***1/5/11 - Note: The setup as seen here was only really used once or twice. Although it offers quite a bit of mangification, it isn't realistically usable in the field due to it's weight - therefore this image is not representative of my usual setup.***
I've been getting a few e-mails recently about what equipment I am using to take my macrophotographs. So here's a picture of my setup.
The camera body is a Pentax *ist DL DSLR body.
The flash is an old Vivitar "Zoom Thyristor 3500" connected to the body by a cheap off-brand off camera flash cord. The flash is mounted on a bizarre old "PETRI" flash bracket with a ball head mount. The flash is diffused by a diffuser I made out of a Goldfish box, duct tape, paper towel, and clear plastic.
The body in this photo is mounted to a camera bellows, and a vintage Pentax Takumar bayonet mount 28mm f/2.8 prime lens is reversed on an old off-brand 2x teleconverter is mounted to the bellows. (The setup as shown is what I would use if I was planning on taking a picture of just the eyes of a jumping spider.)
The majority of the time I just use the 28mm mounted to the teleconverter with no bellows.
Occasionally, I will use an old SMC Pentax f/1.7 50mm prime reversed on the bellows or a 3x teleconverter in there somewhere.
raven mother ran them over ~ man the rover, ` ®© ROBERTO CARBONI, udijw, Miguel MH, and 635 other people added this photo to their favorites.
View 20 more comments
Pat Kavanagh 33 months ago | reply
Hi Thomas...I really like your macro shots and how easy you communicate the complex world of macro photography. With my limited funds I took the theory behind extension tubes and came up with two macro set-up versions.
One gets more extreme macros by using a piece of plumbing pipe as an extension tube and a 30 year old 50mm lens:
And the other set-up I used a manual extension tube...drilled a hole and inserted a pin so that it engages my 70-300mm Nikon aperture lever on the lens to move it to approximately F:8.
I use a flash set-up on manual, camera on manual and generally have my settings at F:8, ISO 200, 1/1,000 Shutter speed. What I like about this last set-up with my long zoom is that I can take macro from about 5 feet away or as close as 4".
I am enjoying your work but even more appreciate your willingness to share information. This is not easy to do and unless you have tried to get macro/bug shots you can't begin to understand how difficult this is. That being said....it is a blast to get those precious shots right...it's all in the challenge!
You should post this image again on some of the groups to get photographers thinking about macro. I found this image the hard way....through Google!
Cheers!
Pat.
Pedro Genaro Rodriguez 32 months ago | reply
Tremendo!!! Felicidades Thomas, me encantan tus fotografias!
deepskygalaxy 30 months ago | reply
Any update on your lighter & easier to use setup for the majority of your photography?
You wrote:
Another thing: the setup seen in the image above I have actually only used once or twice - it's much too heavy, cumbersome and powerful for most macro applications. I usually use a much lighter and easier to use setup for the majority of my photography. I'm planning on posting a photo and explanation of it all sometime soon.
Erik Kelder 28 months ago | reply
So how does your common setup look like? Same kind of diffuser and a teleconverter + 28mm reversed?
karolina.debowska 27 months ago | reply
wow that's great! I love macro photography and I also use Pentax. Maybe it's just me but there is so many lenses out there and it's still hard to find some Pentax fit. Not to mention price when you finally find one. I have some extension tubes and macro close up lens so far, few more things and I will be set for macro photography ;)
littlebiddle 25 months ago | reply
Gee only 56,000 views! Thought more people would want to see how you take these fantastic macros!
akshay70 24 months ago | reply
can u tell m reverse technique harm the camera body n lens...is tht true?
Thomas Kent 23 months ago | reply
You are a constant source of inspiration -- I really enjoy your work! I do have a couple of questions though: What software do you use to deal with the noise from the Pentax cameras, and would you recommend any focus stacking software, or do you think it's best to do the stack manually with layer masks?
DARREL NEAVES 21 months ago | reply
i have a canon 550d + lens reversing lens + 50mm/18-55mm/50-250mm lenses + nissin di622 flash gun ... with this equipment .. could i take images like this? .. what settings are best?
12_Tribes 20 months ago | reply
good job man...great result without expensive equipment. that is a real art
jayant52 20 months ago | reply
Thomas, I am a newbie in macro, I am using 50mm f1.8 and 18-55mm f3.5lens reversed. I am facing lots of trouble with DOF when I use lens at 18mm. but the magnification @ 18mm is incredible, how can increase the DOF so that more of subject is in focus?
saahmadbulbul 18 months ago | reply
Not talking about your work because I have no words to describe it. Those are too good for me to comment. But i can't stop myself saying
Love you work
I just have one stupid question. Do you or the system that you built allow you to see live view while shooting?
-Salahuddin
Domina Imagina 14 months ago | reply
how much weight is it?
toshfox 14 months ago | reply
Oh I thought u used an extension tube, and not converter
that's more expensive then
Wagman Maia 12 months ago | reply
Wow! Congratulations!
You have a fan in Brazil!
Gary J Clicx 12 months ago | reply
you can search YouTube for his channel & video 'an introduction to high magnification macro photography'. he shows his latest setup, which is 3 set extension tubes + reversed prime & his flash + diy softbox. Also it shows you an insight of how he goes about doing his thing. I only have one word for this great bloke - RESPECT.
Andreas Isaksen 12 months ago | reply
How come you use a 2x teleconverter? How does that affect the picture? And what advantages does it have over bellows/macro rings?
Palenquero 11 months ago | reply
You are an inspiration, your art work is also great. Your hair do is nice also..
canon7dude 8 months ago | reply
Thanks for sharing, it is appreciated!
Helder Faria 6 months ago | reply
Nice gear! I'll try too...