mrtoad90 Loc: western north carolina, usa

the "OWMBO" has asked me to make a christmas list - i need your help with two ideas i have - i am using the d7100 - lastly i do not want to create a budget deficit - my camera and photography is for fun - serious fun

1. time lapse photography - what do i need to make it happen -

2. close up photography - i am looking at the "Nikon 4804 R1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight" - - my question is can i find something like this from a different company - again trying not to break the budget

thank you so much

mr toad

GPappy Loc: Finally decided to plop down, Clover, S.C.

Go with the Brinno time lapse cameras. They do everything within the camera and all you have to do is remove the SD card and stick it in the computer. They do a nice job and are affordable. Do you really want to have hundreds or even thousands of shutter actuation for a single time lapse?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Your D7100 has Interval shooting built-in, you need nothing else to do time lapse shots.

As for the flash, there are lots of low cost ring light options, most LED units are less than $100, many under $50.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Nikon D7100 has an interval timer in it. See page 145 in your user manual.

The R1 has a very specific application - for really really close work - the flash heads are weak, and the quality of the light is limited to hard (contrasty) to very hard (very contrasty), due to their small size. the diffusers provide a little softness. This is good for numismatics, forensics, dentistry, etc - but not ideal for flowers and other subjects where you are more than 8 inches from the front of the lens.

If you want to investigate off camera lighting, visit http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/

And here for how it can apply to macro work:

http://blog.emmett-photography.com/2013/04/macro-photography-lighting-options.html

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/11/15/make-your-wide-angle-macro-photos-pop-mixing-natural-artificial-lighting


And it doesn't get any cheaper than this:

http://www.diyphotography.net/super-easy-macro-lighting-using-a-pringles-can/

The key takeaway here, is that you want to make the light source as large as possible, and not necessarily on axis with the camera's lens. I use a circular folding reflector and a handheld remotely triggered flash if I have an assistant, or a very large bounce card, with the flash held close to the subject. I also use a 150 and a 180 macro, for greater working distance.

http://www.abetterbouncecard.com/abettetrbouncecard-extra-large.html

mrtoad90 Loc: western north carolina, usa

thanks for the information

thanks "Gene51" for the lighting information

ONE more QUESTION OR COMMENT : i have read in many places that the interval times in the d7100 is a very complicated animal to set up

again thanks - me toad

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Toad, while it may not be the most intuitive camera option to set up, it is actually pretty easy once you learn the few steps.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/automatic-timelapse-photography-on-your-nikon-d710.html

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

I'm interested in this topic also...to purchase a camera that will do time lapse photography, which will also process it in-camera. Something affordable, mirrorless, maybe with some zoom capability. I worry about my DSLR's, and the hundreds of mirror cycles for even a short time lapse.

GPappy Loc: Finally decided to plop down, Clover, S.C.

Brinno! Everything is in the camera. It actually does a decent job and is super easy.
Google it