Just playing around tonight with the new macro lens. Man this thing is versatile!!!


All shots were from a 105mm Sigma macro f2.8.
Pelikan M800

Dani Trio Ebonite Densho on Maki-e box



Ed Harris Long Major set

And finally, for fun my Skyline on my Daughters new Bee bank.


Thanks for looking.

Cheers,
SG

edit. Oh man I didn't see the mactac in the Ed Harris shot during editing. :doh:

The Sigma 105/2.8 is sweet... I've used mine with my Canon for the last eighteen months or so - it's a terrific little lens.

Love that last Danitrio shot.

Very nice. How did you get the depth of field. I have problem with the nib been clear and anything off the plane becomes quite blurred.

Kev

Kevin, I shot that pic at an f stop of f16, about as sharp as the lens gets. I could have gone as far as f 32 with this lens bit wanted to see how the sharpness was at a mid level setting. I did some nib shots last week at f32 and they were also fantasic, but the exposure was 1.3 seconds. With a tripod and decent lighting I can get those shots to work but it is much more productive to work at the mid level settings for me.

I might just do a little photo essay on f stops with this new lens, to show the DOV that each f stop range provides. The lower f stops end up giving me shots like the one below.


Nikon D50 with Sigma 70-300 macro at f4.5 in macro range. The lens was about 3 feet from the nib. Different lens but you get the idea. I will try to post some of the Dani with the 105mm at f2.8 for comparison.

Thanks for the good words, especially considering some of the wonderful images I have seen you post in the past that means alot.

Cheers,
SG

Thanks for the info. I will try different f-stops to experiment. Your last photo is what I typically get.

Best,

Kevin

What kind of setup do you usually use for your pictures, Winedoc?

Just so everyone knows, here is a shot of my setup sans camera and tripod. Amazing what can be done with a small light tent and a couple of clamp lights.

Cheers,
SG

Not to worry, even though there is a dremel there, no pens were harmed during the making of this image

Three ways to improve depth of field for those macro shots:

1. Stop down to a smaller f/stop;

2. Use a shorter focal length lens (the shortest macro lenses run 50-60mm);

3. Increase the distance from the subject to the camera.

No. 1 method is simple and reliable. Most macro lenses have 1 to 2 stops smaller aperture than non-macros of similar focal length. Cheap lenses may not give the best sharpness stopped all the way down, but for most people they are fine. A good tripod and good lighting are musts.

Most people do not own more than one macro lens so #2 method is out. If all you are going to do is still life with today's DLSR cameras, a 50-60mm is fine. For outdoor or field work (or crime scene work!), the 100-105mm range is better, but is still versatile enough for indoor work. I often use a regular 105 (sometimes a 105 VR or 105 UV!) macro indoors instead of the 60, unless I'm working off a copy stand or need true flat field reproduction. Nikon also has a 200mm macro if you like to shoot creepy-crawlies and want that 1:1 ratio without disturbing them.

No. 3 method may change the composition a bit, but usually there is a fudge factor so you can move back slightly, maintaining a similar composition with less magnification, and then crop.

Focus is critical. Depth of field exists 1/3rd in front and 2/3rds behind the focus point. Sometimes it is best to manually focus on a plane slightly in front of, or behind, where the autofocus sensor tells you.

BTW, depth of field calculators can be found on the Internet and they are very useful as learning tools.

Bill