Randy!

D300
60mm AF-S f2.8
Gitzo GT3540LS
Arca Swiss Z1 Ballhead
MC-30 remote cord

The tripod set up is just for indoors really. Most of the time I shoot outdoors hand held with the D300 and 60mm, using just the pop-up flash.
If I want to shoot a flower study or an object and have total control over the lighting then I come indoors and use a small light tent which is lit by two domestic halogen lights, one on either side and grip/position the object with a Wimberley Plamp or just some wire and string!

I woud like to try a longer reach macro but am pretty happy with the 60 at least until Nikon update the 200mm Micro (I wish) and then I'd just use the 60 for indoor tripod work but depending on technique you can get surprisingly close with the 60mm.

 

[DW Brewer]

Camera bodies: D2X, D2Hs
Lenses: Sigma 105 f2.8, Sigma 400 f5.6 APO Macro D
Flash: Sunpak DX12R Ringlight
I rarely use a tripod for macro work, as I'm usually "hunting on the fly" after moving insects. When I do use a tripod its either a Cullman or a Manfrotto.

 

[fishbio]

D200
55mm f3.5 AI (bought new in '77!)
105mm f4 AIS
200mm f4 AF
PN-11 tube (unused so far)
Sigma ring flash
Sb-800
Tripods
Arca B1 ball head
Seagull right angle finder (just got it - not bad for the price)
remote release (Chinese)

 

[TomP]

Posting our setup, has been mentioned before, I guess we all forget.
I usually shoot with
70/200 2.8 and full set of tubes. The 70/200 trap shots very well like this.
also 60mm 2.8
Bogen 3251
RRS 55 ball head.
SB800 and m29 cord, with a little diffuser slipped over the flash, also use a cut up milk jug, mainly for the 60mm. Also use the better bounce flash system, I found on UTube.
REALLY need to buy some serious macro light.

 

[TomP]

Mine is a D80, the "old" 60mm nikkor micro, cheap tripod and not enough practice. I was recently surprised at how well my 300 f/4 does at close-ups (with a crop).

I see some great pics shot with that lens, have you tried some tubes. You can trap shoot when using the right amount of tubes.

 

[plaifatt]

My favorite type of photography......macro/close-ups.
I now use:

D3
105 f2.8 VR.....almost always on tripod, VR off and manual focus.
70-200 VR at times.

 

[Duncan C]

I used to shoot with my D1X. Lately I use my D200. I do most of my macro shooting with a Tamron 90 SP 90 mm f/2.8 macro lens.

Sometimes I'll add a Canon 500D closeup attachment to the front. I recently got a set of Kenko tubes, and have been experimenting with adding those to the mix.

I like to shoot insects "in the wild" so I do almost all of my shooting handheld, with flash to give me the fast shutterspeeds and small apertures I need. See my post on macro diffusers for how I've been lighting my macros lately. This pop-up macro diffuser is cheap and easy, and gives remarkable, natural-looking results, with the flash in the hotshoe, set on TTL!


Pop-up macro diffuser examples

I've also done some extreme closeups by adding a reversed 50 mm to the front of my Tamron 90, but that is REALLY hard to use. That's a "tripod-only" proposition.

For closeups that aren't quite macros, I've also put the Canon 500D on my 70-200 VR. I am amazed at the quality of the resulting images. Check out this small gallery of sample images with that setup: Macros w 70-200 VR plus Canon 500D closeup attachment.

 

[BostonRott]

For close-up work (i.e. 1:2 or less), I use the 28-105 and hand hold (D3). It does a lovely job.

For true macro (1:1 or larger), always on a tripod (Gitzo), cable release (MC-36) and Mup mode. I use the 105 micro (non VR) and usually some portion of the Kenko extension tube set (love these!).

I've also used the tubes with the 300/4 and that works nicely for close up, though I prefer the lighter weight 28-105.

 

[RickW]

There are several items that I never leave the office without when I am shooting macro - especially flowers.

http://tripodhead.com/products/plamp-main.cfm
for obvious reasons

http://tripodhead.com/products/flash-bracket-macro-brackets.cfm
for obvious reasons

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/42081-REG/Photoflex_DL_1312WS_12_Reflector_White_Silver.html
To either push natural light onto (or into) a subject or to block sun from hitting target or to help control breezes (although a larger reflector works better for that)

 

[tojor]

D300
300mm f4 AF-S
200mm f4 micro (just got it)
105 f2.8 Sigma
Kenko extension tubes
Tripod
Remote control MC-30

 

[Big Daddy]

Camera: D80
Lenses : Tokina 90mm 2.5, Vivitar 100mm 2.8
Tripod : Gitzo 3540LS + (? changing heads now) + Kirk plate
Release: Infrared remote
Tubes/Etc : Kiron 2x TC (use more often), cheap eBay tubes (rarely)

Just upgraded from a Gitzo 1228 and an Acratech Ultimate Ballhead

Will also use a Vivitar 70-210/2.8-4 zoom for long stuff (1:2.5)

 

[thrdprophet]

Camera: D300

Lenses: 35-105 and the occasional 50 1.8

Tripod: Velbon Carbon Fiber 540

Release: MC-30

Tubes: Some cheap ones off of eBay

Not into macro, but if I was... i'd be all over that 105 VR...

 

[j.ankanpaa]

D300
200mm f4 micro (just got it)

I think we all would like to see some samples!!!:smile: