Close-Up and Macro Photography V.0 - Second Edition

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Heart Center Publications

315 Marion Avenue

Big Rapids, Michigan 49307

[email protected]

First Published 2011 © Michael Erlewine 2011

Second Edition August, 2014

ISBN 925182-72-9

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any

means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or

otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. This

photo book may be shared provided no fee is charged. All are free

to have it for personal use.

All nature photos taken by Michael Erlewine,

© 2007-2014 Michael Erlewine

Cover, text, format, and graphic design by Michael Erlewine.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to my father Ralph L. Erlewine who placed a

Kodak Retina-2a 35mm cam- era, tripod, and light meter in my

hand in 1956, showed me how to use them, and turned me loose.

Thanks dad!

May these books be of benefit to all photographers and nature

lovers, and may every- one experience the awe, beauty, and

instruction from the natural world as I have.

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Table of Content

Dedication....................................................................................... 3

The Cosina/Voigtlander 90mm f/3.5 APO Lens ............................. 15

Welcome e-book Readers!............................................................ 16

Types of Close-Up Photography.................................................... 17

Photo Types: Mini-Landscapes ..................................................... 18

Photo Types: Close-up or Macro................................................... 19

Photo Types: Macro (life size or larger)......................................... 20

Photo Types: Photomicroscopy or Macro ...................................... 21

Photomicroscopy .......................................................................... 21

Photo Types: Microphotography.................................................... 23

Introduction to Close-up and Macro Photography ......................... 24

Minimum Equipment Requirements .............................................. 24

Megapixels: How Many?............................................................... 26

DX or FX Sensor?......................................................................... 26

More on Sensor Size .................................................................... 27

Mirror-Up....................................................................................... 28

Interchangeable Lenses ................................................................ 30

Depth of Field Preview Button (upper button) ............................... 32

To Flash or Not Flash.................................................................... 33

Onboard Flash .............................................................................. 34

External Flash (SB-400 shown above) ....................................... 35

Viewfinders Are About Light .......................................................... 36

DK-17M Magnifying Eye Piece...................................................... 37

Histograms: Our Light Meter ......................................................... 38

Quick Release Clamps ................................................................. 40

The Four Camera Modes .............................................................. 42

Program Mode .............................................................................. 42

Shutter Priority Mode .................................................................... 42

Aperture Priority Mode .................................................................. 43

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Manual Mode ................................................................................ 43

How to Pick a Lens ....................................................................... 47

Passion and Persistence............................................................... 47

Sharpness (Zeiss Otus 55mm, f/1.4 APO)............................... 49

Fast Lens (Nikkor 50mm f/1.2.................................................... 50

Focus Throw (Leica 100mm 100mm Elmarit R) ....................... 53

Reproduction Ratio ....................................................................... 54

APO (Apochromatic) Lenses......................................................... 55

Minimum Focus Distance.............................................................. 55

Lens Summary.............................................................................. 57

The Lens Is the Thing ................................................................... 57

The Quest for Depth of Field......................................................... 58

Diffraction Fears............................................................................ 60

Sidebar: Cosina and Zeiss ............................................................ 61

Voigtlander 125mm, f/2.5 APO-LantherThe Three Wise Lens-men

...................................................................................................... 61

Björn Rörslett ................................................................................ 62

Thom Hogan ................................................................................. 62

Lloyd Chambers............................................................................ 62

Web Sites: Fotozones.com ........................................................... 63

Extensions, Close-up Dipoters, and Teleconverters ..................... 63

Close-up Adaptors and Diopters ................................................... 65

Extension Tubes ........................................................................... 67

Teleconverters .............................................................................. 72

Accessories and Other Topics ...................................................... 73

Lens Hoods Hoods? ..................................................................... 73

Extra Batteries .............................................................................. 74

Flash Cards: How Large? ............................................................. 75

Dust Bunnies................................................................................. 75

