Ive been meaning to document my macro setups but never seemed to get around to it. With field macro slowing down to a crawl I found the time to do so. The pictures document my progression / trials and tribulations over the past year. Inspiration for most of the DIY equipment came from various websites that document such things. I have read so many I forget who to credit. Implementation of some of these ideas is a combination of several concepts I have stumbled across to produce a unique solution. I post with the hope that some may find solutions to their macro equipment needs and of course, showoff my rigs...
Original field macro setup - Canon T2i with 270EX II Flash - extending snoot and overhead speedlight illumination rigs. MP-E 65 extends out 75mm so if one wants to deliver illumination to the end of lens the flash source must travel as well. Solution - a gutted Vivatar teleconverter j-b welded to a gutted 58mm UV filter. A ¼ inch hole was drilled and tapped into the converter to attach an aluminum platform:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3765/11791435346_68302a7e41.jpgt2i - mpe65 - lens mount platform - snoot and flipped 270 by
William Banik, on Flickr
Snoot on the right is made of ¼ inch foam project board (white on inside). Velco straps snoot to flash and its secured to platform with gate latch, bolt, and wing nut. It has crude telescoping motion out to 3:1 and taped edges aid in smooth glide.
On the left 270 EX II flipped upside down on the platform ala Kurt (Hock Ping GUEK). It moves entire lens extension. A cheap popup diffuser softens the flash. Both applications can produce nice results but are inconsistent and the 270EX II doesn't refresh very fast.
When I first started macro I had a dickens of a time seeing focal points with the T2i pentamirror/small viewfinder. Solution - DIY LCD live view loupe - electronics project box, magnifying glass, aluminum bar scraps, old Kenko lens adapter:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3703/11791436016_e63752e055.jpgt2i - lcd loupe by
William Banik, on Flickr
It worked well but constantly using live view in the summer would overheat the sensor and require a 5 minute cool down period.
Details of the bits and pieces I made for the T2i. Far right is an old stereo microscope fiber optic bridle. Fiber arms attach to the Vivatar convertor shell with tin strip cinches and screws. Illumination wasnt sufficient It needs a bridle with at least 8 arms and preferably 18 long not 12.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/11791436586_af59eb0f24.jpgt2i - diy pieces by
William Banik, on Flickr
T2i finally blew a shutter gasket so I graduated to a 5D-III. Following pictures are of the lens/illumination combos I have. I believe photography nerds call this camera porn.
On the left Yashica Medical DX100 Very sharp optics, fixed aperture dependent on magnification. I got it from a retiring dentist for a song. I havent used this in the field as the lens wouldnt clear the viewfinder hump on my T2i. No such issues with the 5D so I plan on using it this coming spring. DIY coke can diffuser ala LordV with paper towel diffusion media on $2 thrift shop heavy duty bracket with Giotto MH 1004 ball head - $10 a pop.
On the right Sigma 180 2.8 First time I looked through this lens I was blinded by all the light. Its a very sharp lens that doubles up as good mid-range telephoto. Standard $15, softbox.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3800/11790914233_49a6231fe9.jpg5d-iii - yashica-100m and sigma-180mm by
William Banik, on Flickr
Canon TS-E 90 with 68mm of Kenko Auto tubes. Picked this up used on the cheap at the local camera store. Normal cosmetic wear and tear on the exterior - optics and shutter pristine. Tilts and shifts to adjust focal plane. 1:1 magnification with the tubes.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/11790914573_651ae1c1a0.jpg5d-iii - tse-90 with kenko by
William Banik, on Flickr
MP-E 65 collar ring clears the viewfinder hump on the 5D-III when rotated 180 degrees. This allows it to serve as a base for a flash platform (shown with 430 EX II). Good overhead illumination but can be overpowering depending on subject/background reflectors. Best used by manually selecting output levels - start at 1/4 power. Doesnt travel when the lens is extended, this limits effective illumination to 1:1 / 2:1 magnification:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/11791090114_e2a4b4cc3d.jpg5d-iii - mpe-65 with tripod collar platform by
William Banik, on Flickr
Latest MP-E 65 illumination MT-24EX preliminary diffusion strategy. Swatches of paper towel directly over flash heads, cheap popup diffusers, and on the right additional concave diffuser ala Kurt (Hock Ping GUEK) attached with gutted 58mm filter. Plan is to mold head sleeves and concave diffusion lens.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/11790668475_a1610272ab.jpg5d-iii - mpe-65 mx24 with diffusers by
William Banik, on Flickr
Fun with bellows - I like picking up old glass and mounting it on bellows. Some real keepers may be found for good prices. Eventually I want to get a used NEX7 and shoot old glass with it:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/11790916003_2d3c897cd1.jpg5d-iii - fun with bellows by
William Banik, on Flickr
Latest field stacking rig - A simple light weight field rig, good for subjects up to ~3:1. Velmex A1500 Unislide for precise inline positioning, Giotto MH658 quick release for roughing in horizontal position, Manfrotto Quick release, plexiglass base with clip. This is for beanbag / ground work. Manfrotto 488 ball head on the right for tripod mount:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/11790916413_54e4a08e3a.jpgfield stacking rig by
William Banik, on Flickr