Macro Photography

i know nothing · 9 Nov 2006 at 16:15

I need a macro lens for photographing consumer products. Examples of such products would range from a bar of soap through to plastic bottles of dish washing liquid.

I have a Nikon and I'm looking at the Nikkor 105mm 2.8 D Micro lens (not to be mistaken for the 105mm 2.8 G VR lens which I've been advised to stay clear of).
I'm also considering the Nikon SB-R1 Wireless Speedlight System Kit:-

Do any other forum members have any experience of either one of these two pieces of kit? If you do, I'd love to hear of your experiences.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 9 Nov 2006 at 17:17

That looks like quite an expensive flash system. The cheaper ones are ring based flashes and they will more than probably do the job. Depends how technical you wanna go really.

Raymond Lin · 9 Nov 2006 at 17:20

Doesn't Nikon do a ring flash ?

Joe T · 9 Nov 2006 at 18:34

Raymond Lin said:
Doesn't Nikon do a ring flash ?

I think they might do. However the system pictured above is supposed to be pretty good. I havent used it myself however.

i know nothing · 9 Nov 2006 at 18:43

Fstop11 said:
That looks like quite an expensive flash system. The cheaper ones are ring based flashes and they will more than probably do the job. Depends how technical you wanna go really.

It's not that expensive, Nikon do a R1C1 (I think that is the right number!) which is far more expensive, as far as I can make out you're paying more for the controller which can control several more of the flash units, the flash units are the same as the SB-R1 kit (£250 I've been quoted for it).

Raymond Lin said:
Doesn't Nikon do a ring flash ?

Discontinued as far as I can make out (or at least the Nikon dealer I contacted didn't have one).

SDK^ · 9 Nov 2006 at 18:58

I have a Canon Macro lens and ring flash.
Basically the twin lights just give you more options when it comes to direction of light etc.

Without the macro ring/twin light flash it's very difficult to get decent results.
I use the ring flash as a master with my Canon 580EX as a slave bounced off the ceiling to reduce shadows behind the subject.

Some examples

Colin_da_Killer · 9 Nov 2006 at 19:30

The F1 macro is awesome, just slightly off level but I still really like it.

SDK^ · 9 Nov 2006 at 19:45

Colin_da_Killer said:
just slightly off level but I still really like it.

Yeah, they are only examples

i know nothing · 9 Nov 2006 at 20:29

What lens are you using there SDK?

dod · 9 Nov 2006 at 20:42

that's really impressive lighting SDK, good stuff

SDK^ · 9 Nov 2006 at 20:48

i know nothing said:
What lens are you using there SDK?

Canon 100mm Macro lens.
I've found most Macro lenses to be pretty much equal in terms of image quality. Achieving accurate focus and depth of field yourself makes more of a difference.

Those image were shot completely handheld as well

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 9 Nov 2006 at 23:18

Does the MR14 wirelessly send out the signal to the 580ex SDK? Both MR14 and wireless flash transmitter are on my list but I will just get the MR14 if It can send out the signal

SDK^ · 10 Nov 2006 at 08:38

Fstop11 said:
Does the MR14 wirelessly send out the signal to the 580ex SDK? Both MR14 and wireless flash transmitter are on my list but I will just get the MR14 if It can send out the signal

Yes, the MR-14 has wireless functionality

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 10 Nov 2006 at 13:27

SDK^ said:
Yes, the MR-14 has wireless functionality

Grrrrreat!