ISO question in Macro (Page 2): I will try it, thanks. I was at minimum distance for the lens, so may try that light ring. I had been shooting close-ups with another lens, but it was a...

wevans410 Loc: Simi Valley CA

I will try it, thanks. I was at minimum distance for the lens, so may try that light ring. I had been shooting close-ups with another lens, but it was a telephoto from several feet away. The ISO was fine. That's why this seem so strange. First time at macro though.

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

A cheaper or budget alternative to getting in real close is a close up filter. Adjusts the minimum focus distance of a lens by at least half. You can get a range from +1 to +10. If your lens minimum focus distance is say 15cm it will achieve focus around the 7cm mark. Some say it degrades lens optic quality but I can't tell any change on a 16x20 print or on screen.

I don't have much call for them but always carry a 58mm and 77mm set with me just in case.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

mafadecay wrote:

A cheaper or budget alternative to getting in real close is a close up filter. Adjusts the minimum focus distance of a lens by at least half. You can get a range from +1 to +10. If your lens minimum focus distance is say 15cm it will achieve focus around the 7cm mark. Some say it degrades lens optic quality but I can't tell any change on a 16x20 print or on screen.

Fellow photographers will be pleased to see examples of your macro work with an attached close-up filter.
Please post to the True Macro-Photography Forum: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

I will have to dig some out. Its our queens diamond jubilee here this week and I've got a lot on both work and pleasure.

I don't use them much now but carry them as sometimes have to take pics of tiny screws and washers for clients. The size you would have in a pair of spectacles for example. A macro lens alone doesn't always cut it.

I have to say never really been one for macro. Bugs especially wasps scare the @#%! Out of me.

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

Macro Ring Lights are good but can be pricy. I sometimes use a canon macro twin lite but that was about £700+ (£ not $).

Your lens pokes through the middle and the light provides ETTL close up even lighting.

You can get cheaper universal attachments that velcro straight onto any brand of speedlite. Essentially they just bend the light emited from your flash and output it in a ring light. I can not comment on them as never used one but they had some good reviews in magazines. Here is one on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polaroid-Ring-Flash-Adapter-F165-Canon-430EX-II-5D-50D-40D-7D-Macro-/270915992915?pt=Camera_Flash_Accessories&hash=item3f13d9fd53

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

Its just a quick one I shot earlier for now to show how close up filters work. Sorry I will just post it here for speed. Will dig out some better shots later next week.

Taken with canon EF 50mm f/1.8 as it has no macro function on this lens but with +5 close up filter attached.

Lens minimum focus distance quoted as 17.7 inches I achieved focus at about 8-9cm (Nearly 4 inches) with the filter attached. Image is not cropped.

50mm f/1.8 at about 8-9cm with close up +5

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

mafadecay wrote:

You can get cheaper universal attachments that velcro straight onto any brand of speedlite. Essentially they just bend the light emited from your flash and output it in a ring light. I can not comment on them as never used one but they had some good reviews in magazines. Here is one on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polaroid-Ring-Flash-Adapter-F165-Canon-430EX-II-5D-50D-40D-7D-Macro-/270915992915?pt=Camera_Flash_Accessories&hash=item3f13d9fd53

This is exactly the 3/4-circle attachment that I use exclusively for my macro-photography, attached to a standard SB-600 speedlight. The Polaroid company has nothing to do with O-Flash. To see examples, view my two websites, lower left this post.