Macro on G7/9/10/11

[GSeries1]

Anybody have any tips on macro photography with these bodies. I am mainly interested in a good lighting solution. How are you guys lighting your subjects?

[GSeries1]

Difficulty Lighting

[CarloY]

Good question, good subject. Something I've briefly thought about, but have not gotten there yet. Some other posters here or other forums have some home-made LED macro ring lights. Sounds promising.

I think it depends 'how serious' you are about it. What I am thinking is to 'sacrifice' an adapter tube... by sawing it off at about 60% length and making an LED array (~6 lights) around that. Some of the best G9 macro is between full-wide and half-zoom I think. I would also build in a diffuser -- anything from vellum paper to more opaque plastic.

Other than that, experimenting with some simple reflective surfaces a couple inches in front of G9 body may work. (though I think that method is not so repeatable.)

[GSeries1]

Good question, good subject. Something I've briefly thought about, but have not gotten there yet. Some other posters here or other forums have some home-made LED macro ring lights. Sounds promising.

I think it depends 'how serious' you are about it. What I am thinking is to 'sacrifice' an adapter tube... by sawing it off at about 60% length and making an LED array (~6 lights) around that. Some of the best G9 macro is between full-wide and half-zoom I think. I would also build in a diffuser -- anything from vellum paper to more opaque plastic.

Other than that, experimenting with some simple reflective surfaces a couple inches in front of G9 body may work. (though I think that method is not so repeatable.)

I have a lensmate but I'm not cutting that guy up... I could conceivably sacrifice the plastic Canon version though... Good idea... anybody done this?

[tmwag]

I think it depends 'how serious' you are about it.

I think that kind of says it all. How serious are you about macro? If your prime focus is macro photography you may want to invest in macro specific equipment rather than hack stuff up. However if you like to re- invent the wheel and design/engineer you own home brew ..more power to you..

[GSeries1]

Looks like this might be perfect... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/630909-REG/Sunpak_DSLR67_MRL_LED_Macro_Ring_Light.html#review s

[tmwag]

I guess what I’m trying to say is their isn't a great deal of serious macro specific equipment (that I’m aware of) for the G9 other than a few add on's from Canon, Lensmate and Kenko. I’m not a macro specific photographer. So take my comments with a grain of salt if you wish.

Maybe a DSLR would offer a range of options that are simply not available for the G-series camera. I think there was a similar discussion regarding telephoto lens, close up lens, adaptors and such . The G-series is what it is and if you are serious about a specific discipline such as macro ..maybe you need to move beyond a G-Series..

[GSeries1]

I guess what I’m trying to say is their isn't a great deal of serious macro specific equipment (that I’m aware of) for the G9 other than a few add on's from Canon, Lensmate and Kenko. I’m not a macro specific photographer. So take my comments with a grain of salt if you wish.

Maybe a DSLR would offer a range of options that are simply not available for the G-series camera. I think there was a similar discussion regarding telephoto lens, close up lens, adaptors and such . The G-series is what it is and if you are serious about a specific discipline such as macro ..maybe you need to move beyond a G-Series..

Nahh,,, my G9 does outstanding Macro in good light... I don't do it often but I want to find a cheap way to provide that light. And I think I have found it... :)

[GordonSBuck]

My G9 macro experiments, attachments, reversed lens, etc at http://lightdescription.blogspot.com/search/label/macro

I usually use one or two external flashes through sheets of paper as "diffusers".

[CarloY]

GordonSBuck at his blog: but the subject was very difficult to light because the lens is so close. The light source is pointing almost horizontally through the small space between penny and lens.Throughout his site he has illustrated 'close-up' capabilities... with and without extra lens elements/configurations. It seems that if you are going to narrow the distance-to-subject down to less than 3 inches let say... special lighting may be desirable.

But that could be something as simple as a pair of LED pocket-lights --- reflected onto the subject (with the reflector between the G-body and the subject). Someday I will try a pair of maglites at near right-angles to axis of lens, and reflected. This will allow me mirrored surface or glossy paper reflectors. etc etc.

I have played with both G9's native lens capability, and a reversed Konica 57mm 1.4. The latter gives an excellent magnification factor, but a very tricky and shallow depth-of-field. I found some success in first establishing a near focus, and then playing with the subject-camera distance.

BTW, other cheap alternatives are "book reading lights"... whether USB powered or battery operated... though some of these are more 'incandescent' than balanced white.