Milkweed Beetle Face View Experiment
Jan 29, 2020 17:11:15 #
This is the tiny metallic colored Milkweed Beetle that I posted the body view of two weeks ago. Snow flurries, grey and cold outdoors so I wanted to see just how far I could push my rig without going to a microscope objective lens.
I've included a picture of the insect next to a dime to give perspective to its size and of course it's not possible to see its face with the unaided eye.
The second picture shows how the rig was set up to diffuse the lights. This is a highly reflective insect so illumination is always a challenge.
The third picture shows how I staged the insect for the session and the amount of working distance there is between the subject and the lens.
The forth picture shows the configuration of the rig. Starting on the subject end is a piece of rolled black felt with a piece of tapy that I place on the end of the lens as a lens hood. The next item is a reverse mounted 50mm lens. It is mounted onto a reversed mounted 208mm magnifying lens. These are connected to a Novoflex bellows. The other end of the bellows is mounted onto a 2X teleconverter. On the end is a Fujifilm X-T20 mirrorless camera adapted to connect to the Nikon F mount teleconverter.
The subject is staged on a laboratory scissor jack for elevation adjustment. It is mounted on a slide worktable for the X and Y travel adjustments. The camera and attachments are mounted on a motorized digital macro focus rail that is controlled by a laptop P.C.
As always, thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.
I've included a picture of the insect next to a dime to give perspective to its size and of course it's not possible to see its face with the unaided eye.
The second picture shows how the rig was set up to diffuse the lights. This is a highly reflective insect so illumination is always a challenge.
The third picture shows how I staged the insect for the session and the amount of working distance there is between the subject and the lens.
The forth picture shows the configuration of the rig. Starting on the subject end is a piece of rolled black felt with a piece of tapy that I place on the end of the lens as a lens hood. The next item is a reverse mounted 50mm lens. It is mounted onto a reversed mounted 208mm magnifying lens. These are connected to a Novoflex bellows. The other end of the bellows is mounted onto a 2X teleconverter. On the end is a Fujifilm X-T20 mirrorless camera adapted to connect to the Nikon F mount teleconverter.
The subject is staged on a laboratory scissor jack for elevation adjustment. It is mounted on a slide worktable for the X and Y travel adjustments. The camera and attachments are mounted on a motorized digital macro focus rail that is controlled by a laptop P.C.
As always, thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.
Jan 29, 2020 18:06:13 #
Jan 29, 2020 18:43:59 #
Jan 30, 2020 08:16:08 #
That is a lot of work and elaborate setup to get that little bugger. Well worth the work to get the final results. Keep up the good work.
Jan 30, 2020 08:19:40 #
Jan 30, 2020 08:45:21 #
Jan 30, 2020 09:31:03 #
While Rube Goldberg, my hero since a kid, would be proud to see your equipment setup, the results are awesome even though that beast is indeed ugly. Being an outside-the-box gadgeteer, I look at your setup with honest admiration.
Goldberg's Studio:
https://hative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/rube-goldberg-ideas/13-rube-goldberg-style-installation-art.jpg
Goldberg's Studio:
https://hative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/rube-goldberg-ideas/13-rube-goldberg-style-installation-art.jpg
Jan 30, 2020 10:22:03 #
NJFrank wrote:
That is a lot of work and elaborate setup to get that little bugger. Well worth the work to get the final results. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for dropping by.
Jan 30, 2020 10:22:53 #
randave2001 wrote:
Your setup is totally amazing and your results are the best. 
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Jan 30, 2020 10:23:32 #
raymondh wrote:
Not sure what is more impressive- your setup & equipment or the results.
Thanks, I enjoy experimenting.
Jan 30, 2020 10:26:08 #
dpullum wrote:
While Rube Goldberg, my hero since a kid, would be proud to see your equipment setup, the results are awesome even though that beast is indeed ugly. Being an outside-the-box gadgeteer, I look at your setup with honest admiration.
Goldberg's Studio:
https://hative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/rube-goldberg-ideas/13-rube-goldberg-style-installation-art.jpg
Goldberg's Studio:
https://hative.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/rube-goldberg-ideas/13-rube-goldberg-style-installation-art.jpg
Thank, I guess that I am still a kid at heart. It started by nailing cart wheels to a 2x12 and riding it down the hill...then crash.!
Jan 31, 2020 15:20:39 #
Jan 31, 2020 22:30:45 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
As always, your work is excellent! 👍
Thanks Mark, I've come a little bit of the way so far on what appears to be my endless journey. There are many masters that have given me inspiration and you and the other regulars on this forum have played a large part in where I am now and where I want my work to go in future.
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