Macro newbie with raynox dcr250

- bought the raynox 250 abt a month ago ... not enough 'fly-time' with it. learning and lots of room for improvement

feedback:
- easy to setup... used with the 18-55, 50 and the 55-250mm. settled with the tele
- have to use extremely lower apertures (eg f29/f32) to get a high DOF
- borrowed a EF 100mm macro f2.8 ... hv yet to test it n will post when i hv something 'decent'

anyone have a diy diffuser with the pop-up flash and get decent results? My problem right now is lighting (i know, i know) ... but here in Msia, hehe i can't afford the flashes. cant justify the expense and the missus will put me i the doghouse forever.

still looking for a cheap soln ... i want to improve, but *sigh* cost is pushing me back

here r some pics from two separate outings (over 3 weeks)
#1 (the latest)

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ishafizan/54264​39325/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ishafizan/54029​52620/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ishafizan/54007​37011/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ishafizan/54002​09599/

Good effort. Anything above F16 at 1X is overkill. DCR250 works best on your 55-250 at the tele end.

Doing well with the add-on lens !
Re the flash, you can get better results with the pop up flash if you either make a light tube with some diffusion material at the end to guide the light to the end of the lens or you can sometimes get away with an egg shaped piece of diffusing plastic with a hole to fit over the end of the lens at the base of the oval.

Brian V.

oh wow, 2 macro celebs. i'm honored.

kurt: tx and noted. i hv yet to finish reading/studying your pics and posts, but from what i can gather:
- dof needs to be considered at all times. focus on interesting/important parts of the subject.
- subject needs to be well lit. shadows should be as s oft as possible. love your pics with natural light dude! i scratched my head (so) many times
- agree that f29 is overkill, and there could be issues with diffraction that lowers sharpness. but this is what i found and what works at extreme close ups. it could be that it's also a (known?) characteristic with plug-n-lay close up lens like the raynox ... need to lower the aperture to insane levels to get more stuff in focus.

lord v: tx and i get the idea. i've seen people attaching things to their speedlites ... but i hvent's seen anyone doing anyhting to their pop-up flash. i like the light tube idea ... need to funnel the light, then diffuse it at the end. I have in mind those drinks with shiny linings inside, then some diffusion material at the end, finally tape the whole construction to the flash. need some thinking/tinkering on how to angle it though.

update: i found this after spending quality time googling: http://www.bmpt1.com/#​fd

cost-effective. yes. effective? hehe i'll let u guys know when i have experimented, found what works and hv something worthy. it'll be great if i got it right the first time, but where's the fun in that right?

These were my first dabbles with cheap (or even FREE) diffusers for on-camera flash.
Both worked quite well, actually...

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …end_the_light/4​908269111/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …end_the_light/4​915239789/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …end_the_light/5​246496825/

kurt:
- i've just read this posting that u wrote http://orionmystery.bl​ogspot.com …rent-lighting-setups.html . will try the styrofoam ... i like the sample result

bend the light: thank u for sharing the 2nd setup. more diffused light area and better supoort than the 1st. Creative!

My solution for a diffuser is a lot simpler than any of those.

The only important part of those setups, is the translucent white screen that softens the harsher flash.

I make mine by taking a certain type of welding wire, but a coat-hanger will make a pretty good one.

Start by bending it around a pipe or something a little smaller than the diameter of the lens, because it will spring back some. Let it extend out to both sides about an inch, then bend the ends out to the front and up like antennae of an insect. \_ _/
O
I use spray contact cement to give a quick shot on the wire, then lay it onto a oversize square of white plastic grocery bag, then fold the extra around, while the glue is still wet, It cures very fast, so you can then trim off the extra immediately.

I like to put a couple of rubber-band wraps around the Raynox behind the outer rim, where the threads screw into the holder. This gives the wire ring traction and a soft seat when it is on the camera.

Squeezing the sides of the antennae expands the circle for quick easy mounting and removal. If the wire has good memory, and springback, if will loosen by squeezing, and tighten when released.

I can stick it in my shirt pocket, but it normally lives in my camera bag, with a lens cloth over and between it and my camera. Part of the beauty is that it doesn't take any room.

If I know I'm going to be off and on with it a lot, I leave it clipped to the lens, then just do a quick wrap with a cloth, drop it into the bag.

A pop up on-camera flash really doesn't need all that crap around the sides to control stray light when the diffuser screen is only a foot away. The whole field of view is behind this diffuser, and that is all that matters.