Macro photography equipment

 

Necessary equipment for Macro Photography 

A number of cameras now-a-days can do close- up photography but only a few will allow you to get good magnification. Using the right equipment you can get extreme magnification with perfect image quality.
Here are some of the equipment you will need to do macro photography.


Macro photography can be done using
   Mobile camera
  Compact camera
  Semi DSLR
  DSLR


·        Mobile Camera

Mobile Phone

Most of the mobile these days are smartphones and all of these smartphones have access to install applications for photography.
Unlike the previous days, today’s camera apps features a wide range of settings to click images like panorama, landscape, portrait and macro/close-up (generally symbolized with a flower). Even though smartphones these days cant capture full life size images, but they are capable of capturing almost to a range of 1:3:5 , which is pretty good. The good thing about photographing with a mobile phone is it will provide you a larger image in width and even the colour resolution is much appreciable.



      Advantages
1.        Cost of equipment
2.      Easy to carry and handle
3.       Time required for clicking an image

     Disadvantages
1.        Closest focusing range
2.      Can’t take life-size images
3.       Quality of image
4.      Magnification

·        Compact Camera

compact camera

This is the best piece of equipment that you can have for cheap to do life size and even extreme macro photography. i too used a compact camera for a long time for macro before I bought purchased a DSLR. the best thing about a compact camera is , it’s very easy to do macro with it. its light can be placed anywhere for an image. A low cost compact camera can also provide you a ratio of 1:1 and that’s the ultimate factor why i consider a compact camera better than a DSLR .The optical zoom can provide a ratio of up till 5:1 which in the same case for a DSLR will need a special lens, not less than Rs 75,000. a compact camera is perfect even in low light conditions and does not require a long time to click a picture , thus eliminating the use of a tripod.

5:1 ratio obtained with compact camera

      Advantages
1.        High level of magnification which is the most important factor. Can reach up till 5:1 ratio using the help of optical zoom
2.      Cost of equipment
3.       Easy to carry and handle
4.      Time required for clicking an image

     Disadvantages
1.        Closest focusing range
2.      Quality of image when compared with a semi-DSLR is a little bit lower


Semi DSLR

Semi DSLR

Even though I personally haven’t ever used a semi DSLR, I rate this equipment highly. Producing image quality quiet comparable to a DSLR, A semi DSLR can produce a magnification of up till 1:2. Similarly like the advantages of a compact camera, a semi DSLR offers you the freedom of doing macro photography without spending anything extra .
 
    Advantages
1.        Cost of equipment
2.      Quality of image
3.       Time required for clicking an image

    Disadvantages
1.        Closest focusing range
2.      Magnification


DSLR

Canon 1000d DSLR

All DSLRs are capable of doing macro photography, but the problem lies in purchasing extra equipment.
The basic lens (18-55mm) is not capable of capturing macro photographs unless reverse ring technique or macro diopters are used. Even after such techniques are used, you have to compromise in depth of field
Special lens are thus required for dedicated macro photography and the image quality produced can be certainly mind blowing.
Unlike the equipments explained above, the body of a DSLR has nothing to do with the ratio of magnification.

Nikon d90 DSLR

Different lens can produce different level of magnification

      Advantages
1.    Quality of images is exceptional


    Disadvantage
1.     Cost of Equipment
2.     Difficult to carry and handle
3.     Longer shutter speed required

Lens for Macro photography

There are a number of lens manufacturing companies that provide lens for doing macro photography. I personally use a Nikon 40mm lens and sigma 70-300mm for macro work.

•    Sigma 70-300mm

Sigma 70-300mm

This is an excellent telephoto lens for doing wild life as well as macro photography. It consists of a macro switch which can be turned on once you increase your focal length greater than 200mm. It has a quick auto focus which helps in capturing fast moving subjects like a butterfly. The sigma produces 1:2 magnification which is quiet good considering the fact this is an extra feature along with the telephoto lens.

macro section for sigma 70-300mm

 















 Advantages of Sigma 70-300mm

1.  The greatest advantage of using a telephoto lens for doing macro work is the closest focusing distance which is 59.1 inches. This helps when you’re a photographing a subject which is likely to get distracted and move away.
2.  Available at only Rs12,000, the sigma 70-300mm lens is a must for everyone, even if you’re not interested in macro photography.
3.  Good at low light conditions
   

Disadvantage of Sigma 70-300mm

1. Does not produce life-size image

• Nikon 40mm Prime lens

Nikon 40 mm

The Nikon 40mm is an ideal lens for portrait as well as macro. It produces a life-size ratio 1:1. The image quality produced with this lens is very good.

    Advantages of Nikon 40mm
1.        Produces 1:1 life- size ratio

       Disadvantage
1.  Not so good at low light condition
2.   The only major disadvantage using this lens the closets focusing range. For producing a 1:1 ratio you litterly have to almost touch the lens with the subject
3.   Cost of the lens is high when compared with the Nikon 35mm or 50mm.

• Tamron 90mm

Tamron 90 mm

I have never used this lens but it’s been listed in my wish list because of its image quality.
Producing a ratio of 1:1 life-size this is a true macro lens

     Advantages
1.      Image quality.
2.      Life size ratio
3.      Closest focusing ratio
 
 Disadvantages
1.        Cost of product

Tripod for macro photography

macro tripod

I recently bought a tripod for macro photography after working with a cheap Velbon tripod for some years. I did some extensive research before I finalized the tripod which suits best for dedicated macro work. I really loved the Gitzo explorer which is the best one available in the market, but when you check out its price, you again have to reconsider your choosing options.
The best in budget tripod that fulfills all requirements has to be the vanguard and the Benro. Both available at approx. 9k without the tripod head is quiet reasonable considering the quality of the product. I personally opted to go with the with the Benro. Even though it’s weight is a little more than the vanguard but its load capacity 10 kgs. is much better
The center column is a pivoting column i.e. it has the capability of adjusting itself at all angles unlike the manfrotto which only does at 180 angle.
The tripod legs open up at 180 degrees allowing the camera to reach ground level.

Flash for macro photography

For obtaining greater depth of field using macro lens can be difficult because the aperture becomes too narrow and requires a longer shutter speed to get a perfectly exposed image. You therefore need a flash to obtain a sharp, exposed image. However if your using a on-camera flash, it won’t help every time.  Sometimes he subject is too near to the lens like with the Nikon 40mm.

•     Ring flash

Ring flash

This flash is attached to the camera lens and is the perfect flash for portrait and macro photography. The flash can be used for video as well as still photography.
A ring flash works on flash mode and constant on therefore can be used for video as well as still photography.


Conclusion

Using the right equipment will make your work much easier and will ensure you better photography results.
Creative macro photography ideas supported with equipment will make your extra ordinary.