Photog21 Loc: Lombard, Il.

I just started shooting with my new DIY speedlight bracket. I looked for a bracket that would hold both of my speedlights, but price and quality were issues. I found aluminum stock in my shed, and I thought "why not"?
I started with two 11x1.5x1/8-inch stock, with a hole drilled and tapped to 1/4x20. The bend allows me to get out over my subject, and with the ball head, allows for a fair amount of adjustment. A bend and ball head for the other side might be in it's future. The thumb wheels are 1/2" X 1/4x20 with the threads removed at it's base, so it turns freely once threaded onto the bar. I use a longer one when I double up the bars. My 'handle' is a 3.5-in long 1/4x20 run thru a 3-in piece of 1/2" PVC pipe to a flashpoint ball head. A flat rubber washer between the bracket and camera keeps things tight. When I add the second flash with triggers, it gets fairly heavy (10 more AA batteries) and the speedlight isn't pointing where I want yet. A work in progress, but I'm having fun.
Canon 6D, Sigma 105mm macro, canon430exII, 4x6 micro Apollo soft box. The cord and radio triggers are flashpoint.

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Old set up.

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metro2 Loc: Baltimore, MD

This is my field macro set-up. Canon 6D with Sigma 105mm macro lens on a CB Folding-S flash bracket (when folded it fits in my camera bag real easy), Canon 430 EX II speedlight with FotoDiox 6x8-inch diffuser, Joby ballhead, Neewer E-TTL off-camera flash cord.

Information on speedlight/flash bracket and ballhead. All the links for the brackets are for the same manufacture”Custom Brackets”, it is made in USA and the bracket is very well made.
1) This bracket will fit a DSLR camera body without the battery grip. First link is for Amazon and the second is for B&H photo and the third is Custom Brackets websites.
https://www.amazon.com/Custom-Brackets-Folding-S-Bracket-Digital/dp/B003U8Y1Z4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476205929&sr=8-1&keywords=cb+folding-s+bracket
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/614958-REG/Custom_Brackets_CB_FOLDING_S_Folding_S_Bracket.html
http://www.custombrackets.com/products/camera-flash-brackets/cb-series-brackets/cb-folding-s.html

2) This bracket will fit a DSLR camera body with the battery grip. First link is for Amazon and the second is for B&H photo and the third is Custom Brackets websites.
https://www.amazon.com/Custom-Brackets-CB-FOLDING-T-Bracket/dp/B003U8Y1YA/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1476206844&sr=1-1&keywords=Custom+Brackets+Folding-T
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/614959-REG/Custom_Brackets_CB_FOLDING_T_Folding_T_Bracket.html
http://www.custombrackets.com/products/camera-flash-brackets/cb-series-brackets/cb-folding-t.html

3) In addition to bracket there is a need for small ballhead to make the bracket more versataile. I use Joby ballhead in my set- up but any small ballhead will do. Please check following links for more options
https://www.amazon.com/JOBY-Ballhead-SLR-Zoom-Tripod/dp/B002CVU4G0/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1476207163&sr=1-1&keywords=joby%2Bballhead&th=1
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/621302-REG/Joby_BH1_01EN_BH1_01EN_Ballhead_for_the.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/300404-REG/Slik_618_610_SBH_100_Compact_Ballhead_100.html
https://www.amazon.com/Slik-SBH-100-All-Metal-Compact-Head/dp/B00013G0X2/ref=sr_1_2?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1476207432&sr=1-2&keywords=Slik+SBH-100

tinusbum Loc: east texas

My current macro set-ups:
1.) Nikon D7100, Sigma 150mm macro lens with 68-mm extension tubes, Yongnuo 560-II speedlight with 8x12-inch softbox diffuser. Slik SBH-100 Compact Ballhead bolt-mounted to Kalt L-grip (drilled a hole through shoe). ETTL cord base threads to ballhead bolt.
2.) Canon T6i, MPE 65 macro lens, KX-800 speed light system, with home made diffuser.
3.) Nikon D610, Tamron 180mm macro lens with 36mm of tubes, Yongnuo 560-II speedlight with 6x8-inch softbox diffuser.

