Nikkor Micro Macro 60mm 2.8

[Oneputt]

Does anyone know if there is a ring flash (DTTL) available which fits this lens?

[birddog114]

Does anyone know if there is a ring flash (DTTL) available which fits this lens?

Not with Nikon, but I think other brand has, perhaps Sigma but has to suse manual instead of auto.

[sirhc55]

Does anyone know if there is a ring flash (DTTL) available which fits this lens?

With a 62mm filter mount the Nikon SB29 will fit this lens but only offers TTL, M or M1/4.

The Sigma 140 EG will fit and does offer iTTL but has not been released yet.

A better system would be to use a double arm macro bracket (Manfrotto) or make one up and then to use 2x SB800 or one SB800 and a cheaper slave flash.

I use the Manfrotto arm with the SB800 on one side and a Magneflash panel on the other. The SB800 is set up as a remote slave, the D70 flash as commander and I have a sync cable from the SB800 to the flat panel flash.

Hope this helps

[Oneputt]

Thanks Chris. After I made the post I found that centre net were advertising the EM140 which they claim offers full TTL with a number of different size adapter rings also being available.

I could certainly buy another SB800 much cheaper, but I like the idea of the convenience of the ring flash. Will have to think this one through more.

[sirhc55]

Thanks Chris. After I made the post I found that centre net were advertising the EM140 which they claim offers full TTL with a number of different size adapter rings also being available.

I could certainly buy another SB800 much cheaper, but I like the idea of the convenience of the ring flash. Will have to think this one through more.

The one thing to consider is that ring flashes produce a fairly flat light and were originally intended for scientific type shots. I have obtained nice macros with just the SB800 connected to the camera with the SC29 lead and held off to the side. The lead is around $100 and is a lot cheaper than a ring flash

[Oneputt]

Chris I like the diffuse light for some applications, but as you said with a cable and SB800 held off to one side perhaps with a diffuser on, I could still get the same result.

[sirhc55]

I always use the diffuser when do pics this close

[ATJ]

My best macro shots were taken with the 60mm Micro Nikkor using a small, cheap, manual (GN14) flash mounted on a DIY bracket just above the lens. This was with an FE2. Now that I have the D70, I plan to get a small slave to drive the flash (so I don't run the high voltage of the cheap flash though the D70).

I started using a single flash after reading John Shaw's books on nature photpgraphy about 15 years ago. I have never looked back.

I'll scan some photos to post if anyone is interested.

[sirhc55]

John Shaw - my hero

[ATJ]

Here's a photography I took with the Micro Nikkor using a single small flash. (It was with an FE2 onto Kodachrome 64 but my scanner is not great)

[sirhc55]

ATJ - great pic with great DOF but a bloody ugly spider - I will have nightmares tonight for sure

[phillipb]

ATJ, how far away was the end of the lens to the spider on this shot?

[christiand]

Yes, I also need to know how far away from that spider you were when you took the photo.

CD

[sirhc55]

Yes, I also need to know how far away from that spider you were when you took the photo.

CD

I know I would be at least a mile away with a 5000mm Macro

[ATJ]

ATJ, how far away was the end of the lens to the spider on this shot?

That would be pushing my memory too far - I took the shot 7 1/2 years ago. It would have been 4-10 cm from the end of the lens, I guess, based on the magnification.

[phillipb]

Well, strike that lens off my list, far too close for my liking

[Oneputt]

According to the manual for the lens 8.75" is the minimum distance for this lens.

[ATJ]

According to the manual for the lens 8.75" is the minimum distance for this lens.

I think you will find that is from the focal plane to the subject. The question was how far the spider was from the end of the lens.

I just mounted the lens on my FE2 and focused to the minimum distance. Sure enough, it was 8.75" from the focal plane to the subject and around 7cm from the end of the lens. Which shows that my memory wasn't too bad. Obviously, 4cm was an exaggeration, but it would have been less than 10cm as the image on the slide is close to 1:1.

[ATJ]

I was playing a bit just before the thunderstorm.




D70 with 60mm Micro Nikkor and SB24 Speedlight on manual 1/16 power. 1/40s and f45.

Even at 1/16 power, the flash was too powerful for me to lighten up the background, unless I put the shutter at around 1/2 s.

[boxerboy]

OOOO...he's pretty.......ugly

Great photo though, fantastic detail. I think the black background adds to the shot and brings out this guy's colours - gotta get myself a macro.

[sirhc55]

Very nice capture but it looks as if you have given it a little too much USM IMO. I don’t know if you are aware of Plonsky but he does multiple shots adjusting the focus slightly for each shot then in PS he combines in layers, removes the out of focus parts to show in focus parts.

[ATJ]

USM?

I'm not sure if the middle section of the caterpillar is actually out of focus as the leaf which is further away from the lens shows good detail. It may just be the colour pattern that makes it look out of focus.

[sirhc55]

USM?

I'm not sure if the middle section of the caterpillar is actually out of focus as the leaf which is further away from the lens shows good detail. It may just be the colour pattern that makes it look out of focus.

ATJ - USM is unsharp masking in PP.

I noticed that the centre was out of focus but the leaf was not - strange!

Now even stranger - I look on my LCD monitor and the pic looks a lot sharper than the CRT monitor!

There is an obvious angle on this pic as the left hand side of the leaf is out of focus - it might just be that its back is within that O/F area - still a great pic

[Oneputt]

ATJ I actually like the dark background, it does not detract from the subject.

[ATJ]

Ah. I actually used the smallest amount of sharpening that PSP (PaintShopPro) allows, and tweaked the contrast every so slightly. Other than that, and the resizing, the image is pretty much unchanged from what the camera produced.

One thing that surprised me, though, how did the camera know I took it vertically?

[ATJ]

Here's a shot of the same caterpillar after the rain:

[sirhc55]

Complete with drop of water - a very nice touch