A few macro shots

[Phyl]

Comments & Critique welcome.









Nikon D200
105mm VR (w/VR off)
Extension Tube
Manual Focus

[Buckeye1]

WOW!!! Fantastic shots. Can I ask what lighting those are under and also what the last coral is?

[PJSEA]

Great shots. Have a couple of questions. How close were you, how did you light the subjects and how was background kept "black? Would it be too much to ask the settings on a couple of these?

[Phyl]

Thanks!

The last one is an Orange Crush Acan from AtlantisAquarium.net. The subjects are all in the first 6" of my tank. Because of the extension tube I didn't get a read on my F-Stop in the XIF. I'm sure I could figure out what it used, but I have no idea off the top of my head.

The tank was on actinics only at the time (2x440) of the shoot.

The last two pictures were taken under NightSea filtration and flashlight lighting. That's some amazing stuff right there. Well worth the money to pick it up if you have a good DSLR setup.

The only post processing was resizing and borders.

[sunfish11]

Those are gorgeous shots. Really outstanding!

Lisa

[josee1013]

Amazing pics!!!

[Phyl]

Thanks.

I added a 1.7 teleconverter to the mix to take these:

[Phyl]

Another for my collection:

[MJSavage]

Phyl,

I really like these shots especially with the filters and flashlight.

Are you using an Excitation Filter on your flash or just the Barrier Filter on the lens? I also presume you are using the Blue Star LED flashlight. Do you find that you need the glasses as well? I am trying to find out exactly what I need to order and how much it will cost.

Thanks for the help. I'm glad you posted here but I first saw your post on Nikonians where I go by LifeWitness.

Mike

[fastfish]

Great shots. How do you like the 105mm VR? I have a D80 and I am thinking to get 105mm VR.

[Phyl]

Mike, Thanks. Those NightSea shots are my favorites too. I've used various combinations (I have all the parts), but I find I like to shoot without the flash using the flashlight and the barrier filter. The glasses/flashlight part really help me identify which inhabitants would make the best photos. The filter is a necessity. I'd have to say the flash piece is the one I would/could/do live without, generally speaking. You could do without the glasses though by using the cam to scope the tank (not so easy to do in the dark though, which is when the stuff looks best).

I love those folks over on Nikonians, but I don't feel like many folks over there "get" the aquarium macro pictures, lol.

Tell Charles I said HI! if/when you order!

Fastfish, I love my 105VR, but I don't have much to compare it to. I've tried the 60mm but I just didn't like it. The guy who has it SWEARS by it, even sold his 105, if I'm not mistaken. I'd love to try the 200mm micro lens.

Re: the 105, if you're only taking aq macros and you're going to be on a tripod (neccesity, IMO) then the VR doesn't matter and you could go for the cheaper lens without the VR.

Too many people think it is all about the lens with the smallest min working distance, but I don't feel that way at all. With a tank that's 2' deep, having my 1:1 be at the 6" point doesn't really do me many favors! I can move BACK from the glass... but I can't readily move through it!

[MJSavage]

Thanks for the info! I have the Sigma 150 AF EX DG Macro and love it. I take most of my pictures with the lens hood against the glass and no tripod. The working distance is 7.75" and the lens hood extends past the lens 2" so I can focus 5.75" from the front of glass of the aquarium.

Mike

[MJSavage]

Phyl, small world! I see our (WMAS) past president, Adam Blundell is coming to speak to your club 12/9. He also has one of the testimonials on Night Sea's web site. I'll have to talk to him about it Tuesday at our meeting. He also uses Nikon.

Mike

[Phyl]

Not our club Must be another up this way? You'll have to find out which club and let me know.

As for which Macro to get, as long as you take the time to understand it and practice you'll get good pictures and you'll love your lens, no matter which one it is. Another friend of mine also has the Sigma 105 (but he's a canon user). He takes some really nice photos with it.

[MJSavage]

Oh, my mistake. It was a post on your message board about the 12/9 Roundtable Podcasts on Reefkeeping.

Mike

[fastfish]

Thanks for the info, Phyl.

I use an AF MICRO NIKKOR 55mm 2.8 lens on my D80 . So far, I am very happy with the result. I think I need more practice and then will get a 105VR later.

[Phyl]

For corals the only gain you'll get going from the 55 to th 105 is that you'll be able to get 1:1 reproduction a little further back in your tank. For fish, it might help to have the VR and a fast focusing lens (haven't compared the two so I don't know if the 105 is a faster/slower focuser than the 55).

You'd probably have more fun adding an extension tube or a teleconverter to your kit.

Here's a shot taken with an extension tube. The subject is right up against my front glass so I can get physically really close to it.

[juniormc8704]

what program do you use for framming and watermark?

[Phyl]

Macromedia Fireworks.

[DivaMan]

Wow, those are amazing, my camera sucks though, but someday...... Anyhow Just FWIW Fireworks is best used for web design, however certain aspects of the program also lend its uses well. Such as it is easy to resize images without loss of quality. Another great program for that is Adobe Illustrator, however in order to make it work you have to do a bit of a tutorial.

[nybyrne]

Fantastic shots, very nice

[Phyl]

I have Photoshop. Played with a trial for a while, but when it expired I never bothered installing the key I have for it. I've been thinking I need to give it another go, but seem to be able to accomplish more than I would have guessed with FW.

Fantastic shots, very nice

Thanks!

[DivaMan]

Haha, what do ya know Byrne, its me, reef diver from SWF.

[sbwood007]

Great shots!!!!

[Phyl]

Thanks!