Argentine Worker Ant
Mar 18, 2019 09:05:44 #
This is a tiny Argentine worker ant. I posted views of a queen yesterday where it was visible where her wings once were. The queen is at least twice the size of the workers.
This is a 10X microscope objective view whereas the image of the queen posted yesterday was taken with a 4X microscope objective. It is mounted on a "000" 0.25mm pin which you can see looks quite large when magnified.
I've simplified my black backgrounds by draping a piece of black velvet cloth behind the subject (no light box technique).
This is a 10X microscope objective view whereas the image of the queen posted yesterday was taken with a 4X microscope objective. It is mounted on a "000" 0.25mm pin which you can see looks quite large when magnified.
I've simplified my black backgrounds by draping a piece of black velvet cloth behind the subject (no light box technique).
Mar 18, 2019 09:36:03 #
THEM!
I like it. I have not tried microscope objectives yet. I actually own a huge old Leitz Ortholux scope. No place to set it up! but I think I have objectives of 4x, 10x, 40x, and 97x oil. There are other strange ones too.
I do a lot of close-up photography but not so much real macro. Yet I have a lot of macro equipment: two bellows, 4 sets of extension tubes, four macro lenses, a reverse adapter. Most of my subjects are larger than 24x36mm or 16x23mm; flowers, sea shells, etc.
I like it. I have not tried microscope objectives yet. I actually own a huge old Leitz Ortholux scope. No place to set it up! but I think I have objectives of 4x, 10x, 40x, and 97x oil. There are other strange ones too.
I do a lot of close-up photography but not so much real macro. Yet I have a lot of macro equipment: two bellows, 4 sets of extension tubes, four macro lenses, a reverse adapter. Most of my subjects are larger than 24x36mm or 16x23mm; flowers, sea shells, etc.
Mar 18, 2019 10:05:59 #
Mar 18, 2019 10:16:53 #
Mar 18, 2019 11:18:59 #
When all was said and done, velvet is seemingly the best for a plain background. No reflection, no refraction, no distraction. If black velvet is good enough for pictures of Elvis, it has to be good.
Bill
Bill
Mar 18, 2019 12:34:54 #
From what you describe you have all that is needed for ultra macro work. If you microscope objectives are FINITE then all is required is a set of extension tubes to place the very end of the objective 160mm away from the camera's sensor. A Nikon DSLR is 46.5mm from the camera's lens flange to the sensor and a Canon camera is 44mm so the extension tubes will need to make up the required length difference.
If they are INFINITY microscope objectives then a corrective lens is required to be placed behind the objective. The typical focal length used is 200mm and a camera's prime or zoom lens set to focus at infinity works perfectly well. You will need some adapters to fit the microscope objective to the filter threads of the lens.
I have found this normally unseen view of the world to be quite amazing and each critter has its own wonderment.
If they are INFINITY microscope objectives then a corrective lens is required to be placed behind the objective. The typical focal length used is 200mm and a camera's prime or zoom lens set to focus at infinity works perfectly well. You will need some adapters to fit the microscope objective to the filter threads of the lens.
I have found this normally unseen view of the world to be quite amazing and each critter has its own wonderment.
Mar 18, 2019 13:48:43 #
An excellent picture!
In my run up to making that dragonfly picture with the blurred background I did watch several videos about how to use the various tools in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. There are brushes that recognize edges and these can help in separating the foreground from the background. One trick I though was clever in Photoshop was to create layers in different color channels, and then selecting which one really shows the stark difference between the foreground and background. This is then converted to a layer mask, and suddenly the foreground is white (which means it will show the pixels) while the background is black (those pixels don't show). It won't be perfect, but you then go in and touch up while most of the work was done in a few clicks. It would really help to get around the hairs and stuff. I could not find the color channels feature in Photoshop Elements, so I did it the hard way.
In my run up to making that dragonfly picture with the blurred background I did watch several videos about how to use the various tools in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. There are brushes that recognize edges and these can help in separating the foreground from the background. One trick I though was clever in Photoshop was to create layers in different color channels, and then selecting which one really shows the stark difference between the foreground and background. This is then converted to a layer mask, and suddenly the foreground is white (which means it will show the pixels) while the background is black (those pixels don't show). It won't be perfect, but you then go in and touch up while most of the work was done in a few clicks. It would really help to get around the hairs and stuff. I could not find the color channels feature in Photoshop Elements, so I did it the hard way.
Mar 18, 2019 14:43:32 #
I use Pentax cameras so the flange distance is probably similar to a Nikon as they both use essentially the same Sony sensors for the most part. I'd have to learn more about my objective lenses, they are regular microscope ones, and the scope has a extra tube for mounting a camera and I have a Pentax microscope adapter. But I'm not sure of the details of mounting those lenses directly to a camera like the lenses on enlargers or view camera using flange rings on a board. In any case reverse mounting a 35mm or 28mm lens gives huge magnification.
Mar 18, 2019 15:24:09 #
Mar 18, 2019 18:06:13 #
Here's a link to the webpage that inspired me to use inexpensive microscope objectives as camera macro lenses. https://www.closeuphotography.com/seventeen-dollar-plan-4x-objective/
It's a great reference on the "How to do it" and frankly it's quite inexpensive in the scheme of things (I paid $1,700 for my Nikon 200mm f/4 1:1 macro lens alone).
I have a Fujifilm X-T20 mirrorless camera and for $30.00 I bought a Fujifilm X mount to Nikon F mount adapter and I can shoot my macro lenses and microscope objectives on both cameras which now makes both of them multi-functional.
It's a great reference on the "How to do it" and frankly it's quite inexpensive in the scheme of things (I paid $1,700 for my Nikon 200mm f/4 1:1 macro lens alone).
I have a Fujifilm X-T20 mirrorless camera and for $30.00 I bought a Fujifilm X mount to Nikon F mount adapter and I can shoot my macro lenses and microscope objectives on both cameras which now makes both of them multi-functional.
Mar 19, 2019 07:20:51 #
Mar 19, 2019 22:39:11 #
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