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GinAZ
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Posts: 54
Re: Which macro equipment option for "bugs" and flowers.
BBbuilder467 wrote:
GinAZ wrote:
I've decided to start doing some macro photography and I would like recommendations on equipment.
I currently have a Sony A77V APS-C (the one from way back in 2011!) with these A-mount lenses:
Sigma 18-250 which has macro capability at the 250mm zoom. F3.5-6.3. Minimum focus 13.8". Magnification 1:.29. 62mm filter thread.
Sony 16-50. F2.8. Minimum focus 1'. Magnification 0.2x. 72mm filter thread.
Tokina 11-16. F 2.8. Minimum focus 11.81". 77mm filter thread.
I have macro extension tubes 13, 20, and 36mm.
In 2015 I purchased a .43x wide angle add on lens but unfortunately I can't locate it now. It has 62mm threads.
....
Add the 36mm extension tube to the 16-50 and you should get close to 1:1 at 50mm for a test to see what the high magnification is like. The depth of field is going to be narrow, regardless of how you achieve it.
At 1:1 or 1x, you would be filling the frame with a US quarter. 10x would fill the frame with an aspirin for a rough example.
I just had time to try your suggestion. With the 36mm and the 16-50 lens, I couldn't get close enough to the object to focus on a leave on a plant. I tried the 18-250 with the 36mm extension and the 36+20mm extensions. Both worked! the focus distance was about 3 1/2" from the lens. I use the 250mm and I used a tripod and manually focused. I used the a77 remote.
I wasn't sure of the manual focus technique so I went back and forth trying to hit as many focus points as possible.
The 250mm images do not look very good but the 135mm ones with the 36mm ET came out pretty good. I'll try 100mm when I have time.
I took pictures of a small Christmas Cactus plant. It has just started growing its first new leaf. The new leaf is about 3/8" life size. The plant was near a window but today was a little bit cloudy.
The original images were by Sony a77 APS-C, 6000x3376 pixels, 1/4sec @ f/6.7. ISO 1600. Lens focal length 135mm (202mm for 35mm).
This picture is a stack of 14 jpg images. I included all I took but maybe I should have left out the ones that are clearly out of focus. I'm surprised at how good the result is. I exported as jpg max quality and as a png from PhotoShop.
I then stacked the raw images. I exported as a jpg and png.
The stacked images are similar in quality. The leaf on the left has a grey area around it. This is less obvious on the arw stacked png image. I've attached the jpg stacked from the 14 jpgs. It is 8.15 mb. The png from the raw images was 39.4 mb.
Christmas Cactus with new leaf from 14 stacked images. 135mm. ISO1600, 1/4 sec @ f6.7
Below is the best single image.
