Ordering equipment for macro setup -- please critique before I order!

[Overread]

By "manual," do you mean that I have to attempt to press the flash button and camera button at the exact same time?

Not sure whether it was a genuine question, but it did make me laugh
That's impossible, not even a ninja-photographer such as the child of Helmut Newton and Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill would be able to do that!

Actually --- you can do that pretty easily.
However it will only work if the scene itself is fully lit by the flash light and the ambient light is not contributing to the final photo (this can mean that you're taking the shot in a totally dark environment/room - but it can also just mean that you've a very small aperture and a low ISO in very dim lighting, and thus the ambient isn't strong enough to contribute to the shot).
You'd do it by taking the photo with a slow shutter speed (say a second or two) or even in bulb mode (where you hold down the shutter button to keep the shutter open). Then you'd have more than enough time to also trigger the flash right after. Further since the flash is the only light that will be contributing to the exposure you'd get the exact same shot as if the flash were triggered at the same time as the shutter. This kind of setup where a flash is triggered separately from the camera has been used a lot for ultra fast action shots and trip assemblies (eg water drops).

 

[ZapoTeX]

Hi Overread, thanks so much for your explanation! It was very interesting, I did not know about the triggering technique for water drops and bullets, but now I understand and I find it fascinating. Even at 1/200 sync speed, it would not be enough for a water drop or, even more so, for a bullet. So you sync really slow and you trigger a 1/10,000 or so flash. Really cool!

And the bulb thing, that's an excellent idea to simulate a light setup with a bunch of sources using just one flash I'll try that on a statue or something like that soon

Anyway, darkening the room, shooting bulb and flashing with your thumb is not what you do everyday (at least not what I do everyday)

Thanks again!

 

[phnoob]

Make sure to order some extra macrofluid. While at these magnifications you don't need to worry so much about evaporation and degradation, at some point your lens will need to be topped off. It's better to be prepared, otherwise your lens could be irreparably damaged.

Every macro lens has a little door on the side, which you fill it with macrofluid, which cools the lens at high magnification. Without it, the lens would burst into flames, especially at very high magnification! So it is very vital that you keep the macrofluid topped off.

You will also need to do a macrofluid flush periodically, and the radiator should be checked occasionally for leaks. Leaks can be temporarily repaired with eggs and pepper.

I think K9P is the best macrofluid. If you can't find that try to find c3po or r2d2...

LOL! you guys really had me going, right up until the point unpopular mentioned the "radiator" in the lens

By "manual," do you mean that I have to attempt to press the flash button and camera button at the exact same time?

Not sure whether it was a genuine question, but it did make me laugh
That's impossible, not even a ninja-photographer such as the child of Helmut Newton and Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill would be able to do that!

Triggering is always automatic. Manual refers to power setting. The contrary of Manual is TTL.

Ciao!

Ha ha! I thought it seemed impossible, but I didn't see what else "manual" might mean..

Amazingly, I 'won' 480sparky's macro extension tube giveaway! I know extension tubes will not be as good as a dedicated macro lens, but since I'm on a tight budget I'm thinking about ordering the rest of the stuff on the list and giving the tubes a try.

Which of those flashes do you think would be best?

 

[unpopular]

Macro tubes at fine, especially if you get a dedicated macro barrel lens or enlarging lens with he proper adapter. Nikon enlarging lenses are well known good performers. They do take some practice, but they're super cheap. The downside is that you loose all connection with the lens, and you have to stop down the aperture manually. Typically the route you'd take is a set of enlarging lenses, 50, 75 and 135mm mount the m39 lenses with a m42 stepup, and mount the lenses into an m42 adapter for the extension tubes. Without a helical, a focusing stage, such as the inexpensive rack and pinion types from Fotomate, is useful.

This is a good way to bring your macro work to the next level without spending much money, while you save up for a real macro lens.

 

[Markw]

I'd like to add another wrench to the system. You could always go with the Tokina equivalent. It's a great lens:

Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 AF Pro D Macro ATXAFM100PRON B&H

But, do note that the Nikkor is DX and will only work with DX cameras. So, should you ever choose to upgrade to FX, you won't have support by that lens. The other two mentioned are FX.

Mark

 

[TheFantasticG]

Are you referring to one of the lenses I linked to?

Yes, the Nikon 85mm f3.5 micro. I prefer the color and bokeh of the Tamron 90mm sp di f2.8 hands-down.

 

[sm4him]

I'd like to add another wrench to the system. You could always go with the Tokina equivalent. It's a great lens:

Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 AF Pro D Macro ATXAFM100PRON B&H

But, do note that the Nikkor is DX and will only work with DX cameras. So, should you ever choose to upgrade to FX, you won't have support by that lens. The other two mentioned are FX.

Mark

^+1
This is my very favorite lens, and by far my best lens purchase. Granted, I've only purchased three lenses, including the kit l8-55!
But, it IS an awesome lens, and it has been on my camera 90% of the time since I got it a few months ago.

I also have Kenko extension tubes, and they are good, once you figure out how to use them. But the Tokina 100mm? It's Da Bomb!! And the Tokina WITH the tubes is even better!

 

[phnoob]

So, I ended up buying the flashes, but I'm not sure how to trigger them with my D3000. Anyone know how to do this?

 

[jwbryson1]

I would take the following lens over the 2 you listed. It's about the same price, it's faster and it's built like a TANK:

Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 AF Pro D Macro ATXAFM100PRON B&H

 

[480sparky]

So, I ended up buying the flashes, but I'm not sure how to trigger them with my D3000. Anyone know how to do this?

RF (radio frequency) wireless triggers, or an adapter that installs on the hot shoe that can drive synch cords.

 

[phnoob]

Should I get something like the following?

Amazon.com: Yongnuo 2.4GHz Wireless Remote Control RF-602 N1 for Nikon D1/D2/D3/D200/D300/D700: Camera & Photo

 

[480sparky]

Should I get something like the following?

Amazon.com: Yongnuo 2.4GHz Wireless Remote Control RF-602 N1 for Nikon D1/D2/D3/D200/D300/D700: Camera & Photo

Dat's what I use!

 

[phnoob]

No kidding?!

So, would that be able to trigger 3 Yongnuo YN-560 II's from my Nikon D3000?

Thanks for your help!

 

[cgipson1]

So, I ended up buying the flashes, but I'm not sure how to trigger them with my D3000. Anyone know how to do this?

All those flashes can be optically triggered by his on board flash.. or by one flash on a sync cord. Post #11 in this thread! Or can buy the wireless triggers.. much less frustration!

 

[phnoob]

So, I ended up buying the flashes, but I'm not sure how to trigger them with my D3000. Anyone know how to do this?

All those flashes can be optically triggered by his on board flash.. or by one flash on a sync cord. Post #11 in this thread! Or can buy the wireless triggers.. much less frustration!

I did read your post, but I wasn't sure what you meant by "optically triggered." I tried taking pictures with the camera and the external flash did not go off. I also tried connecting the flash directly to the camera (just for kicks, since I don't intend to use it that way) and the camera kept trying to pop up it's own flash (so it didn't realize the external one was attached, I guess).

Regardless, you think a wireless trigger would be better? Do you know if the one I linked to will work with a D3000 and three Yongnuo YN-560 II's? I emailed the Amazon seller to confirm, but who knows if they'll ever respond