New macro lens - Tamron 90mm

[danielklaer]

Hi guys
Just got my new macro lens I have been hanging out for since I first got my slr. I work with spiders in my spare time so this will get used alot but for now just gave it a quick test around the yard. Very happy with first impressions.

 

[Marc-Etienne]

Very nice! I would say that #3 is my favorite, the composition just catch my eye.

#4 is a little overexposed, especially on the leaf. What kind of light are you using? Any diffuser? I'm not a macro pro (just started recently to be honest), but I read a fair bit and for a shot like this one with a lot of color contrast, a gentle diffused light helps a lot to get rich contrast (in my very humble opinion )

 

[jake337]

A bit more DOF in #2 would be perfect

 

[danielklaer]

Thanks for the tips

Just using the on board flash (D90). I'm not at all experienced so just playing around at the moment. Ill try your suggestions regarding flash, might try making something up.

 

[Marc-Etienne]

Love D90! It's a nice camera. Not the top of the line, but a good price for a good quality! My future plan in term of macro photography is to build my own macro ring flash


If you get (or already have) a speedlight and a off camera cord, you should maybe think about it. It sounds like a nice way to use a speedlight for macro purpose without having to buy an expensive macro setup like the Nikon Commander kit R1C1 (sold for around 900$CAN!). It would provide you a nice diffused surrounding light.
Just a thought

 

[danielklaer]

Thanks Marc!
No I don't have a flash of any kind yet (other then the on board one) but it will be my next purchase. I will definitely look into this ;-)

 

[TheFantasticG]

Awesome images yo. I like #4 for the colors. #3 for composition.

I'm going to purchase the Tamron 90mm again next month. I loved that lens.

The Tamron 90mm SP Di is an awesome companion to the Nikon D90, which is what I happen to shoot with as well since it is such a good deal for the money.

*EDIT: Right now until 12DEC2010 Tamron is running a $50 mail-in rebate on the Tamron 90, so you can get it for $410 new. Free shipping from B&H. That rebate plus keeping the 6 year manufacture warranty has spurned on my want for the 90mm SP Di.

 

[GRbenji]

Love D90! It's a nice camera. Not the top of the line, but a good price for a good quality! My future plan in term of macro photography is to build my own macro ring flash
YouTube - DIY DSLR Ring-Flash part 1 of 2
YouTube - DIY DSLR Ring-Flash part 2 of 2
If you get (or already have) a speedlight and a off camera cord, you should maybe think about it. It sounds like a nice way to use a speedlight for macro purpose without having to buy an expensive macro setup like the Nikon Commander kit R1C1 (sold for around 900$CAN!). It would provide you a nice diffused surrounding light.
Just a thought

Interesting DIY. But noticed 1 flaw, can't manual focus anymore.

 

[Dao]

Love D90! It's a nice camera. Not the top of the line, but a good price for a good quality! My future plan in term of macro photography is to build my own macro ring flash

If you get (or already have) a speedlight and a off camera cord, you should maybe think about it. It sounds like a nice way to use a speedlight for macro purpose without having to buy an expensive macro setup like the Nikon Commander kit R1C1 (sold for around 900$CAN!). It would provide you a nice diffused surrounding light.
Just a thought

FYI:
That video/ringlight was made by a forum member here.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...news-reviews/140589-diy-ring-flash-works.html

 

[NateS]

That's a good start. I'm never a fan of macro ring flashes because unless you block one side, your light is even from both sides making it look too flat for my tastes.

I use a setup with a homemade $5 diffuser that works great. Visit the link below to see my setup (though my diffuser now is a modified version of the picture and isn't nearly as long). It works great and a cheap flash bracket can be made for another $5 since you don't have a tripod mount on the lens like me. I get great light using this and the directional light adds a lot of depth the the photos.

Macro Rig Nathanael Siders Photography: A Macro World

 

[icassell]

Love D90! It's a nice camera. Not the top of the line, but a good price for a good quality! My future plan in term of macro photography is to build my own macro ring flash
YouTube - DIY DSLR Ring-Flash part 1 of 2
YouTube - DIY DSLR Ring-Flash part 2 of 2
If you get (or already have) a speedlight and a off camera cord, you should maybe think about it. It sounds like a nice way to use a speedlight for macro purpose without having to buy an expensive macro setup like the Nikon Commander kit R1C1 (sold for around 900$CAN!). It would provide you a nice diffused surrounding light.
Just a thought

I built one and it works great, but find that I usually just put a diffuser on my Canon 430EX and it does very well.

 

[Marc-Etienne]

That's a good start. I'm never a fan of macro ring flashes because unless you block one side, your light is even from both sides making it look too flat for my tastes.

I use a setup with a homemade $5 diffuser that works great. Visit the link below to see my setup (though my diffuser now is a modified version of the picture and isn't nearly as long). It works great and a cheap flash bracket can be made for another $5 since you don't have a tripod mount on the lens like me. I get great light using this and the directional light adds a lot of depth the the photos.

Macro Rig Nathanael Siders Photography: A Macro World

That's an interesting setup to consider NateS. The only issue I see come from the fact that most macro lens (unless you go focal length 150+) don't have a tripod bracket. I guess you could rig a plumber collar and rig something up. I wouldn't want to damage my lens (Sigma 105mm macro). Anybody with suggestions?

 

[Overread]

RAM Mount brackets are one approach you can use for a mount eg:
My very flexible Macro flashbracket: Lighting Technique Forum: Digital Photography Review

I've started using them and even with a heavy 580EX2 they hold without any wobble at all (something that the cheaper ebay flash brackets can suffer from). That combined with a softbox (either home made or a lumiquest softbox) and you'll have a good adaptable light source that will work very well for a lot of macro work.
The linked article shows a cheap metal bracket you could make or you could easily use your cameras tripod mount - though for this you might need to add another bracket and double ball joint to get the flash into an easy above the lens position. With 2 brackets I get no wobble at all so I'd have no problem adding a 3rd to the setup.

Also getting a regular speedlite type flash - like a Nikon or Canon own brand - means that you've not only got a light (and diffuser ) for macro, but also a flash that can be used extensively in other areas of photography. This is something that ring and macro only flashes are more restrictive with - great for the specialist use, but almost not worth using outside of their limited scope

 

[NateS]

That's a good start. I'm never a fan of macro ring flashes because unless you block one side, your light is even from both sides making it look too flat for my tastes.

I use a setup with a homemade $5 diffuser that works great. Visit the link below to see my setup (though my diffuser now is a modified version of the picture and isn't nearly as long). It works great and a cheap flash bracket can be made for another $5 since you don't have a tripod mount on the lens like me. I get great light using this and the directional light adds a lot of depth the the photos.

Macro Rig Nathanael Siders Photography: A Macro World

That's an interesting setup to consider NateS. The only issue I see come from the fact that most macro lens (unless you go focal length 150+) don't have a tripod bracket. I guess you could rig a plumber collar and rig something up. I wouldn't want to damage my lens (Sigma 105mm macro). Anybody with suggestions?

I would suggest something similar to what overread has linked. I plan to get a Tamron 90mm f2.8 sometime next year to compliment my Tamron 180mm and I will probably use a bracket setup very similar to that.

RAM Mount brackets are one approach you can use for a mount eg:
My very flexible Macro flashbracket: Lighting Technique Forum: Digital Photography Review