Sensor Cleaning ........................................................................... 76

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Sensor Blower............................................................................... 79

Hand Blowers................................................................................ 82

Step-down Rings........................................................................... 82

Polarizers...................................................................................... 83

Hot-Shoe Bubble Level ................................................................. 84

LED Flashlight............................................................................... 85

UV-Filters...................................................................................... 86

Lens Cloths................................................................................... 87

Velvet............................................................................................ 88

Lens Resolution Tests .................................................................. 88

Light Box....................................................................................... 90

Pinch Cap ..................................................................................... 91

Z-Finder ........................................................................................ 91

Screw Drivers JIS ......................................................................... 92

Lens Caps..................................................................................... 93

McClamp, Plamps, and Articulated Arms...................................... 93

Allen Wrenches............................................................................. 94

Stuck Filters .................................................................................. 95

Super Magnets.............................................................................. 95

Threadlocker................................................................................. 96

Tools That Help............................................................................. 96

Storing Photo Accessories............................................................ 97

Focus Rails ................................................................................... 99

The Wind is No Friend to Macro Work ........................................ 103

Light Tents in the Field................................................................ 107

Light Diffusers ............................................................................. 109

Higher Apertures......................................................................... 112

Sharpness................................................................................... 112

Narrow DOF Greater DOF .......................................................... 113

Beginning with Focus Stacking ................................................... 114

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Additional Considerations: .......................................................... 116

Investment .................................................................................. 116

Playing With Stacks .................................................................... 116

Inherently Flawed........................................................................ 116

An Art, Not a Science.................................................................. 116

Focus Stacking Problems ........................................................... 117

The Bad Frame........................................................................... 117

Too Many Frames....................................................................... 117

Minimal Frames .......................................................................... 117

Run It Again ................................................................................ 117

Don’t Forget the Traditional Photo .............................................. 117

Short Stacks for Macro, Not Micro .............................................. 118

Landscapes................................................................................. 118

Close-up, Macro, and Micro........................................................ 118

Not for Micro Work ...................................................................... 119

Looking Close ............................................................................. 119

The Classic Nikon 70-180 Macro Zoom...................................... 121

Velcro Strips Can Rig Almost Anything....................................... 122

Far is Now Near.......................................................................... 122

Beauty Begets Beauty ................................................................ 123

What Do All These Photos Mean? .............................................. 123

Get Out There!............................................................................ 124

The Passport from ColorChecker................................................ 125

In the Field .................................................................................. 126

What’s in the Macro Field Bag? .................................................. 126

Where Are My Lenses? .............................................................. 128

What’s in my Car......................................................................... 128

Range Roving ............................................................................. 128

Windependent............................................................................. 129

Flowerpod ................................................................................... 129

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Close-Up Photography................................................................ 130

Peering Through a Really Fne Macro Lens................................. 130

Panoramas.................................................................................. 131

Single and Multi-row Panos ........................................................ 132

Panorama Problems ................................................................... 134

Summary..................................................................................... 134

Tripods for Stacking and Panoramas.......................................... 135

The Background in Stacked Panos............................................. 135

Combining Focus Stacking with Panoramas............................... 137

An Approach to Macro Landscapes ............................................ 138

Wide-Angle Lenses and Panoramas........................................... 142

The Classic Nikon 200mm f/4 Macro Lens.................................. 143

Plastic Lens Caps ....................................................................... 144

The Nikon D3x, 24MP Camera ................................................... 145

To Stack or Not to Stack Panoramas.......................................... 145

A Multi-tier Pano Rig from Really-Right-Stuff.............................. 148

The “Growling Swallet” Panorama by Fred Nirque...................... 149

The Focus-Stacked Panoramas of Fred Nirque.......................... 149

Section “Growling Swallet” Panorama by Fred Nirque................ 151

Focus Stacking ........................................................................... 153

Two Types of Focus Stacking..................................................... 153

