Posted by Rob Howard on August 25, 2007 at 7:56 AM
Canon EOS 20D, 300mm f4 IS, 68mm ext. tubes, 1.4x conv.f5.6, 1/160, ISO 200, RAW, RSE, CS 2.
Hi All,
This is my first attempt at Macro. I found the caterpillar on some Cabbage plants that I never put in the ground but never got round to composting, so will leave them until the caterpillars have had their fill.
Looking for critique and comments on this, I really need to get myself a tripod for macro so any suggestions would be great (£150-200 Range)I have an arca swiss mono ball head that I plan to use but need mounting plates for a 300mm f4 IS and a 70-200 f2.8 IS so any suggestions as to which one's I might need would be good.
You only need to buy one mounting plate for both lenses as the tripod mount ring fits both lenses...
Although Wimberley recommend the P-20 Plate for both lenses, I'd think about using the P-30 Plate instead as it allows for a bit more front-back adjustment of the lens (useful if using extension tubes or multipliers).
As to macro tripods, check out the Uniloc Major range - like the old wooden fold-out deckchairs, they're great to wrestle with, are capable of giving you a nasty bite if not handled carefully and you can get them into all sorts of interesting positions...sometimes even intentionally!
Posted by Chris Lloyd on August 25, 2007 at 9:23 AM
Hi Rob,
Looks like a nice Caterpillar, although being parallel with it along its length would have appealed more to me so that it is in focus from end to end, if that makes sense.
Regarding tripods, I use a Manfrotto 055proB which I am very happy with for long lens and macro work. The price is about £100 legs only last time I looked, plus whatever head you choose. I use the Manfrotto 501 video for both long and short work and am very pleased with it.
HTH.
Regards Chris.
Posted by Andy Astbury on August 25, 2007 at 9:30 AM
Hi Rob
I like the image composition but the massive amount of OoF frame kills it for me - sorry mate.
With all 3 rings on + the 1.4x @ f5.6 I'm surprised you got the bit of DoF you did - why use all the tubes and the t/c, the caterpiller wasn't going anywhere
Your Dof on the 300 is shallow, every tube you put behind the lens makes it even shallower and the T/C would kill it completly.
If you want to start some serious cu/macro you'd be better investing in a proper lens, perhaps a Sig 150 or 180 which are both on a par or even marginally better (some would say) IQ-wise than the Canon.
Some of those short Manfrotto pods look okay as long as they'll go flat to the floor - I want to replace my small tpod but can't seem to save enough dough at the moment. Actually I'd like to get hold of an old Benbo if I could - bet you're too young to remember those; one handle locked everything, undo the hangle half a turn and the thing went like a dead spider crab
But for crikes sake get a proper lens - you'll drive yourself nuts with tubes alone
Looks good Rob, but I feel the viewpoint is letting you down a bit here.... I avoid Benbo like the plague... they simply wobble too much... I do own one looking at it now., the Unilocs suggested by Nick are supposed to be better, most of my close up work is done using my standard tripod....
Have got to start disagreeing with Andy here... I often use the 300 with tubes, more than I use my 180, DoF is exactly the same at the same magnification...
All the best
Posted by Andy Shepherd on August 25, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Hi Rob,
Now where to start , firstly I think your using the wrong lense for this kind of subject matter , I own both the Canon 300f4 IS and the Sigma 150mm and I use both for macro work , the 300mm is used for dragons and butterflies which can be very flighty subjects and the 150mm is used for insects , both are very fine lenses and both will capture very good images when used in the right situations.
As for the 1.4t/c , remove it from your 300mm , you don't need it for macro work , as for tubes I don't use them so I can't really comment on those.
Tripod for macro work , I use a Man 055ProB with both lenses and I have no complaints at all.
As for the caterpillar , a good first attempt considering your set up , a dedicated macro lense would have given better results in this situation , but in your 300mm you have the perfect lense for dragons and butterflies.
Kind regards
Andy...
Posted by Sean Bolton on August 25, 2007 at 6:58 PM
Hi Rob
My nature photography tripod is the Manfrotto 190CLB. It's a slightly smaller and lighter version of the 055. As I don't own any huge lenses the 190 does the job for me. I use a standard ballhead, 486 or something like that. The manfrotto gear is well made and lasts well. My 190+head is still going strong after 4 years heavy use and no cleaning!
