macro set up (macro guru's please help)

famas

famas

famas

Soldato
Joined
12 Dec 2004
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Hi all

Im after a new macro set up, some thing that will give me super sharp images with as much magnification as possible. mostly snapping bugs and insects.

ideally i would love to have a MP-e 65, but as im from the dark side of the force and use nikon this is out of the question.

At the moment im looking at the sigma 150mm with a set of kenko extension tubes. I've read this lens is pretty sharp, how does it compare to the mp-e/nikon 105?

Another thing i've noticed is the minimum aperture is 22, Which the lens would be stuck at if using manual tubes, will this be the same case with the kenko, and if so will it give to shallow a DOF?

What sort of magnification will this setup give?

As i understand a longer focal lengh with give me more working distance, is this the same case when using extension tubes?

For similar money is there a better lens choice than the sigma?

As far as im awear the only way to get close to the mp-e x5 magnification is to use bellows, i think these will be to expensive and cumbersome to use. would it be possible to use 2 sets of kenko tubes? or will the light fall off be to much/ the extra tubes have no effect?

Is there a better setup to be had? I've heard of reversing lenses? im not to familiar with this and have heard image quality suffers and working distances are tiny.

finaly im after some lighting to.

i've been looking at the Sigma EM-140 DG Flash. Is this a worthwhile investment, or for similar money is there a better option. i've seen the Nikon R1 Speedlight for £100 more, is it worth the extra cost and is having two flashes over a ring flash any benefit?

sorry for the million questions, as you can see i'll be spending a fare amount of money so want to get the best setup as possible.

thanks
Dan.
 
cheers for your replys guys.

i have to say i think im leaning towards the 150mm at the moment and liking snapshots idea of reversing a 50mm or using a teleconverter to get 3x. even with the image quality lost the 150 should still produce pretty sharp images.

i take it that using the 150 with just a 50mm reversed on the front the working distance will be pretty small?
would the 150 + a 2x teleconvter + tubes give a better working distance? as this is an important factor for me.

thanks for your input as well king, i think my next purchase will be the R1 flash, as i think lighting is by far one of the most important parts of macro work, so id like to stick with the d90.
having a quick look at the raynox am i right in saying its pretty much like a close up filter? if so could i use it on the 150, or is it Specifically for bridge camera's?

thanks for all your help so far.
 
i believe these were taken at 5x mag, i think you'd need about 5 sets of tubes all stacked together to get anwere near as much magnification as that. Totally imposible to do tho :)

this is why im considering reversing a 50mm ontop of a 150mm, or using tubes + teleconverters. Or changing to canon (PUKES) for the mp-e
 
yeah that was a thought as well, but there about £550 plus all the extra bits you need, also as i understand you can only use them by reversing a lens, which i'd have to get as well and ontop of all that they look very cumbersome to use for a long period of time.
on the plus side with the bellows extension you can get 23x mag :)
 
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