First attempt at using tubes! (56k warning)

[PaulDB]

Hi all,

A friend at work kindly let me borrow a set of kenko tubes today to try on my 100mm. I found autofocus was pretty much useless and manually focussing (i was using the 36 one) was tricky to say the least. I only had time for about 30 mins messing about in the garden but I am quite pleased. It was also my first time using my 580ex. At the moment its mounted on the camera so not ideal. Any tips on better using the flash would be greatly appreciated. I was using an omnibounce to diffuse the flash a bit but its was still very harsh.

What do you guys think?

http://www.atlb64.dsl.pipex.com/canon/hoverstemcr.jpg

http://www.atlb64.dsl.pipex.com/canon/hovertubes1r.jpg

Crop from above:
http://www.atlb64.dsl.pipex.com/canon/hovertubes1rc.jpg

http://www.atlb64.dsl.pipex.com/canon/hovertubesfacecr.jpg

And just for fun!

http://www.atlb64.dsl.pipex.com/canon/slugmonstercr.jpg

After taking all these at f11 i think i can see some dust spots on my sensor :( That sucks as I've only had the camera about 3 weeks. Or they could possibly be on the lense i suppose.

Thanks for looking! C&C welcome!!!

-Paul

[Jungie]

Wow... Incredible... I really like this shoots

[AirBrontosaurus]

I like them!

As for the flash, get a good bracket (I have the delta flip flash bracket).

The shots looks really good though. Tubes make things tricky, so congrats for doing this well!

[dgcorner]

Paul, for a first try you did very well -- congratulations!

Grab a rocket blower -- it is the first line of defense against dust spots.

[Nidz]

Nice shots for your first time. It is hard with the shallow DOF to get those critters to sit still long enough to take a photo.

[racketman]

what a handsome slug. You will have to invest in the tubes.

[fuzzybabybunny]

Not bad!

For a sensor blower, I recommend this. (http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100218&navAction=jump&navCount=0&id=prod17204)

It's just as good as a Pocket Rocket and you can pick one up right at Walgreens.

When you're working with extension tubes on a macro lens, remember that lens diffraction from aperture becomes more and more pronounced with increasing magnification.

For instance, a regular macro lens at 1:1 might not start to show bad diffraction until past f/16. Once you go past 1x magnification with tubes however, diffraction will start to show earlier, like at f/11. When I use my Tamron 180mm with 65mm extension tubes I have to shoot at a minimum of f/8 or else diffraction really kills the sharpness of the picture.

[Crypto]

great shots. That's great DOF for F11. Must be the 100mm. When I use my tubes at 50-70mm, I need as much as 20 to get good DOF.

[Athena]

Fantabulous first shots. You need a set of tubes of your own I think. :)

Dust is a major enemy of the macro shooter. Cameras can have dust on the sensor brand new. My 2nd 20D did. Get good brush from Visible Dust.

Air - which Delta flip are you using? The short or the long?

[AirBrontosaurus]

[quote=Athena
Air - which Delta flip are you using? The short or the long?[/quote]

I'm using old shorty. It was cheaper, and I don't have long lenses. I like how flexible it is, but I don't like how it sort of moves out of place every once in a while. Also, mine was drilled wrong, so the screw that is supposed to hold the flash onto the bracket doesn't screw in and is useless. But, it's nothing a few rubberbands couldn't fix ;).

[LordV]

Good shots- amazing the detail that becomes visible when you start shooting over 1:1.
I would say manual focus is pretty much essential for all macro shooting but becomes a definite necessity over 1:1. As with all thing shooting at higher mags gets easier with practice :)
Brian V.

[Athena]

I'm using old shorty. It was cheaper, and I don't have long lenses. I like how flexible it is, but I don't like how it sort of moves out of place every once in a while. Also, mine was drilled wrong, so the screw that is supposed to hold the flash onto the bracket doesn't screw in and is useless. But, it's nothing a few rubberbands couldn't fix ;).

I am the proud new owner of the 18" version, but wouldn't ya know - the off camera flash cord is back in Thailand. :(

[Leorooster]

Very nice Paul. You have a great start :) The slug is pretty ;)

[Lester Wareham]

Very nice shots, great detail.

[Bama]

well done on your 1st attempt at tubes...
you'll love them so go and get one.
If your friend sees this shots, he might want to charge rental fees.

regards
bama

[Phreddie]

Hi Paul.

Great set of pictures.

I'm just starting to get into macro in a 'serious' sort of way. From what I've learned, the trick seems to be to get your flash head as close to the front of the lens as possible, so the gun does in effect lie along the top of the lens and tubes. In this position the flash diffuser is wide compared to your subject so the diffuser really works (think of a flourescent light over your head in your kitchen).

I got my tubes (a few years ago now) from Jessops (their own brand) and they were cheaper than any others, and essentially just as good.

[PaulDB]

Thanks all for the kind words of encouragement. I am now thinking of getting some really cheap tubes myself. I can't see the advantage of getting a more expensive set if I am only ever using manual focus anyway. Unless I am missing something..

As for the flash, I think I will have to get a flash bracket at some point as it will be a nice cheap way of improving my shots!