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Using LED ring lights (not flash) for macro insects

Started 1 month ago | Discussions thread
macrouser
macrouser Senior Member • Posts: 3,979
Re: Using LED ring lights (not flash) for macro insects
2

I think your have gotten a lot of good advice so far.

I do more macro photography than anything else and have tried many set ups.  I am constrained by price and age.  I just turned 76 and have some health problems.

As far as lighting goes, if you are using a ring flash attached to the lens,  the extra weight can destroy the lens if it is not internal focus.

I have tried reflectors and diffusion.  They can give good results and if you have an easy subject that is not moving, they are good choices.

I now use a flash with a guide number of 28 for nearly all shots.  The biggest problem is highlights from natural light.  The next is slightly out of focus areas on reflective surfaces.  The hair on an insect can make balls of light if the focus is not perfect.

I often use manual flash power of around 1/16 to 1/32 with an f 14 setting.  It helps with good contrast and fast flash duration.

mantis nymph about 3 mm long.

This is done with an FE 90mm macro lens and a NISI  5 diopter lens on the front.  The leaf is red amaranth.

These beetles are inside an okra flower.  The image is cropped.

I used a mono pod to help me hold steady enough to focus on the spot I wanted.

 macrouser's gear list:macrouser's gear list
Sony SLT-A77 Sony a7R III Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM Sony FE 90mm F2.8 macro Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS +2 more
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