Getting Pretty Close Now...

[wulf]

I'm doing a horticulture course by distance learning (RHS Level 2 Certificate if anyone is interested) and part of that involves studying the parts of a flower. I thought I would document my dissection of a Helianthus by taking some pictures. Here is where I started:



That's using my Vivitar 90mm lens on my D40 at f/11 (ISO 200 and a shutter speed of 8s). Pretty close but, with the camera's sensor being 23.7mm wide, only about a 3:1 ratio and not quite into true macro range.

However, what if I stick my Raynox DCR-250 on the end?



That shows about 20mm across the frame, so is better than a 1:1 ratio. In fact, I got as close as this:



By this point, I was struggling to focus, relying on adjustments to the tripod legs to get in the ballpark; you can tell that from the fact I gave up on getting the background straight! I reckon I could get closer still (there is an adaptor that came with the Vivitar that takes it to about 1:1 on its own). Any hacks in mind for making focus easier though?

Wulf

[RLucas]

You could install a split focus screen on the D40. I thought about doing it with mine so I could have better use of some old manual lenses. I think it darkens the viewfinder a bit, which may or may not be a problem with you?

[RichardTaylor]

I especially like the last one.

[blainestewart]

I have found your snaps quite interesting and i would love to see some more form you.Sorry no hacks at the moment ,will let you know as soon as i will get some info's about it.

[wulf]

It's not so much the challenge of "is it in focus?" as the challenge of the fine-grained control. What I need is a rail system to mount the camera on; what I want is a way of getting that effect cheaply.

Wulf

[RLucas]

My apologies. I should have read that you were having to adjust the tripod more carefully.
Let me see if I can come up with something. I love a challenge!

[daft_biker]

Focus rails can be had pretty cheaply....£20 or something on ebay. Manfrotto do one that's a bit more expensive (£55) and there's some posh ones at about £200. The cheap one I had a go with was actually alright (I normally use the Manfrotto 454 but fancy one of the posh ones).

[wulf]

£20 isn't too bad... I'd love to find a free solution though. One thought that comes to mind is whether using a small piece of paper and moving it round the worktop might have been a handy trick to help with fine tuning.

Wulf

[daft_biker]

Unfortunately moving the subject tends to screw up the composition...so you move the camera....focus not right again now....move the subject again...move the camera again....

Just as fiddly as moving the tripod!

DIY solutions that I've seen include things like plywood, drawer runners and a vice cobbled together to make racks sturdy enough for very high magnification work. Not exactly portable or flexible in how you can position them but great for stability and control.

Cheaper than a focus rail is a focus slider - the focus rail having a geared movement and the slider just having a lock.

Personally I usually slide my rail roughly into position and then fine tune using the geared movement. Initially I bought the rail back when I was using a 50mm and tubes but it has been every bit as useful with all the macro lenses I've bought since. An essential bit of kit IMHO.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by daft_biker

Unfortunately moving the subject tends to screw up the composition...so you move the camera....focus not right again now....move the subject again...move the camera again....

Just as fiddly as moving the tripod!

DIY solutions that I've seen include things like plywood, drawer runners and a vice cobbled together to make racks sturdy enough for very high magnification work. Not exactly portable or flexible in how you can position them but great for stability and control.

Cheaper than a focus rail is a focus slider - the focus rail having a geared movement and the slider just having a lock.

Personally I usually slide my rail roughly into position and then fine tune using the geared movement. Initially I bought the rail back when I was using a 50mm and tubes but it has been every bit as useful with all the macro lenses I've bought since. An essential bit of kit IMHO.

That's cool! I was thinking drawer runners myself. But something geared may offer a better solution.