macros with 80-400vr

[KerryPierce]

Nikon D70 ,Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR AF
1/500s f/40.0 at 400.0mm iso800 with Flash & Canon 500d hand held


Nikon D70 ,Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR AF
1/500s f/36.0 at 400.0mm iso800 with Flash & Canon 500d hand held

[mic]

Farrrrrr out Kerry,

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuperb !

They are some of the best shots I've seen

Whats this cannon thingy you are using ?

Mic.

Well done Mate !

[KerryPierce]

Thank you very much, Mic.

The Canon thingie is a closeup lens, 77mm. Costs about $130US, IIRC. It's the same thing as the Nikon 5T/6T closeup lenses, basically. They are magnifying lenses that screw into the filter threads that allow you to focus much closer than the lens would normally be capable.

[mic]

Hmmmmmmmm

Ideas, Ideas. Will it ever end

Thanks Kerry.

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[Holden]

Love the reflection in the water drop on the first one

[Greg B]

Kerry, you do some sensational stuff, fantastic.

Congrats on 1000 posts too

[Alpha_7]

Once again a suberb offering of macro shots, the inverted imaged in the droplet works so well in that shot. (How many shots did you take of it to get it that good). And please don't say you got it first go...
Well done!

[MATT]

Kerry, great shots.

I particularly like the wasp shot.The colours and clarity are supurb.

MATT

[BBJ]

Mate,WWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW as usuall, not into macro but yeh great pictures.

[moggy]

Great shots, Kerry, in particular I like the markings on the wasps head which give it a beligerent look, as if it's saying "who do you think your looking at buddy!!" Bob.

[Glen]

Kerry that first image is fantastic

[Poon]

Kerry,
I really like the shots.
The best I have seen.
It is a nice lens and can not imagine it can take macro so nice.
-------
Regards
Poon

[KerryPierce]

Many thanks for all the kind comments, guys.

VK4CP: The 1st image is water droplets captured on a small vine. The water drops show refracted images, inverted, of the scenery on the other side of the drops. The top droplet shows the other parts of the vine and the bottom drop shows the inverted skyline and trees.

Greg: heh, yup, you're right. 1,000 posts. Very prolific poster, I am.

Alpha_7: umm, dunno how many shots I took of this particular setting, probably at least half a dozen or more. It's a very difficult task. The vine is very susceptable to even the slightest breeze, so it was very frustrating trying to keep it in focus with the wind almost constantly moving it. The lighting has to be bright enough to show the objects behind the drops and you have to stop down the lens sufficiently to ensure that the vine and images within the drops are in focus. I've been playing with this off and on all summer, probably at least 6 or 7 different attempts, with different lenses.

Poon: Yes, it's a very nice lens, very versatile.

[Alpha_7]

Thanks for sharing that info Kerry, very well done again!

[Aussie Dave]

Absolutely sensational Kerry. I reckon we could give you a coke bottle & closeup lens and you'd still come up with the goods

Seriously.....have you ever thought about writing a tutorial on Macro Photography, for the forum ? You obviously have the technical expertise and wanna-be macro photographers (like myself) could learn a great deal from all your knowledge on the subject.

Just a thought...

Keep on posting those inspiring images !

[KerryPierce]

Absolutely sensational Kerry. I reckon we could give you a coke bottle & closeup lens and you'd still come up with the goods

Seriously.....have you ever thought about writing a tutorial on Macro Photography, for the forum ? You obviously have the technical expertise and wanna-be macro photographers (like myself) could learn a great deal from all your knowledge on the subject.

Just a thought...

Keep on posting those inspiring images !

Thank you very much, Dave. That's quite a compliment.

I haven't thought about writing a tutorial. I still have much to learn. But, I'd be happy to try to write up something on what I've learned so far. I'll have to take a look at the tutorial section to see what it might entail.

You've got most of the required stuff, from your sig. I also have a Sigma 70-300 APO Super II. To get to 1:1, I think you'll need a closeup lens like the Canon 500d or Nikon 6T, or some extension tubes.

[Aussie Dave]

Yes, I have pondered getting a closeup lens for the Sigma. It all comes back to the $$$. I'll just put it on the list with the 50 1.8D, Nikkor 105 2.8 macro, Sigma 70-200 2.8, better tripod, 12-24DX, etc....

I know I'd be interested in reading a macro tutorial from you. If you ever get the chance to write one, I'm sure there would be many people on this forum that would benefit from it as well.

