Macros or semi macros (6)

Bobby1970 wrote: brettania wrote: Which lens was used for these Rob? Its a Minolta 35-70mm with the front element removed.

How about that! You're the only person on Dyxum I've encountered who knows that trick too (assuming you're using the F3.5-4.5 version). Excellent photos with it too. I particularly like the last bumblebee photo.

MichelvA wrote: Nice background! Main subject has little what's in focus though..

In the specific photo i was more interested in the silhouette and the total isolation of the subject than the sharpness and the texture.
i believe that works effectively that way
On the other hand maybe overdid a bit


Thanks for the comment

Arion ater w. Tamron 20A.

Since i don't have the wonderful 3x-1x Pavel has (I wish i did ), yesterday i gave a try to an old Minolta MC 50mm f1.4 reversed on my Minolta 100.
I wanted to tell kerrath the advantages of this setup against a single reversed lens, as you dont have to close diaphragm on the reversed lens, so you don't loose light when focusing, making it much easier. Another advantage is that changing focus in the 100mm from infinite to 1:1, gives you some sort of zoom, which helps have a better composition or choose between different degrees of ampliation.

These shots were taken with the 100mm focused to infinity, which gives a 2:1 ampliation, i think focused to 1:1 gives around 2.7:1 ( tomorrow I'll do some measured test to be sure). Subjects are an adult an a young scantius aegyptius.

This one has a slight crop.

f/25, 1/50, ISO 1600, handheld (with a finger on the stone), natural light, manual exposure.

This one is made of two shots, since it didn't fit complete in a single shot.

f/25, 1/50, ISO 1600, handheld (with a finger on the stone), natural light, manual exposure.

And this was made today with the same setup, to give an idea of the size of subjets.

f/29, 3.2s, ISO 1600, camera on the table.

Since i could not go under 1/50, all I could close was f/25, so next step is to build a DIY diffuser for the Sony twin flash (i don't think the one that comes with it will be soft enough for this), so I will be able to close to f/32 and have a better speed (it took me like 40 shots to get these acceptable ones).

I didn't want to get boring, but i thought some explanations could help someone, thank you for appreciating it Rick.

I saw a Minolta Bellows on ebay, with a Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 lens, and the MD to A-mount adapter, and I think it was a very good price, so I bought it. Well, I'll tell you, I don't know that much about Macro Photography, and I sure could use some help with this thing. I think the first thing that I'm going to have to do is to find a smaller lens. I have to be back a substantial distance, imagine FEET instead of inches, to get the thing in focus. I'm pretty sure a 50mm lens will allow me to get closer.

Anyway, I took it out today, and photographed a couple of things. One of them was this flower.

Shot with my Sony A58,
1/100th of a second.
I didn't note the actual f/stop, but I think it was either f/11 or f/16.
Compulsary flash
Tweaked in Lightroom 4.4



Critique, comments, suggestions, and ideas are all appreciated. Anyone may rework this photograph for a comparison.

Gary