Clown Weevil -Eudiagogus sp. - Macro Study
Nov 28, 2014 10:45:53 #
Since I was a boy I have seen these weevils on the leaves of Sesbania plants that line the bayou banks. I never realized they were weevils until I started photographing them. They arent the easiest subject to document in the field as they are small (~5mm) very alert, and shy. Even the most methodical approach will send them scurrying behind a leaflet on the Sesbania bush they inhabit. I suspect their adult life cycle is limited to the Sesbania as I have never seen the weevil anywhere else. I havent found much documentation on this weevil. Probably due to the fact that it is benign to agriculture. For me its another discovery of what appears to be mundane to the human eye reveals true splendor when viewed under higher magnification. The scales are predominately orange but vary in shade from peach to rose. Some of the scales exhibit purple, yellows and greens. Under high magnification (20x) scales reveal mosaic tile patterns of different colors and explains why the colors change and shimmer when the subject is viewed at different angles.
Notes on equipment used:
Canon Macro Photo 35mm - An old FD bellows lens that gives excellent results from ~1.5:5 to 5:1. I bought it to pair with a smaller camera like the NEX-7 or OM-D E-M1. When coupled with a focus helicoid, many found on eBay for reasonable prices ($50-$100), it makes for a very light weight and portable rig. Like the MP-E 65mm magnification starts at ~1:1.5 so framing options and thus subject content can be limiting. Performs like a champ on a stacking rig. It is a very small lens, 39mm in diameter and 22.5mm tall. It is coned on the end. The small diameter and tapered end make illuminating the subject much easier than its younger MP-E 65 cousin.
Nikon Plan Fluor 4x/0.13 - Ive had this objective for a while. To my untrained eyeballs Its a solid performer from 3x to 5x. Little to no CA from frame-to-frame. Produces sharp frames but seems to lack a bit when it comes to contrast. The contrast issue is correctable in post.
Olympus LMPlanFL 10x/0.25 and Olympus LMPlanFL 20x/0.40 - I am tickled with the performance of these objectives, excellent optics. Quite the upgrade over my Nikon BDPlan Finite objectives. Frames are very crisp, good performance out to the corners, allbeit a u4/3 sensor, and no CA that my eyeballs can detect. CA was a noticeable issue with my Nikon BD ELWD set and required removal, frame-by-frame in post - a very painful and tedious process. Working distances are good but I can tell my setup would benefit from dual axis illumination as I cant get enough angle on the subject to shoot single flash on a consistent basis.
Vivitar 90mm-180mm f/4 Flat Field Zoom - The LMMPlan objectives are optimized for a 180mm tube. At first I tried using my Sigma 180mm macro as a tube but contrast in the images was horrible. I suspect the +30mm of step down rings to attach the adapters was causing the issue. I wasnt expecting the Vivitar to perform well (not sure why) but I put it on the rig and gave it a whirl. I was pleasantly surprised. Besides offering the correct native focal length, I found I could zoom down to ~100mm before the onset of vignetting. I have read mixed reports about not racking out zooms to the maximum focal length. To my non critical eye I found performance good at different focal lengths. Picture of the claw is an example, focal length was set at 150mm. I really like the tripod ring on the lens. It has a thumb screw on the side for tightening and loosing the ring, very handy for fine tuning or changing the orientation of the frame. I dont have a proper adapter for this lens either, rather a hodge-podge of step-down rings separating the objectives ~20mm from the front element. I have a proper adapter on order from RAF Camera. It will be interesting to see if this improves the image quality.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 - The more I use this camera the more I like it. Noise is an issue in the shadows but that is a compromise I am willing to except in exchange for no AA filter, pixel density, dynamic range, EFCS, a very light weight camera and the Olympus Capture tethering software. I am very curious to see how these images fair in medium size print (12x16 or so).
Notes on equipment used:
Canon Macro Photo 35mm - An old FD bellows lens that gives excellent results from ~1.5:5 to 5:1. I bought it to pair with a smaller camera like the NEX-7 or OM-D E-M1. When coupled with a focus helicoid, many found on eBay for reasonable prices ($50-$100), it makes for a very light weight and portable rig. Like the MP-E 65mm magnification starts at ~1:1.5 so framing options and thus subject content can be limiting. Performs like a champ on a stacking rig. It is a very small lens, 39mm in diameter and 22.5mm tall. It is coned on the end. The small diameter and tapered end make illuminating the subject much easier than its younger MP-E 65 cousin.
Nikon Plan Fluor 4x/0.13 - Ive had this objective for a while. To my untrained eyeballs Its a solid performer from 3x to 5x. Little to no CA from frame-to-frame. Produces sharp frames but seems to lack a bit when it comes to contrast. The contrast issue is correctable in post.
Olympus LMPlanFL 10x/0.25 and Olympus LMPlanFL 20x/0.40 - I am tickled with the performance of these objectives, excellent optics. Quite the upgrade over my Nikon BDPlan Finite objectives. Frames are very crisp, good performance out to the corners, allbeit a u4/3 sensor, and no CA that my eyeballs can detect. CA was a noticeable issue with my Nikon BD ELWD set and required removal, frame-by-frame in post - a very painful and tedious process. Working distances are good but I can tell my setup would benefit from dual axis illumination as I cant get enough angle on the subject to shoot single flash on a consistent basis.
