Copy Stand Recommendations
Feb 10, 2023 22:00:48 #
Wayne Keene
Loc: Cortez, Colorado
I have a need to make very accurate photographs of pressed flowers. For the past two years I have used a tripod; I have the flowers on a piece of flat particle board that I check for level, and I check the back of my camera for level. I would like to increase my precision and I am wondering if anyone has experience with macro photography using a copy stand. I see B&H has a Beseler copy stand that is 44" high, which appeals to me because in some shots that I make I move back 3+ feet. I'm shooting a Nikkor 200mm f4 macro on a Nikon D810, though in a couple of months I'm upgrading to a Nikon Z7. The Beseler is expensive, and if someone knows of a less expensive option, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Feb 10, 2023 23:02:36 #
Wayne Keene wrote:
I have a need to make very accurate photographs of... (show quote)
That is a rather long macro lens for shooting flat copy and not live insects. My friend who uses a D750 has a Nikkor 60mm Macro lens. I shoot with Pentax and have 50mm and 100mm Macro lenses. I use a tripod or tripod and side arm for copy work. Yes, check your camera for level any way you shoot.
Feb 10, 2023 23:25:22 #
Wayne Keene
Loc: Cortez, Colorado
Thanks for the response. I also have a 100mm Tokina macro that I just bought used, haven't used it much yet, but it seems as sharp as my 200mm, which is a legendary lens. And you're right, the extra focal length is great for insects.
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Feb 10, 2023 23:43:36 #
Mr. SONY
Loc: LI, NY
I have just what you're looking for.
A heavily reinforced copy stand.
It was a Promaster I think.
Too bad you live so far away. :-(
A heavily reinforced copy stand.
It was a Promaster I think.
Too bad you live so far away. :-(
Feb 11, 2023 07:44:15 #
Wayne Keene wrote:
I have a need to make very accurate photographs of... (show quote)
Shorter lens and look at B&H again for a stand that is a bit shorter and less expensive.
Feb 11, 2023 08:40:44 #
lamiaceae wrote:
That is a rather long macro lens for shooting flat copy and not live insects. My friend who uses a D750 has a Nikkor 60mm Macro lens. I shoot with Pentax and have 50mm and 100mm Macro lenses. I use a tripod or tripod and side arm for copy work. Yes, check your camera for level any way you shoot.
The 200MM is a great lens!!
But I think I would go with The 60mm macro if I had to do work on a copy stand.
Feb 11, 2023 08:45:09 #
Wayne Keene wrote:
I have a need to make very accurate photographs of... (show quote)
Precision ? Photographing flowers ? as in accurate size, color, Depth of field. or all?
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Feb 11, 2023 10:14:57 #
n4jee
Loc: New Bern, NC
Many years ago, I built a copy stand out of 2x4 lumber. There wasn't a lot of precision. Just move the camera up or down and tighten a knob. If I were doing it today, I'd find someone giving away an enlarger and modify it to mount a camera.
Feb 11, 2023 10:20:13 #
Wayne Keene
Loc: Cortez, Colorado
Since I'm photographing pressed flowers that have frost on them, I'm trying to capture the fractal formation on the flowers, so precision is important. I have that 100mm Tokina which seems to be roughly equal to the Nikkor 105.
Feb 11, 2023 10:23:22 #
There's a saying that goes, "If you can't raise the bridge, lower the water". It appears that if I were shooting a flat image, like a pressed flower, I could do it with the camera mounted horizontally rather than vertically. Mount the flower on the background material, stand it up, or hang it on the wall and shoot it as you would taking a portrait, which actually is a portrait of a pressed flower.
Feb 11, 2023 10:29:42 #
Wayne Keene wrote:
Since I'm photographing pressed flowers that have frost on them, I'm trying to capture the fractal formation on the flowers, so precision is important. I have that 100mm Tokina which seems to be roughly equal to the Nikkor 105.
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Feb 11, 2023 10:37:33 #
ddgm
Loc: Hamilton, Ontario & Fort Myers, FL
I use a Canon 5D III with a Sigma 50mm Macro attached to a home built 3' x 3/4" pipe clamp using a Manfrotto Double Super Clamp and the center post and head of an old Slik tripod. I have various lengths of pipe to increase distance from lens to subject, currently at 30". I am using it to copy records from our Lodge dating back to 1845. I also just got a used Tamron 90mm Macro for smaller items. I use a Canon 430 EX or Canon 270EX Speedlite for flash. I see better results using the Macros versus regular lenses. Tethered setup through Lightroom. Do a UHH search on Burkphoto, he has a very good PDF about this. Here are some views of my conglomeration.
Feb 11, 2023 12:00:16 #
Feb 11, 2023 12:06:04 #
Wayne Keene
Loc: Cortez, Colorado
I set the flowers that I save from pressings during summer and fall. Then I set them out overnight in our Colorado winters for the frost to settle on them. The fractal formation of the frost against the brilliant colors of the flowers is something to behold. The set up I use now with a tripod works well, but moving the tripod to change composition on my slanting concrete (obviously, one does this outside on frigid mornings) requires frequent checking of level/perpendicular. If I could move the flowers on a fairly large base to change the compositions it would be easier than moving the flowers as I currently do it.
Feb 11, 2023 12:17:22 #
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