Different technics of macro

Macro photography is a procedure, during which you are trying to take close-up pictures at a rate 1:1, so that the subject is the same size on sensor as it is in real life.
There are different ways of taking macro photos.
Of course the easiest but the most expensive way is to buy a macro lens, most common have a 100mm, but there is also special Canon lens called MP-E 65mm, witch can make magnification between 1:1 and 5:1. Though, in a way it is a bit impractical, because you are only a few centimeters away from the subject. Also there is no AF, but most macro lenses use MF because the DOF is very thin and the camera does not know what you are trying to focus on.
There are also other ways of making macro photos, for instance using macro conversion lens or extension tubes. I use Raynox-250 conversion lens and considering reasonable price it is amazing. I use it on my Sigma 70-300 which can make images 1:2 but when putting on Raynox-250 it turns into a real macro lens. The only downside is that it often looses sharpness.
Extension tubes give you the extra mm but you loose some light when you are using them. Although when you use flash this isn't a problem.
There are also other ways of making macro photos. I would like to introduce a more uncommonly way, which can be cheaper, but also at times also unpractical.
A lot of people have it but haven’t got the slightest clue they own it. With only about 90 € you can get magnification of about 3:1 by simply using a wide-angle lens and reverse it. I found this team on a forum and thought it was kind of funny but I tried it anyway. I reversed my kit lens and leaned it to my camera and the results were truly amazing. You can adjust the aperture on a reversed lens by fitting the lens normally, setting an aperture and then remove the lens whilst keeping the DOF preview button depressed. When setting a wider angle you get a better magnification than with a narrower angle.

There is also way to make extreme magnification but it costs a bit more. I was able to make bigger magnification than with MP-E 65, simply by putting on my Sigma 70-300 and at the end putting a KIT lens reverse on 18mm. It's the same principle as using macro conversion lens. I also bought a ring that can attach both lenses together.


Here is an example of the size of biro.


Here is an example using Sigma on 300mm and Raynox-250


Here is an example using Sigma on 300mm and reversed Canon KIT lens on 18mm.


And here is an example of a biro, shot with Canon MP-E 65 at 5:1 magnification.

I would also like to thank Brian who provided me with this last photo and gave me some information about macro photography.

Macro yet again

Holidays have finally arrived and thus I will have a lot more time for photography and for blogging. Here are some photos I took during last few weeks. And soon more is to come.

Newest toy

Got it a few days ago straight from Poland. Gregor order some stuff together with Matjaž. On that side I found an adapter which can attach 2 lenses together to get a macro lens.


This is how adapter ring looks.

And this is how it looks like with Sigma 70-300mm and reversed Canon 18-55mm. I also borrowed some extension tubes.

Swan

I went for a walk along the river Drava. I saw two swans which I had noticed many times before. They won't escape me today I thought. It suspected that taking a good photo was going to be a major problem because they were far away but suddenly they changed course and headed straight towards me. Now I was able to take close-up shots and it seemed they loved posing for me. Because of the sunset the untouched nature really showed its power; although the beautiful reflection helped to. ;)






HDR from 1 RAW photo.

Wannabe racer

Nejc just loves to ride his motorcycle. He usually rides it on a track located near his home. He asked me if I could take come photos of him while driving. We set the date and started shooting. And this is what came out.

I also made a HDR from 1 RAW photo.