Playing with my tubes

I was experimenting with my Kenko tubes tonight, and came up with this. I still have a lot of playing around to do with the tubes, but I thought this shot was OK. It was taken with all three tubes, and the 100mm f/2.8 UMS Macro lens. Shot with a combination of daylight, and the 580 EX flash.

looks cool michael !! I am hoping to find time and better weather to get out and play soon ... can't wait to get my tubes out also and play

Awsome detail Michael :)

Nice job!!!!!!!

Thanks guys. I think it's going to take some time to get use to using the tubes. The focusing is so touchy, I was surprised I got anything in focus.

For those interested in the details, this was shot in manual mode, 1/100sec @ f/16. Flash set to +2 stops I believe.

Great detail, focus looks good to me.
I found the focusing hard at first when i used tubes for the first time, but was amazed at the detail and clarity that this piece of kit brings to us.

Cool!! I just ordered a set of Kenko tubes so now I can play also!!!!:thumbsup:

yes the focus is incredible touchy ... i have only taken a few shots with mine and you barely "bump" the focus and it jumps what seems like a foot ....

Great job, Michael. Wow, all three tubes on a 100mm macro - must have been one heck of a magnification!

Hint for all you guys and gals: manually focus first, then use your entire body to move in/out slightly to get the focus exact.

It will be extremely hard to use a tripod with this combo out in the field when there is even the slightest breeze as the subject will go in & out of focus. Instead, go hand-held or with a monopod - with practice, you'll be able to rock your body in sych to the wind to shoot with a breeze.

What fun they are :thumbsup:

"Rock your body!"

That's how I do it! :D

Seriously tho, it works.

Very good advice Loupey. The wind was a pain in the butt. The flowers were in a ball jar that I took outside to get some natural light. I set them on a table, on our deck. Between the dogs walking on the deck shaking everything, and the wind blowing, it wasn't easy to keep things still. I did have my camera on a tripod w/ cable release, and I moved the jar of flowers in and out to focus, then used the focusing ring to fine tune it. I had to take the lens hood off because it was getting in the way. Once I got it where I wanted it, it was a matter of keeping the dogs off the deck, and waiting for the wind to die down. Setting the camera to manual mode, and using the power of the flash to give me the exposure I wanted also helped to freese the movement.

That's really a great shot Michael! I love the lighting, detial, and DOF... very well done!

Playing with your what?!?! :eek:

Nice shot. Good luck with the tube, I hate using them but you've done well.

It's a family site, so keep the playing to a minimum, will ya? :)

You've probably seen focusing rails in a catalog. They are tripod heads that allow you to move the whole camera back and forth in minute increments -- perfect for tubes if you get into macro.

I've shot a good bit of macro and bought tubes twice, only to sell them later. I much prefer working with a macro lens. Just a lot easier to get good results for me, but your mileage may vary.

Nice, pic.

Thanks Lava and Payn.

I understand what you're talking about when it comes to useing a regualar macro lens vs the tubes. The tubes are going to take some time, and practice to get good with. I have seen the macro focusing rails, and I plan to get one someday.

I think for indoor/studio work, a dedicated macro is the way to go.

For me, most shots are outdoors and 99.9% use ambient light as the main light source. I can't buy a macro that gives me the magnification at the working distance I need (around 3 feet). The 300mm with tubes still makes an unbeatable field rig IMHO. True I can't get super magnification, but I haven't had the need to go that big but a handful number of times.

Perhaps I'll change my mind once I start using my 180mm macro. Don't know how I can part with the 300mm though as I don't carry a camera bag in the field :)

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Originally Posted by Loupey

Don't know how I can part with the 300mm though as I don't carry a camera bag in the field :)

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Second body! I once thought it would make things more complicated, but two bodies, one for distance and one for macro. Cargo shorts with lots of pockets filled with a wide angle, tubes, flash, and batteries. There is a card wallet available that goes on the camera starp for extra memory. I no longer carry a bag anymore either.

Of course, everyone will stare at you, and ask what is going on. Who cares what they think?

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Originally Posted by payn817

Cargo shorts with lots of pockets filled with a wide angle, tubes, flash, and batteries. There is a card wallet available that goes on the camera starp for extra memory. I no longer carry a bag anymore either.

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Ah, then you know first hand how difficult it is to stalk silently without all the jingling, rattling, tinkling sounds coming out from your pockets :p Still beats a bag swinging around and hitting trees and the like.

Payn, your description made me realize just how fast we would be caught if we were shooting in real nature country being chased by a grizzly or even a mad herbivore :D

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Originally Posted by payn817

Second body! I once thought it would make things more complicated, but two bodies, one for distance and one for macro. Cargo shorts with lots of pockets filled with a wide angle, tubes, flash, and batteries. There is a card wallet available that goes on the camera starp for extra memory. I no longer carry a bag anymore either.

Of course, everyone will stare at you, and ask what is going on. Who cares what they think?

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So I'm about two miles deep in a nature preserve, standing on a small tower the rangers built for observation taking pictures with a 300mm f/2.8 lens with a 2x TC and a big hood and a guy comes up:

Guy: "Boy that's a big telescope."
Me: "There's a lot to see around here. 'Click'."
Guy: "Oh, that's a camera. Are you a professional?"

Do you all get that kind of thing?

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Originally Posted by Lava Lamp

Guy: "Oh, that's a camera. Are you a professional?"[/I]

Do you all get that kind of thing?

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That along with;
"Do you work for the paper?" and/or
"What agency do you work for?"

Almost every outing. I try to stay away from people. I see the best stuff happening when I'm talking and not shooting sometimes.

Ah yes, I get that once in a while too. If I'm in a tourist location, I also get people asking me to take their photos with thier cameras. They see the gear I have and assume I know what I'm doing. Then they hand me a P&S that I have never seen before, and I can't even find the shutter button!!

Walking around London, you don't even need to be carrying a camera for people to stop and ask you to take their photos with thier cameras:D

Never been accused of being a Pro yet - still time I guess.:rolleyes:

Roger

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Originally Posted by mjs1973

Ah yes, I get that once in a while too. If I'm in a tourist location, I also get people asking me to take their photos with thier cameras. They see the gear I have and assume I know what I'm doing. Then they hand me a P&S that I have never seen before, and I can't even find the shutter button!!

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had that happen when I was at Mt. Rushmore.. was at the lighting ceremony taking pics in the back and this couple kept looking at me ... then she came over and asked me to take their pic with the presidents in the background ... said sure... found the shutter button no prob .. pressed it and nothing ... i must of had that puzzled look cause she said " you have to hold down the button for a bit for it to take a pic" :confused: