Continuing on with my studio practice, I decided to try my hand again at macro photography.
The camera rig!
Equipment:
Pentax K-5 Digital SLR Camera Body
Pentax D-FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR lens
Kenko Pz-Af 1.5x Teleplus SHQ tele-converter
Custom Brackets flash bracket with a Sigma EF-530 DG Super flash, the Sigma acted as the trigger for the other flash units.
2x Yongnuo YN460-II flash on Flashpoint light stands
Slik Pro 700DX AMT-Alloy Tripod Legs with a Smith Victor BH2 Metal Alloy Ball Head
Here is a quick video of the setup in action (sorry for the *pop* *pop* sound, it seems that the 25fps videos have an issue when directly uploaded to YouTube):
My artistic goal for the session was to create top-down images of texture and detail. Things we see everyday, but when viewed up-close they are very different than how we usually perceive them. Intricate networks of connection and amazing textures abound…
Here was my first subject, stale matcha (finely-milled Japanese green tea) showing up on the LCD screen:
Using live-view is very, VERY useful in macro photography. I can zoom in 2x, 4x, or more to ever so gently gain proper focus on the subject. With such limited depth of field and such tiny movements necessary, don’t bother trying to use auto-focus.
My first shot of the day, this was actually hand-held with only the two slave flashes providing significant light:
This is the gold area of a “Goldtoe” sock:
Allergy medication (I like the vibrant textured nature of the pill upon close inspection in macro mode):
A sock with the center section shown at 100% magnification:
What recycled napkins really look like:
A belt buckle that looks amazing up close:
There are just too many photos to show in one post without blowing up my site’s index page download time! Anyways, moving forward, I want to eventually get some extension tubes to increase magnification and drop the teleconverter from the equation.
Overall, I’m happy with the results, but again… I could benefit from more diffuse light as some of the highlights are blown. I think I’ll be doing more macro photography in the future.
The Nikon Z5ii was announced recently. I haven't actually used this new camera myself, so keep that in mind. This is going to be mostly me looking at the specs and comparing it to the original Nikon Z5, which I've been using for a few years now. Check out the full video on YouTube: Check out the Nikon Z5ii through my links: B&H: https://bhpho.to/4j36Ilk Amazon: https://amzn.to/3E97WvW Adorama: https://adorama.rfvk.net/Vx2B7M Best Buy: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/zxnrYW As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! The original Nikon Z5 camera. Overall, the original Z5 isn't a bad camera. I've gotten it to a point where it works how I want it to and it's reliable for what I do. My main use case is often anime and comic conventions, going there and taking photos of people in cosplay. I usually use the 40mm f/2 lens on the Z5, and it works well for that. First-person view using the Nikon Z5 at an anime convention. Ni...
I’m writing all of this down in case sources disappear and I want to reference M6ii HDMI-out information in the future. Selecting clean HDMI from the settings. So this is not by any means a definitive source but rather a jumble of information I’m putting together in the moment. The “HDMI info disp” setting to select clean output mode. This camera's 4K isn't really that size internally, but better than 1080p at least. There is one webpage I know about that mentioned the Canon EOS M6 Mark II supports clean HDMI output in 10-bit 4:2:2. I don’t think the page exists any longer on Canon USA’s website because the old link no longer works after a redesign. https://youtu.be/_UT9u0XVn5U However it does currently exist on the Internet Archive . A screen capture from the Internet Archive webpage copy. Here’s the important quote from that webpage: HDMI recording: Menu-selected user choices for HDMI output with info (images recorded to the SD card); Clean 4K output, or...
In this overview, I'm taking a look at the 7Artisans 50mm f/1.8 lens for the Nikon Z system. Is it worth considering over the official Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8s lens? I also compare it with the Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 kit lens at 50mm. Check out the full video on YouTube : 7Artisans sent me this lens to try out based on my collaboration terms . They had no say in the content produced and were not allowed to preview it. Check out the lens out through the 7Artisans official store . I am not affiliated with their website. Or see the 7artisans 50mm f/1.8 AF Lens through my links: Amazon.com B&H Photo Video ebay.com As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! I have two additional videos. One shows autofocus performance in video situations . The other is a mix of GoPro footage and example photos from the photowalk of the Japanese styled garden . Build Quality & Handling 7Artisans and Nikon lens side-by-side. The 7Artisan...
