Posted by Paul Gibbs on September 6, 2007 at 6:35 AM
With macro season beginning ;) I like autumn for mushrooms, and fungus etc.
I have a Low level pod (ergo rest) or bean bags, my Nikkor 28-105mm or sigma 150mm, flash, reflector and i've just bought a DR-6 right angle view finder.
Just wondered what everyone else uses, to get their macro shots.
Thought it may be interesting to have some technique discussion?
Posted by Chris Lloyd on September 6, 2007 at 6:43 AM
Paul,
I think you pretty much covered it. All I think of other than that is a small pen knife for cutting away distracting strands of grass etc, a bin liner to stop yourself getting dirty whilst low level shooting and also a remote to further prevent camera shake.
HTH.
Chris.
Posted by Daniel Read on September 6, 2007 at 9:39 AM
Hi Paul,
What type of pod or rest are you using? I'm still searching for a good tripod for macro work. I bought a Uniloc system 1700 a few years a go (after being swayed by a couple of good reviews) and just hate it, it's too heavy and really not that sturdy at all. Any suggestions for a reasonably priced tripod capable of getting near the ground?
Cheers,
Dan.
Posted by Paul Gibbs on September 6, 2007 at 10:01 AM
I mount the manfrotto 128RC pan and tilt head on it, as it keeps the centre of gravity pretty low.
Hope that helps?
Posted by Daniel Read on September 6, 2007 at 4:50 PM
Thanks Paul, I'll look into that, it looks to be quite a versatile pod.
Posted by Paul Gibbs on September 6, 2007 at 5:51 PM
No problem, the only other thing i can think of is the Kirk low pod i think its called.
I did see a thread about using frying pans as bases, drill a hole in the middle then use a bolt of the correct thread and put a ball head on it. This was mainly for Seal shooting though on beaches.
Posted by Paul Everett on September 7, 2007 at 7:07 AM
Another vote for the ergorest. They are £39 at 7 day shop at the moment.
Any suggestions for a reasonably priced tripod capable of getting near the ground?
I used a Benbo Mk 1 for years and always found it superb for fungi and in some regards much better than the Gitzo 1548 I upgraded to,at least for that particular subject. Weight wise they're very similar and although stability wise the Gitzo is in a completely different league I never really found that an issue for macro work, as working just inches off the woodland floor there was never any wind to contend with and as long as the tripod was physically locked down and a cable release was used after locking the mirror up and waiting a few seconds then any vibrations were completely non-existant. The real advantage of couse was the lower height the Benbo (or I suspect the Uniloc equivelant) could go to over the Gitzo.
If an ultra low angle is required I find taking the vertical holding grip off and just putting the camera on the woodland floor does the job, can be a bit fiddly getting the front of the lens the optimum height off the ground though,a thin bean bag would work wonders here.
If it's just something that's needed for low level macro stuff and you already have a ballhead I'd be inclined to pick up a £5 frying pan,drill a hole and attach the ballhead (as Paul mentions above),weighs and costs next to nothing and could even be used in conjunction with a beanbag for a bit more height flexibility when needed.
Discussion
7 repliesI have a Low level pod (ergo rest) or bean bags, my Nikkor 28-105mm or sigma 150mm, flash, reflector and i've just bought a DR-6 right angle view finder.
Just wondered what everyone else uses, to get their macro shots.
Thought it may be interesting to have some technique discussion?
I think you pretty much covered it. All I think of other than that is a small pen knife for cutting away distracting strands of grass etc, a bin liner to stop yourself getting dirty whilst low level shooting and also a remote to further prevent camera shake.
HTH.
Chris.
What type of pod or rest are you using? I'm still searching for a good tripod for macro work. I bought a Uniloc system 1700 a few years a go (after being swayed by a couple of good reviews) and just hate it, it's too heavy and really not that sturdy at all. Any suggestions for a reasonably priced tripod capable of getting near the ground?
Cheers,
Dan.
I mount the manfrotto 128RC pan and tilt head on it, as it keeps the centre of gravity pretty low.
Hope that helps?
I did see a thread about using frying pans as bases, drill a hole in the middle then use a bolt of the correct thread and put a ball head on it. This was mainly for Seal shooting though on beaches.
Paul
I used a Benbo Mk 1 for years and always found it superb for fungi and in some regards much better than the Gitzo 1548 I upgraded to,at least for that particular subject. Weight wise they're very similar and although stability wise the Gitzo is in a completely different league I never really found that an issue for macro work, as working just inches off the woodland floor there was never any wind to contend with and as long as the tripod was physically locked down and a cable release was used after locking the mirror up and waiting a few seconds then any vibrations were completely non-existant. The real advantage of couse was the lower height the Benbo (or I suspect the Uniloc equivelant) could go to over the Gitzo.
If an ultra low angle is required I find taking the vertical holding grip off and just putting the camera on the woodland floor does the job, can be a bit fiddly getting the front of the lens the optimum height off the ground though,a thin bean bag would work wonders here.
If it's just something that's needed for low level macro stuff and you already have a ballhead I'd be inclined to pick up a £5 frying pan,drill a hole and attach the ballhead (as Paul mentions above),weighs and costs next to nothing and could even be used in conjunction with a beanbag for a bit more height flexibility when needed.