MPE-65?

[Tom Camilleri]

Originally Posted by calypsob

I cant speak for the mpe but I use a reversed 28mm lens which makes a 2:1 magnification and when its stopped down it can be tricky to get shots. Because my lens is prime I have no need to focus so I keep it at infinity and slowly sway towards and away from my subject, snapping phtos as I pass through the hyperfocal point. I would imagine that it is the same way with the MPE. I can say that if you are using anything greater than 1:1 a flash is going to be mandatory so if you dont already have one figure out a way to squeeze one into the budget.

Thanks for sharing, Wes. Do you just have it reversed on the camera body directly? What kind of 28 do you use? I have a the Canon EF 28mm 1.8 but figure it wouldn't be good to reverse since it's not a manual lens. I have seen those lens adapters which let you reverse onto the body directly and also the lens couplers which let you connec a reversed lense to another lens. BTW, how do you figure magnification when reversing?

[Tom Camilleri]

Originally Posted by Martin G.

This is what I use, I am not a very handy person, so I went for the already made thing

http://www.cognisys-inc.com/stacksho...0e885287aaThis

works great and also Zerene has interface to interact with the rail.

the specs would depend on how far in magnification you want to go (basically in how small increments it can go between shots, the higher the mag, the shallower the DOF, so you need something very precise, with an MP-E it would not be that much of an issue). I use it with 10x microscope objective and it is more than enough, I think it is precise enough to also work with a 20x, but do not wuote me on that.

Martin

Which version of the stackshot do you have and do you ever take it into the field? If I were going to invest in one I'd want the most versatile unit. Cognisys mentions a trade off of length versus portability. I'm wondering what, practically speaking, one might need the extra length for.

[Martin G.]

never took it to the field and I have no intention to honestly. I think it would remove the fun of going out in the field. Not sure what version I have though. I do have the one with the interface that can be plugged to the computer.

[gmillerf]

Originally Posted by Tom Camilleri

I'm wondering what, practically speaking, one might need the extra length for.

I would imagine the extra length helps with initial focusing and positioning prior to starting a stack.

[Tom Camilleri]

Originally Posted by gmillerf

I would imagine the extra length helps with initial focusing and positioning prior to starting a stack.

Makes sense.

[Lester Wareham]

I use almost exclusively handheld. But it helps if you can brace yourself on something solid at higher mag.

It is fine in the field, much better than bellows which are easy to damage, you will need flash though.

However, looking for subjects for the MPe is a different thing, less of a walk about and more of a crawl about over a small area. I find I have to get my eye in to spot the small bugs.

[cave drane]

definitely usable handheld. what i love about the short focal distance is that you can grab the stem or whatever your subject is on with a few fingers and then brace the camera lens on that hand as well- something you really can't do with 100mm macro lenses. as everyone says, flash is necessary- certainly beyond 1.5X magnification. even in full natural light, i get this weird blurry highlight issue if i go beyond like 2X mag, so a flash at all times is not a bad thing.

[Tom Camilleri]

Originally Posted by cave drane

definitely usable handheld. what i love about the short focal distance is that you can grab the stem or whatever your subject is on with a few fingers and then brace the camera lens on that hand as well- something you really can't do with 100mm macro lenses. as everyone says, flash is necessary- certainly beyond 1.5X magnification. even in full natural light, i get this weird blurry highlight issue if i go beyond like 2X mag, so a flash at all times is not a bad thing.

Sounds like a good technique but I think you'd be holding your rig in one hand and bracing it in the other. Do you find things a bit cramped or awkward with a flash?.

[cave drane]

not too much. i do mostly handheld field shooting, and as long as a plant part isn't totally blocking the flash it's ok if they press up against each other. another benefit to having (well diffused) flash right at the end of the lens is that it can't get blocked as easily.

[abbypanda]

Good info here thanks everyone.