I think this type of shallow dof/ long 'head-on' subject matter can work Rob, under certain situations.
I believe i have seen the occasional snake image, using extremely shallow dof, although i think the creatures body position and bg can make or break the effect.
I haven't got a clue as to the best approach to this type of shot though
In this shot, i feel the mid>tail end is at an uncomfortable angle, and had it been curved/symetrical, it may have made a more balanced image
Discussion
7 repliesHi All,
This is my first attempt at Macro. I found the caterpillar on some Cabbage plants that I never put in the ground but never got round to composting, so will leave them until the caterpillars have had their fill.
Looking for critique and comments on this, I really need to get myself a tripod for macro so any suggestions would be great (£150-200 Range)I have an arca swiss mono ball head that I plan to use but need mounting plates for a 300mm f4 IS and a 70-200 f2.8 IS so any suggestions as to which one's I might need would be good.
All comments welcome
Regards
Rob
You only need to buy one mounting plate for both lenses as the tripod mount ring fits both lenses...
Although Wimberley recommend the P-20 Plate for both lenses, I'd think about using the P-30 Plate instead as it allows for a bit more front-back adjustment of the lens (useful if using extension tubes or multipliers).
As to macro tripods, check out the Uniloc Major range - like the old wooden fold-out deckchairs, they're great to wrestle with, are capable of giving you a nasty bite if not handled carefully and you can get them into all sorts of interesting positions...sometimes even intentionally!
Looks like a nice Caterpillar, although being parallel with it along its length would have appealed more to me so that it is in focus from end to end, if that makes sense.
Regarding tripods, I use a Manfrotto 055proB which I am very happy with for long lens and macro work. The price is about £100 legs only last time I looked, plus whatever head you choose. I use the Manfrotto 501 video for both long and short work and am very pleased with it.
HTH.
Regards Chris.
I like the image composition but the massive amount of OoF frame kills it for me - sorry mate.
With all 3 rings on + the 1.4x @ f5.6 I'm surprised you got the bit of DoF you did - why use all the tubes and the t/c, the caterpiller wasn't going anywhere
Your Dof on the 300 is shallow, every tube you put behind the lens makes it even shallower and the T/C would kill it completly.
If you want to start some serious cu/macro you'd be better investing in a proper lens, perhaps a Sig 150 or 180 which are both on a par or even marginally better (some would say) IQ-wise than the Canon.
Some of those short Manfrotto pods look okay as long as they'll go flat to the floor - I want to replace my small tpod but can't seem to save enough dough at the moment. Actually I'd like to get hold of an old Benbo if I could - bet you're too young to remember those; one handle locked everything, undo the hangle half a turn and the thing went like a dead spider crab
But for crikes sake get a proper lens - you'll drive yourself nuts with tubes alone
Have got to start disagreeing with Andy here... I often use the 300 with tubes, more than I use my 180, DoF is exactly the same at the same magnification...
All the best
Now where to start , firstly I think your using the wrong lense for this kind of subject matter , I own both the Canon 300f4 IS and the Sigma 150mm and I use both for macro work , the 300mm is used for dragons and butterflies which can be very flighty subjects and the 150mm is used for insects , both are very fine lenses and both will capture very good images when used in the right situations.
As for the 1.4t/c , remove it from your 300mm , you don't need it for macro work , as for tubes I don't use them so I can't really comment on those.
Tripod for macro work , I use a Man 055ProB with both lenses and I have no complaints at all.
As for the caterpillar , a good first attempt considering your set up , a dedicated macro lense would have given better results in this situation , but in your 300mm you have the perfect lense for dragons and butterflies.
Kind regards
Andy...
My nature photography tripod is the Manfrotto 190CLB. It's a slightly smaller and lighter version of the 055. As I don't own any huge lenses the 190 does the job for me. I use a standard ballhead, 486 or something like that. The manfrotto gear is well made and lasts well. My 190+head is still going strong after 4 years heavy use and no cleaning!
cheers
Sean
I believe i have seen the occasional snake image, using extremely shallow dof, although i think the creatures body position and bg can make or break the effect.
I haven't got a clue as to the best approach to this type of shot though
In this shot, i feel the mid>tail end is at an uncomfortable angle, and had it been curved/symetrical, it may have made a more balanced image
Nicely sharp/detailed at the focused end!!
Alan