Set-up #1

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same as above with speedlight on hot shoe

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Set-up #2

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Set-up #3

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rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

The latest incarnation of my macro rig:
Sony A77ii camera with Sigma 180mm macro lens & Sigma 1.4x TC, on DIY bracket mounted to the vertical dove-tail of Nest gimbal head, mounted on Oben MFR4-5 focusing rail. Small ball head with Neewer NW880S speedlight & 6x8-inch defuser, controlled by Neewer N1T-S transmitter. Horizontal arm of bracket can rotate 180 degrees from above camera to left of camera.

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Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

I still have a bellows from my film days. So that's mounted on a tripod. On the back I will add an extension tube to give my magnification a bit of a boost. On the front I usually mount my 105 mm macro lens though depending on the size of the subject I will sometimes use my 50 mm lens or a 150 mm macro lens. On each side of the lens I have mounted a flash that is part of the Nikon Close Up system. I have four flash heads for this so a third one is usually behind my subject and occasionally a fourth is off to the side. I use a cable release to trigger the camera. The subject of the day usually sits in an alligator clam on a bucket. I will sometimes also use a mirror to illuminate the subject so that I can see it in the viewfinder and so that I am able to focus.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I found this photo of my macro kit- well the most used -
Harvey

JessM Loc: Port

Nikonian72, those Kalts don't have the ball joint like your rig, shown a while back. I found a "Goldcrest" that does have the ball joint, quite an old one apparently -- the clamp on the ball isn't holding well, so I may need to set the rig up and make it permanent with epoxy. … I'd rather not. The ball now holds a Lumapro LP-180, which is quite heavy, slaved to a ring flash on the camera, a D7100. If held steady and juggled a bit, the rig supported some nice captures with our Nikkor 105 mm macro lens. A setup that big casts a fearsome shadow, and some insects run from it. Still, we've caught a few good ones.
Thanks much for the inspiration! …. 73... ~jessM

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Look here for ball-joint cold-shoe extender: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-32754-5.html#2585532

tinusbum Loc: east texas

canon t6i-mpe65 cheap bought diffuser with a piece of vellum paper added to front
canon 7D mk2-tokina 100mm macro cheap bought diffuser with a piece of vellum paper added to front
simple,simple, simple

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2th Loc: Tehran

Douglass Moody we had chat years back.While I was in Dubai .Hi!Wish you the best. I,m more confined to macro micro with my 125mm Voightlander Apolanthar and many microscopic lenses mostly Zeiss as I found they are chromatic abberation free.At least in my eyes. G ood to hear fromyou. Dr.Farzin Jaz now in Ahwaz,Iran .Currently 122 Degrees.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

here is my Helicon FB Tube set-up:
Nikon D7100, Helicon FB Tube, Sigma 105 macro lens, Godox VING V850II Li-Ion speedlight, and cheap softbox diffuser.
I shoot fastest burst, and Godox speedlight keeps up (synchs with burst mode).
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32685545370.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000023.6.16dd6337lW6fMh

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j85 Loc: Shawnee

Sony A6500 with extensions tubes, Sony 18-105 lens, Godox flash. The defuser I bought off EBay for $4.99 and works incredible.

Gluggo

Here is mine I am new here used mainly for pictures of coins for now. It’s a Cannon 6ti on a bellows with a enlarging lens, tethered to my laptop. Added a Stackshot3X w extended rail connected camera with helicon remote with the usb cable. Tried stacking and used Helicon focus to bring it all together. Seemed to work with no problems. Very pleased for a beginner.

Bo3bG Loc: Midwest

Fuji X system with either the 55-200 (80-300mm) or M-42 Fujinon 200mm (300mm) with helecoid extension tube and helecoid lens mount adapter.
I don't use flash because it's too obvious. For specimen images I would, but I avoid that kind of work. I own ring lights, speedlights and studio strobe gear, but use it only for portrait work (if I'm forced to photograph people).

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Glad to find this section of UHH. Also glad to find another Cognisys user. Love mine.

Here is my home made set up. Consists of a custom 12”x24”x3/8” aluminum plate with tapped 1/4-20 holes to mount various items. Rubber feet to eliminate vibration. Cognisys Stack Shot and rotary table. 2 vertical lifts to align camera and subject tables. Various Stella and LED lights, and arca swiss quick release plates and ball heads. Currently shooting with Nikon Z9 and D850.

If anyone is interested in building one of these, I would be happy to assist.

Whole rig




1/4-20 threaded nylon rod to mount subject on center of rotary table


Diffusers removed to show subject mounting


With diffusers


Bumble bee face