The Equipment Needed .............................................................. 154

The Actual Technique ................................................................. 155

Software to Align and Merge....................................................... 156

Focus Stacking Results .............................................................. 157

A Possible Theory....................................................................... 157

Focus Stacking Apertures........................................................... 158

Stacking Issues........................................................................... 159

Background Too Much in Focus ................................................. 159

Tripods for Macro Use ................................................................ 160

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My Experience with Tripods........................................................ 161

Lightweight Tripods..................................................................... 161

Strength ...................................................................................... 161

Three or Four Leg Sections? ...................................................... 162

Center Columns .......................................................................... 162

Using Tripods in the Field ........................................................... 162

Reflections .................................................................................. 163

Carrying Tripods ......................................................................... 163

Using Tripods.............................................................................. 163

Keep It Tight................................................................................ 164

Tripods I Use............................................................................... 164

The Lester A. Dine 100mm macro f/2.8 Macro ........................... 165

Camera Body Cap ...................................................................... 166

Fighting the Wind and the Light .................................................. 166

Retouching Stacked Photos........................................................ 167

THE BASIC IDEA........................................................................ 169

More Notes on Retouching ......................................................... 178

What Does Retouching Involve?................................................. 179

The Nikon 105mm f/4 Macro Lens .............................................. 180

Focus Stacking Software ............................................................ 181

Summary..................................................................................... 182

Patience and Exercise ................................................................ 182

The Nikon 35mm f/1.4................................................................. 183

Focus Stacking Notes ................................................................. 184

Time Consuming......................................................................... 184

Space Expensive ........................................................................ 184

An Approach ............................................................................... 184

Impressions................................................................................. 184

Outdoors ..................................................................................... 185

Equipment for Focus Stacking .................................................... 185

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Cosina/Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar........................... 187

Light ............................................................................................ 187

Light and Shadow ....................................................................... 188

Small Kit...................................................................................... 189

Carrying It All .............................................................................. 190

Software You Will Need .............................................................. 191

Boots on the Ground for Wading................................................. 192

Focus Stacking Detractors.......................................................... 193

Increments .................................................................................. 193

Tripod.......................................................................................... 193

Ball Heads................................................................................... 194

L-Bracket..................................................................................... 194

Gotcha! ....................................................................................... 194

Found Beauty.............................................................................. 195

Not Art......................................................................................... 195

Battery Checker .......................................................................... 196

Light Uses................................................................................... 196

The Kinds of Light ....................................................................... 198

Reflectors.................................................................................... 198

Flashlights................................................................................... 198

Flowerpod ................................................................................... 199

Clips............................................................................................ 199

Knee Pads .................................................................................. 199

Rain Protection ........................................................................... 200

Water and Food .......................................................................... 200

Color Spaces .............................................................................. 201

Cosmetics Mirror......................................................................... 202

Macro Photography..................................................................... 202

As Exercise................................................................................. 202

Equipment: What Do We Need?................................................. 203

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DSLR and Medium Format Cameras.......................................... 203

The Camera Body....................................................................... 204

Remote Shutter Release............................................................. 205

My Focus-Stacking Rules of the Road........................................ 205

More............................................................................................ 208

Something About Photography ................................................... 209

Breathable Hat............................................................................ 211

Macro and Close-Up: The Expanding Universe of Equipment.... 211

Camera ....................................................................................... 213

Tripod.......................................................................................... 213

Ball Heads................................................................................... 213

L-Brackets................................................................................... 214

Lenses ........................................................................................ 214

Focus Stacking Notes: ................................................................ 214

Best Aperture for Focus Stacking? ............................................. 215

Focal Length ............................................................................... 215

A Good Tripod............................................................................. 215

Focus Increments ....................................................................... 215

Watch the Light........................................................................... 216

Front to Back............................................................................... 216

Extraneous Stuff ......................................................................... 216