[birddog114]

I'll just put it on the list with the 50 1.8D, Nikkor 105 2.8 macro, Sigma 70-200 2.8, better tripod, 12-24DX, etc....

Great choice and good taste!!!!!! wish all of of these will come soon to you!

[Aussie Dave]

I'll just put it on the list with the 50 1.8D, Nikkor 105 2.8 macro, Sigma 70-200 2.8, better tripod, 12-24DX, etc....

Great choice and good taste!!!!!! wish all of of these will come soon to you!

Thanks Birdy. You can be sure of a PM from me if I ever have the money to buy these

[mudder]

Wow, Kerry your macro stuff is bloody great! I'm struggling just to get focus! The detail and sharpness is terrific... As a canon 500d virgin, I'd love to hear your tips...

[chris1968]

Kerry - great stuff - especially when taking into acct the focal length to worked at - guess VR helps but still no mean feat!

Aussie Dave - if you have the Macro version of the Sigma 70-300 i think it gives half life size image at 1mtr subject distance. Sigma did supply it with a screw in 'close up' lens think they called it AML (apochromatic macro lens?) - they may still sell it or you might pick one up 2nd hand?

[big pix]

....... after seeing your fantastic pix's kerry, I have just ordered a close up set of hoya filters and a step up ring to use on other len's from B&H, I don't think I will match your quality but I will have fun trying.....

These will be arriving along with my NEW D70s body when My son arrives back from NY on Sunday.........

[birddog114]

....... after seeing your fantastic pix's kerry, I have just ordered a close up set of hoya filters and a step up ring to use on other len's from B&H, I don't think I will match your quality but I will have fun trying.....

These will be arriving along with my NEW D70s body when My son arrives back from NY on Sunday.........

big pix,
Congrats on the new toy, why not the D2Hs?
Tell your son don't bother to put his hand on it It's virgin

[big pix]

......... I need a camera as soon as I get home, and I am waiting along with everyone else for the new Nikon........ then I might have to visit a mini meet to have a play.......but will the price of the D2Hs come down when Nikon release the new model ????.......

[Zeeke]

Wow.. im extremely impressed... the water drop is awesome.. the colour in it is amazing!!! and the wasp.. i like the colours in it.. you sure wouldnt want to get that close to one in Real life lol..

Tim

[ozimax]

Nicely done Kerry, was the insect dead or alive? If alive, how did you get him to stay still? Them thar varmints twitch and move all the time in my experience.

Max

[KerryPierce]

Wow, Kerry your macro stuff is bloody great! I'm struggling just to get focus! The detail and sharpness is terrific... As a canon 500d virgin, I'd love to hear your tips...

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the very kind words.

Dunno what to tell you in the way of specific tips for using the 500d. Using it is pretty much the same as using any of my true macro lenses at 1:1.

So, if you're using one on an 80-400 at 400mm, you've got 1:1 magnification. The best parts of using the 500d on the 80-400 is that you have a zoom for lesser magnification and VR. Using it on other lenses gives you their strengths and better closeup (magnification) shots than would otherwise be available.

Using the 500d at the max magnification of any long tele is probably going to make AF problematic, so manual focus is pretty much it. You have some leeway going from infinity focus to minimum focus distance, but at the higher magnifications, it's not very useful.

I tend to set MF at minimum focus distance, at 400mm and move the camera in/out to get focus where I want it. It's not hugely difficult to learn how to do that with the d70, but it does have a learning curve. At 1:1 magnification, the DOF is so narrow that you can usually see the focal plane rather easily. Of course, that means you have to have some decent ambient lighting. For some/most of my night shoots, I used a bright AA sized flash light to illuminate the subject for focus.

It's much easier to do this with a tripod and focus rails. Doing it hand held or with a monopod is rather difficult. With the 80-400, you can use the zoom to move the focal point as well. So, a tripod without focus rails is an option, provided you'd be happy with less than 1:1 magnification.

I hope that gives you the info you wanted. If not, please give me some specifics and I'll give it another go.

[KerryPierce]

Nicely done Kerry, was the insect dead or alive? If alive, how did you get him to stay still? Them thar varmints twitch and move all the time in my experience.

Max

Thanks for the kind comments, Max.

The wasp was quite alive and didn't sit still for me. I watched him go in the flower and just waited for him to come out and snapped the shot when he got into focus.

[KerryPierce]

Many thanks to all you other guys for the kind words as well.

BP: I hope you enjoy playing in the miniature world of macro, when you get your new cam and the Hoya set.