"Hello Pretty Lady" - (better if you imagine it said in a Russian accent)
Discussion
20 replies
Posted by Andy Astbury on July 16, 2010 at 4:19 AM
Set-up shot before anyone asks
A zero crop, 22 frame focus stack of a female Common Darter done with a D2Xs + 180mm macro on a 36mm extension tube.
Now this sequence took 9 attempts to get right and even then it's not quite right as there's a little movement on one antenna.
The front element of the lens was a tad over 4 inches from the subject.
The perch has a slight hotspot bottom right corner which doubtless wouldn't be there if I'd used the D3 in 14bit, but then the detail wouldn't be quite as good.
The lack of DoF at this distance with extension tubes is frightening - my knees were knocking when I'd finished!
Exposure for each frame 4/10th @ f10 ISO 100
Stacked in CombineZM
very nicely done Andy - though I'm a little surprised that this took 22 images to stack since you would have only been working at a little over lifesize and these are pretty big insects. Is the D2Xs full frame? Looking at the image again, I guess you could have covered the head in less than 22 but it's those front legs which must have required quite a few extra frames.
It's a lovely shot though. I really like the soft light.
Superb detail, especially the eyes and facial bristles.
Posted by Andy Astbury on July 16, 2010 at 7:39 AM
Matt, at f10/11 with just the 180mm lens on the camera it would have taken possibly 6 shots to cover the DoF range.
But with a 36mm extension tube on plus being down at just over 4 inches the DoF at f10 is less than 1/3rd of what it would be if I'd done the shot from my normal distance - around 19" to 20" - without the tube.
Focusing wide open at 4" with a 36mm tube is really hard - seemed a lot harder than I remember an MP65 on the old 1D2 that I had
Going through the full set of raws at 200% it might have worked with 20 shots but honestly, the DoF is like tissue paper.
Phil - I've done a lot of testing with a focus rail and I've come to the conclusion that there's just ever-so-slightly less overall shape change using the Sig180 internal focus and keeping the front element in the same place rather than moving it on a rail.
The funny thing is, when I did the testing 'stuff' for PhaseOne a couple years ago using a rail gave less shape change than the lenses focus mechanism - but there again the lens was an external focus macro lens.
I so appreciate the fact that such a skilled professional has time and makes the effort to adivse and comment on my meager efforts. Makes the UKPN such an outstanding forum.
Obviously it's technically b****y impressive shot Andy, but it's the comp that really lights my candle. Stacking really opens up the options doesn't it? Love the water droplet too. eric
Discussion
20 repliesA zero crop, 22 frame focus stack of a female Common Darter done with a D2Xs + 180mm macro on a 36mm extension tube.
Now this sequence took 9 attempts to get right and even then it's not quite right as there's a little movement on one antenna.
The front element of the lens was a tad over 4 inches from the subject.
The perch has a slight hotspot bottom right corner which doubtless wouldn't be there if I'd used the D3 in 14bit, but then the detail wouldn't be quite as good.
The lack of DoF at this distance with extension tubes is frightening - my knees were knocking when I'd finished!
Exposure for each frame 4/10th @ f10 ISO 100
Stacked in CombineZM
David
Should have done the promo posters for Geoff Blum all those years ago.
Appreciate the techs & info
TFS
Steve
Regards,
Des
Are you altering the focus on the lens or by moving the camera (if moving the camera, which I prefer the Manfrotto focus rail is excellent...)
It's a lovely shot though. I really like the soft light.
Matt
But with a 36mm extension tube on plus being down at just over 4 inches the DoF at f10 is less than 1/3rd of what it would be if I'd done the shot from my normal distance - around 19" to 20" - without the tube.
Focusing wide open at 4" with a 36mm tube is really hard - seemed a lot harder than I remember an MP65 on the old 1D2 that I had
Going through the full set of raws at 200% it might have worked with 20 shots but honestly, the DoF is like tissue paper.
Phil - I've done a lot of testing with a focus rail and I've come to the conclusion that there's just ever-so-slightly less overall shape change using the Sig180 internal focus and keeping the front element in the same place rather than moving it on a rail.
The funny thing is, when I did the testing 'stuff' for PhaseOne a couple years ago using a rail gave less shape change than the lenses focus mechanism - but there again the lens was an external focus macro lens.
Master class at work just fantastic.
I so appreciate the fact that such a skilled professional has time and makes the effort to adivse and comment on my meager efforts. Makes the UKPN such an outstanding forum.
Keith.
the bar is higher
Bertl
Phil.
Dale
Phil.