First MPE-65 + MT24-EX Shots

[Twitch1977]

I finally got to try this combo out on Saturday and I'm very pleased with it. Here are a few shots:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2578198943_078fcbc1fc_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2579050028_417b63fe43_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2579130896_8da924fbec_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2578357281_ece48a0636_b.jpg

Overall I am extremely happy, I was using the puffer diffusers as macro junkie suggests and I'm very happy that I did.

A few questions came up though:

a) What metering mode do you guys use with this combo, in general things came out well but in several instances (a jumper on a leaf) the shot came out probably 2/3 of a stop over exposed, and several times I set the flash to -2/3. I was shooting mostly in spot mode but went through most of them and tried them out.

I suspect evaluative is the way to go but if someone could confirm it that would be great. Do you find the flash over exposing shots at all? Probably for over half my shots I had to drop the power of the flash by -1/3 to -1. Something I'm doing wrong maybe?

b) This is the first flash I've owned capable of high speed sync, do you guys use this feature? Any cons to using it?

c) Completely unrelated I've been playing around with my sharpening techniques lately trying both USM and High Pass.

Anyone have a standard macro sharpening workflow they'd care to share? Hope you enjoy the pics, I can't wait to get out and shoot more with this setup!

Thanks,
Kurt

[striving]

Great shots here! Congrats on the new equip. Looks like you got off to a fantastic start!!!

[johnkermit1]

great series. really awesome. i like them all.

[bandit 1]

Hiya Kurt,

Great series of shots, love them all but the #4 is my favorite, sorry can't help with questions regards to that combo

Cheers for now
Mark

[alliec]

Excellent series, last one is a winner for me. I regulary vary the FEC between -2/3 and +2/3 FEC depending on the background. Light backgrounds often result in under exposure for me i.e white and yellow flowers. I usually try and expose for the background. As for sharpening i only ever sharpen the resized JPEG before posting to the web, i use unsharp mask. Amount 100, Radius 0.3 and threshold 0.

Never used the high synch speed.

[macro junkie]

i use 400d so im normally at -1/3 or 0fec..sometimes i use -2/3 but not often.From what i gather the 40d sensor is more accurate and people using mt-24ex with 40d are having to use -2/3 fec.

if u didnt know allready how me and dalantech use the heads..your know that the heads move by 1 click.so we use

1:1 life size 2 clicks out
2:1 life size 1 click out
3:1 - 5:1 life size push right in..

im shooting in raw,using standard shooting mode at the min...i then sharpen in photoshop unsharp mask 100-1-0

your pics are stunning//your off to a flying start..a match made in heaven isnt it ;)

[troypiggo]

All great shots. #4 would be the best of the bunch.

Congrats on the new gear. I'm jealous.

As will Alliec, I only sharpen the final resized for web image. Regarding workflow, there are 2 I found very helpful and still refer to them occassionally:
By KevLewis, Nature Gallery Director from devianArt - photography tips and tricks (http://kevlewis.deviantart.com/journal/16400248/)

And this one by Dave "dpastern", regular here:
Photoshop workflow tutorial (http://www.macro-images.com/Photoshop_workflow_tutorial.doc)

[spidermanrbryce2006]

brilliant shots, you sure know how to use that lens!

[dpastern]

Good set - quite like them, well done.

Whilst I don't have this combo, my suggestions would be to use evaluative metering and adjust FEC on the fly on a per shot basis in order to suit your needs. Have you tried diffusing the flash units? As to sharpening, I generally do some minor sharpening of the RAW file (usually between +2 or +3, depending on the image, sometimes as low as 0 sharpening in the RAW file). I then do some creative sharpening during PP in Photoshop CS2, and I will do some USM on resizing for the web. The thing is to be careful at how much you apply. I've generally found that I apply far less sharpening than most others in these forums (that's either good or bad lol). You're welcome to have a look at my workflow, if it helps you in some way, great. I've been meaning to add to this workflow, but have become bogged down on other things deemed more important. One day I will return to it and answer some of Troy's questions, elaborate a few things, and add several new sections to it in order to enhance it.

Troy - thanks for the nice words about my workflow, much appreciated.

Dave

[macro junkie]

. Have you tried diffusing the flash units?

Dave

did you read his post? :lol:

[dpastern]

did you read his post? :lol:

Missed it lol. Spotted everything else except that rofl!

Dave

[troypiggo]

Troy - thanks for the nice words about my workflow, much appreciated.

No worries mate.

[macro junkie]

Missed it lol. Spotted everything else except that rofl!

Dave
no probs..:)

[Twitch1977]

Hey,

Thanks for the comments everyone I really appreciate them, I'm excited that I did so well for my first time out with this new equipment.

I'll be checking out that workflow document right away. :)

Kurt

[Zapins]

Any updates on this thread? Twitch1977 what do you think of your new lens now that you have had some time to tinker with it?

Also do you think the macro ring is essential for getting well lit detailed pictures?

Do you think the EX580II on would work similarly?

[racketman]

of course a macro flash is not essential - there are lots of great MPE65 photos on this forum taken with the 430ex and similar mounted off camera.

[macro junkie]

Any updates on this thread? Twitch1977 what do you think of your new lens now that you have had some time to tinker with it?

Also do you think the macro ring is essential for getting well lit detailed pictures?

Do you think the EX580II on would work similarly?
mt-24ex isnt a ring light:) its a twin flash.

[bbulldog]

WOW all i can say