STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Macro enthusiasts, please give me some help and advice.

I have started playing around a bit more with macro photography which I am really enjoying. When doing indoor, tabletop shooting, it’s pretty easy to slide the tabletop tripod any which way you need to get your subject in focus. Outdoors, though, is a different matter. These things, I’m sure you know.

Is a focusing rail what I need to solve the problem? If so, which one would you recommend? Keep in mind that I am a hobbyist and cannot justify a great cost; but neither do I want the cheapest just because it is the cheapest. If not a focusing rail, what do I need?

I use a Canon 60D with a 100mm macro lens. My tripod is a Benro C2691 with ball head with Arca QR plate. (Just because I own these items, don’t assume I know what they are, what they do, or how to use them.) Assuming I do need a focusing rail, is there one compatible with what I already own? Does it use a QR plate to mount on the ball head, or is the ball head removed from the tripod before attaching the rail? See? I’m pretty ignorant here. Please help.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I highly recommend a focusing rail. I have one that adjusts both side-to-side and forward. For critical work, in my opinion they are both necessary and will save you a lot of time and frustration. I'm not at home-- but I will send you the model number. I can attach the quick release plate to mine (I have two plates) to the bottom of the rail and then attach the camera to the top via the 1/4-20 on the bottom of the camera. I use mine primarily for focusing stacking. I believe I paid around $100.00 for mine. There are cheaper ones available. You might look in the used market.... Just my thoughts....

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for your response and I would like the model number of the one you use and any other recommendations you may have. $100 is doable. I just want to stay away from "several 100". Never having to change a plate is my goal! I bought extra plates for my tripod, keep one attached to my camera and one attached to each lens collar - anything else is too tedious.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Focusing rails are only good for subjects that are completely still and are well suited for a macro studio, but I am not so sure about field work where subjects are alive and moving around or blowing in the wind. Personally, i think that the one single thing that you can do to improve your work is a good flash solution, you will find yourself leaving the tripod back in the house.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Yes, even a gentle breeze is the enemy of macro. I don't disagree with your comments, but, today I was outside shooting a very lazy creature which did not move for the entire 30 or so minutes I was shooting him. The time consumer was trying to get focused in and with good composition. Moving the tripod by fractions of an inch on uneven terrain -- YIKES! Whereupon, I said, "There's gotta be an answer to this problem!" Hence, this post and this conversation.

I have an inexpensive light ring for macro shooting which has thus far proved sufficient for my needs. Learning more about flash and lighting is still in my future.

Thanks for your comments.

gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

I agree with blurryeyed. Getting the proper flash and diffuser made a tremendous improvement in my macros. Once you find a setup that works for you, the speed of the flash will solve most insect movement. The main thing you'll have to worry about will be focus, and that will come with practice.... practice...... practice.......

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I actually agree with both the above. I must claim a mulligan here-- I only read the first part about indoor table top photography. For outdoor work with mobile subjects, there is no substitute for diffused flash. I use a soft box with a 5x7 diffuser and shoot manual @ 1/4 power. My starting point is F/16-18, ISO 200, and shutter duration of 1/200 sec. My flash head is set at 24mm (to widen the "beam" and it has an additional drop down diffuser.
My focusing rail is a Velbon Super slider and has about 2" side to side movement and about 4" front to back. I have done some focus stacking "in the field"-- but for moving stuff, it's about diffused flash, and a ton of practice.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Click on my flickr link to see my stuff, when I got my first macro lens I spent two years shooting in natural light and was somewhat proud of my stuff, then I bought a good flash head and started producing the shots that you see on the first few pages of my flickr page. I used to use a tripod when shooting macro as I was also using a 180mm lens which makes it even more difficult, since I learned how to use my flash the tripod has been relegated to a dark closet, never to be used for macro again.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Every macro-photographer started with available light illumination. Some of us quickly progressed to speedlight illumination, while more dense photographers (Geff) took years to get here <Bazinga!>.

Never-the-less, take a look at pages 3 & 4 of Macro Equipment Set-Ups at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-32754-3.html . You will see several hand-held, field macro set-ups using speedlight illumination: Canon, Nikon, & Pentax.

My typical exposure at ISO 200, 1/200-sec at f/16, speedlight at 1/4-power.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

LoneRangeFinder; Blurryeyed; gym; Nikonian72

It seems that all you guys are in agreement. I need to learn about and use flash and diffusion.

Nikonian72, I did check out “Macro Equipment Set-Ups” before I started this thread, but not thinking I had a lighting problem, I just gave things a cursory glance. I’ll go back and pay more attention.

Blurryeyed, I checked out your flickr link - impressive!!

LoneRangeFinder, thanks for the info. Maybe it won’t happen so soon, but a focus rail is probably in my future.

Oh, dear. Seems that a prior problem has reared its ugly head again. You may have seen and remember a recent thread of mine. I suffer from a “bob-and-weave” that makes it difficult to hold a camera with a long (heavy) lens steady enough to keep my subject in the frame; also, in getting so close with a macro lens I have trouble keeping the subject in the frame. And yet, now I must do that – with the added weight of a flash and diffuser. Ah, well, I’m retired – I have (gloriously) nothing else to do.

It’s no secret that I have multiple problems, but I would appreciate your comments on today’s results:

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

When requesting Comment & Critique (C&C), please check the box labeled (store original) when posting photos, so we can enlarge & examine detail.

I see insect movement at head, which indicates fairly long exposure. To my eye, both images are over-exposed about 1-stop.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for the heads up on "store original".
Yep, the fella was munching down, but I could barely see it live and in person. I'm amazed at what your trained eye can tell from a photograph!

So, even in this bright sunlight, I should use a flash?
That would enable a fast enough shutter speed to shut out the background light and stop action - yes? How fast a shutter speed would you think? I adjusted using the exposure meter. Is it such a bright background that still made it overexposed?

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Here are two images of the same caterpillar, shot in the field with my hand-held macro set-up, pictured in image #3.

Typical exposure at ISO 200 is 1/200-sec at f/16, with speedlight at 1/4-power (basically freezes insect movement). Same camera settings, full sunlight or deep shade, but speedlight output may vary.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I agree with everyone's suggestions. Though I am not in the same league as Blurry eye and Nikonian I use my focus rail enough to say it is worth having it. I seldom use it in the field but do truck it out occasionally and would have been of use to you with your slow moving or stationary bug, especially if you have trouble holding your camera steady. I can't help you on make and model as mine is just a cheap one I bought from a fellow hogger. For as little as I use it I wouldn't spend a ton of money on one. Here a a bunch that you can find on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=focus%20rail%20for%20macro%20photography&sprefix=focus+rail%2Caps%2C202

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I'm another one that has a focus rail & doesn't use it. It's there should I need it for static work though...I have both ring/point lights & softbox set ups. While I like the results I get from the softbox, I've found that I'm missing out on shots where the bugs are leaving because of the proximity of the big unit. I can get in closer to the insects with the ring/pointlight without disturbing the insect. The size of the softbox makes it hard to do that as it disturbs the leaves & causes the insect to fly away...Now, if I could find a way to soften the light from the ring light without adding to it's size, I'd be a happy camper...