Macro fun with a porcelain crab

[Ebn]

Here's a few shots to see the kind of results/magnification that you can get using various methods/gear. My porcelain crab was bribed to sit in for the session. :lol:

105mm f/2.8D VR AFS lens at 1:1

105mm f/2.8D VR AFS lens at 1:1 AND 68mm of extension tubes

105mm f/2.8D VR AFS lens at 1:1 WITH 68mm of extension tubes AND 1.7x teleconverter (TC17EII - only available for Nikon )
Compounding eye

Hairs on the mouthparts

Eye with feeders open

 

[Blazer88]

Are these the full frame or crops? It's nice to see what is possible with the different combo's of TC's/tubes/and a good macro lens. I just ordered my Sigma 150mm 2.8 macro to use with my 1.4x TC and Kenko tubes, I can't wait

 

[Ebn]

These are full frame, no cropping.

You're gonna have plenty of fun with that combo. BTW, might want to take a look at some rails when dealing w/such magnification. Pivoting takes a bit more effort even with a steady tripod and ballhead (using Feisol CF tripod and RRS BH-55 ballhead).

 

[Blazer88]

I've never looked into a type of focus rail system, I may have to do that. I currently use a Bogen tripod and 488RC2 ballhead that seems pretty sturdy. I am getting familar with focus stacking which is very helpful with such a small working distance but probably wouldn't work on any type of subject that might move. Good looking shots though, how does a 100% crop look?

 

[Ebn]

Not really sure how they would look. I'll run some of those through 100% crops and see how they do. They might not be up to snuff though, but I'll check later on.

 

[edwing206]

Dang those shots are close.
Nice work.

 

[Ebn]

Thanks.

Here are the 100% crops from some of the above.

 

[edwing206]

Looks like a fly eye.

 

[kryppy]

Wow, very nice images.

 

[kactusficus]

very beautiful images, and thanks for the "test" aprt, very interesting!

 

[Ebn]

Glad you guys liked them. It just gives you an idea of what kind of magnification you're getting from using a combo of the above.

 

[Blazer88]

What kind of working distance did you have with the tubes? I know the Canon 100mm (w/out tubes) is around 6" and extension tubes will bring that substantially closer. It's kind of funny that the 100% crop without tubes/TC looks looks pretty close to the full-frame shot with tubes/TC.

 

[team2jndd]

that is so cool. I wish I could do that.

 

[Ebn]

Working distance with the tubes cut the working distance by about a half. You'll get very similar results with the 100mm macro lens and extension tubes. I'm actually not too surprised to see the quality of the last one since it's also taking into the account of the glass on the 1.7x TC and the greater distance of the lens from the sensor.

Yeah, the 100% crop w/out the tubes and TC looks better than either combined. I'd probably look at larger prints with the last two since you'll probably observe them at a greater distance.

 

[Julio]

Very nice shots.

 

[spline9]

Awesome shots!

 

[nosh]

Wow great pics!

 

[nUgZ]

Great shots Ebn...although it's not fair using a D2X.

 

[solinar]

nice!