Sensor Cleaning ......................................................................... 216

Touch-up..................................................................................... 217

Spirit and Motivation ................................................................... 217

Nature’s Nature........................................................................... 219

Permanent Impermanence.......................................................... 220

The Root of Compassion ............................................................ 222

The DSLR Mirror......................................................................... 225

Battery Compartment.................................................................. 226

The Spiritual Side of Macro......................................................... 227

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From A Dream ............................................................................ 227

Sensor Magnifier......................................................................... 229

Is Ultimate Sharpness Apochromatic? ........................................ 230

Entrance Pupil Problems with Stacking ...................................... 232

Focus Stacking in a Box ............................................................. 241

Summary: D800E for Close-Up/Macro Work .............................. 243

Wide-Aperture Stacking .............................................................. 248

Impressionism and Surrealism.................................................... 249

Macro Photography: The Process vs. The Results ..................... 251

Focus Stacking: How I Got Started ............................................. 253

My Key to Taking Good Photos .................................................. 266

Close-Up and Macro Photography.............................................. 269

The Expense of Gear.................................................................. 271

Tripods........................................................................................ 272

Cameras ..................................................................................... 273

Camera Features You Need ....................................................... 274

Viewfinders ................................................................................. 274

Sensors....................................................................................... 274

Histograms.................................................................................. 275

Mirror Lock-Up ............................................................................ 276

Remote Release Trigger............................................................. 277

Depth-of-Field Preview ............................................................... 277

Lens Focus-Throw ...................................................................... 277

Tripod Heads .............................................................................. 278

Quick Release Clamps ............................................................... 279

Ball Heads................................................................................... 280

Geared Heads............................................................................. 281

Video Fluid Heads....................................................................... 282

L-Plates and L-Brackets.............................................................. 283

Flash ........................................................................................... 284

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Close-Up Lenses ........................................................................ 285

Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro ...................................................... 286

Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO Sonnar Lens............................................ 290

Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 Otus Distigon APO Lens................................. 291

Unsolicited Advice....................................................................... 293

My Standard Kit .......................................................................... 293

Direct Sun ................................................................................... 294

High-Haze Sky ............................................................................ 294

Sun and Shade ........................................................................... 294

Flash ........................................................................................... 294

UV Filters .................................................................................... 295

Lens Hoods................................................................................. 295

Extra Batteries ............................................................................ 296

Close-up Adaptors ...................................................................... 297

Polarizing Filter ........................................................................... 298

Memory Cards ............................................................................ 299

Extension Tubes ......................................................................... 300

Teleconverters ............................................................................ 301

Neutral Density Filters................................................................. 302

Gray Card ................................................................................... 303

Focusing Rail .............................................................................. 303

Bellows ....................................................................................... 304

Diffusers...................................................................................... 305

Reflectors.................................................................................... 306

Still Other Thoughts: ................................................................... 306

Stacking Live Critters .................................................................. 306

Dust Bunnies............................................................................... 307

Sensor Cleaning ......................................................................... 307

Shower Cap ................................................................................ 309

Camera Vests ............................................................................. 309

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Photo Software ........................................................................... 309

Tripod Cleaning........................................................................... 310

Manual Photography................................................................... 310

ISO.............................................................................................. 310

Be Ready To:.............................................................................. 311

Get Wet....................................................................................... 311

Get Dirty...................................................................................... 311

Get Exercise ............................................................................... 311

Get Cold...................................................................................... 311

Waterproof Boots ........................................................................ 312

Hip Boots .................................................................................... 312

Running Shoes ........................................................................... 312

Pants........................................................................................... 312

Clothes........................................................................................ 312

Hats ............................................................................................ 313

Travel Light ................................................................................. 314

About Michael Erlewine .............................................................. 316

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The Cosina/Voigtlander 90mm f/3.5 APO Lens

One of the sharpest, most color-corrected, and

inexpensive top-quality lenses.