Newb Macro shots.

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Just got my Simga 150mm EX DG OS HSM Macro lens today so had great fun taking some bug shots.

I used to do some macro when I was a kid with a old manual SLR and a homemade extension/bellows I made out of a couple tubes. Took all the care in the world for each shot as film was expensive on pocket money and it took for ever to send the film away to get developed. Since that was over 20 years ago and I have only now taken it up again I have a lot to learn.

Took all the shots with the Sigma 150mm on my 600D except for the two close up shots of the Hornet which was taken yesterday. The Hornet flew into the house so I caught it in a glass and after it settled down I snapped a couple of shot with the 18-55 kit lens with some cheap extension rings.

The Bee was fun to watch hanging onto the stem with it's mandibles and frantically cleaning itself then sitting down to poke it's proboscis out

I had only just put the lens on the camera when the courner of my eye saw the moth flapping around trying to get away from the ants.

Love the lens, it a great bit of kit. Shame my ring flash dosen't fit on it, oh well...just have to get another along with some good kenko tubes.

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Here the rest...

[Dennis]

Hi Ken

I see you have been bitten by the maro bug…yet again!

A nice set of shots. I would hold off on the ring flash (e.g. MR-14 EX) as they tend to produce quite harsh, flat light unless their heads are independently moveable like the more expensive MT-24 EX.

I originally purchased the MR-14 EX and found it very difficult to obtain good lighting without hot spots and harsh shadows so I now use the 580 EX II with an off camera cord.

Cheers

Dennis

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Another one succumbs to the dark side Lovely shots.

Same lens that I use most these days. IMO the perfect macro lens, balancing working distance, usability, and cost very well. Put 68mm of Kenko extension tubes on it, and can up to around 2:1 magnification. That's my favourite arrangement.

What ring flash do you have? There may well be an adapter you can buy/use with the lens' filter thread. That's how I attach the MT-24EX to mine.

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Dennis

Hi Ken

I see you have been bitten by the maro bug…yet again!

A nice set of shots. I would hold off on the ring flash (e.g. MR-14 EX) as they tend to produce quite harsh, flat light unless their heads are independently moveable like the more expensive MT-24 EX.

I originally purchased the MR-14 EX and found it very difficult to obtain good lighting without hot spots and harsh shadows so I now use the 580 EX II with an off camera cord.

Cheers

Dennis

Thanks Dennis, to get anything half like your brilliant shots would be awesome!

Ended up ordering last night a Meike FC100 Led ring flash, nice and cheap and can be used as a flash or just diffuse light with 7 levels of adjustment. Also got a off camera cord for me cheap 270EX so both together should get some good variable lighting.

Originally Posted by troypiggo

Another one succumbs to the dark side Lovely shots.

Same lens that I use most these days. IMO the perfect macro lens, balancing working distance, usability, and cost very well. Put 68mm of Kenko extension tubes on it, and can up to around 2:1 magnification. That's my favourite arrangement.

What ring flash do you have? There may well be an adapter you can buy/use with the lens' filter thread. That's how I attach the MT-24EX to mine.

Ta , I'm glad I picked the Sigma over the others like the Canon 100mm as like you said the working distance is very good. Kenko tubes on the way to replace my plain old tubes...or supplement for the extreme shot hmmmm

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Couple more shots from yesterday.

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Some from today's effort...