Vivitar 90mm-180mm f/4 Flat Field Zoom - The LMMPlan objectives are optimized for a 180mm tube. At first I tried using my Sigma 180mm macro as a tube but contrast in the images was horrible. I suspect the +30mm of step down rings to attach the adapters was causing the issue. I wasnt expecting the Vivitar to perform well (not sure why) but I put it on the rig and gave it a whirl. I was pleasantly surprised. Besides offering the correct native focal length, I found I could zoom down to ~100mm before the onset of vignetting. I have read mixed reports about not racking out zooms to the maximum focal length. To my non critical eye I found performance good at different focal lengths. Picture of the claw is an example, focal length was set at 150mm. I really like the tripod ring on the lens. It has a thumb screw on the side for tightening and loosing the ring, very handy for fine tuning or changing the orientation of the frame. I dont have a proper adapter for this lens either, rather a hodge-podge of step-down rings separating the objectives ~20mm from the front element. I have a proper adapter on order from RAF Camera. It will be interesting to see if this improves the image quality.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 - The more I use this camera the more I like it. Noise is an issue in the shadows but that is a compromise I am willing to except in exchange for no AA filter, pixel density, dynamic range, EFCS, a very light weight camera and the Olympus Capture tethering software. I am very curious to see how these images fair in medium size print (12x16 or so).
Overhead stack of a ~ 4.5mm specimen @ ~2.5:1. Shot specs OM-D E-M1, Canon MP-35 @ f/4 - SS 320 / ISO 200 - 600EX @ 1/64 power with DIY concave diffuser.
(Download)
Overhead stack of a ~ 4.5mm specimen @ 4X. Shot specs OM-D E-M1, Vivitar 90-180 Flat Field tube lens w/ Nikon Plan Fluor 4X/0.13, SS 320 / ISO 200 - 600EX @ 1/32 power with DIY concave diffuser.
(Download)
Overhead stack of a ~ 4.5mm specimen @ 10X. Shot specs OM-D E-M1, Vivitar 90-180 Flat Field tube lens w/ Olympus LMPlanFl 10X/0.25, SS 320 / ISO 200 - 600EX @ 1/16 power with DIY concave diffuser.
(Download)
Sideview of head stack of a ~ 4.5mm specimen @ 20X. Shot specs OM-D E-M1, Vivitar 90-180 Flat Field tube lens w/ Olympus LMPlanFl 20X/0.40, SS 320 / ISO 200 - 600EX @ 1/4 power with DIY concave diffuser.
(Download)
Foot stack @ 10X. Shot specs OM-D E-M1, Vivitar 90-180 Flat Field tube lens w/ Olympus LMPlanFl 10X/0.25, SS 320 / ISO 200 - 600EX @ 1/16 power with DIY concave diffuser.
(Download)
Antennae @ 10X. Shot specs OM-D E-M1, Vivitar 90-180 Flat Field tube lens w/ Olympus LMPlanFl 10X/0.25, SS 320 / ISO 200 - 600EX @ 1/16 power with DIY concave diffuser.
(Download)
Scale detail Stack @ 20X. Shot specs OM-D E-M1, Vivitar 90-180 Flat Field tube lens w/ Olympus LMPlanFl 20X/0.40, SS 320 / ISO 200 - 600EX @ 1/4 power with DIY concave diffuser.
(Download)
Nov 28, 2014 11:01:30 #
Excellent study. I love the detail cut-aways. And it's hard to argue with the results.
Very nicely done.
Allen
Very nicely done.
Allen
Nov 28, 2014 11:13:51 #
Nov 28, 2014 11:17:44 #
These are absolutely amazing; now I see what true macro really is. Wow. :thumbup:
Nov 28, 2014 11:17:47 #
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
Thank you Allen, after two years of toiling I'm getting things honed in. I too like the cut-aways. Weather is a bit cold around here so most of the time I'll be working the rig for the foreseeable future.Excellent study. I love the detail cut-aways. And it's hard to argue with the results.
Very nicely done.
Very nicely done.
Nov 28, 2014 11:19:23 #
tinusbum wrote:
Thank you my friend and you are hardly behind me. One of the best field shooters I am privileged to know.wow! i am miles behind you.these look great
Nov 28, 2014 11:20:44 #
jwt wrote:
Thank you jwt, macro comes in all forms of magnification. Glad you enjoyed my dialing it in a notch or two.These are absolutely amazing; now I see what true macro really is. Wow. :thumbup:
Nov 28, 2014 12:46:18 #
All the world should see your insects in all their glorious detail. An eye-opener and well worth all the work you have done.
Nov 28, 2014 13:41:45 #
Nov 28, 2014 14:19:15 #
Nov 28, 2014 14:39:09 #
love those 10x and 20x. I see what you mean about how different it looks when you see the detail that you could not see before. Those "scales" are incredible!
Nov 28, 2014 17:43:20 #
Nov 28, 2014 17:47:23 #
A-PeeR wrote:
William: I'm curious why you opted for the 4/3 format over perhaps one of the Fujis? Lens compatibility? I have a Fuji rangefinder that accepts 120 roll film, but I haven't used it in awhile.Thank you Allen, after two years of toiling I'm getting things honed in. I too like the cut-aways. Weather is a bit cold around here so most of the time I'll be working the rig for the foreseeable future.
Nov 28, 2014 22:52:30 #
AlicanteBrenda wrote:
Thank you Brenda I appreciate your appreciation of me efforts ;-)All the world should see your insects in all their glorious detail. An eye-opener and well worth all the work you have done.
Nov 28, 2014 22:53:01 #
Erv wrote:
Thanks Erv, glad you enjoyed 'em!Holy Wow!!!! These are just fantastic!!!!
Erv
Erv
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