Insect Macro Photography Basics in 10 Minutes
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- Опубликовано: 21 июл 2024
- Unfortunately my discount code from Laowa has expired, and I won't get a new one. I still recommend buying lenses directly from their webshop. Very good prices, and they ship within a few days to most countries. Visit them here via my affiliate link, to support my channel: bit.ly/mwlaowa
MICAEL's OLYMPUS MACRO KIT
📷 Camera: OM-1 amzn.to/3Mqizvy
🔎 Lens: M.Zuiko 60mm amzn.to/3pxVyxT
💥 Flash: Godox v350o
⚪️ Diffuser: Cygnustech / cygnustech
🔎 Closeup lens: Raynox DCR-250
MICAEL's SONY MACRO KIT
🔎 My favorite macro lens: bit.ly/mwlaowa85 (I always buy Laowa lenses from their website - best price, good service, and fast, free shipping worldwide)
🔭 My favorite wildlife lens: amzn.to/3DM2meZ
💥 Flash: amzn.to/3xhpc9E
🔋 Flash batteries: www.gpbatteries.com/products/...
📷 Sony A7 IV Camera: amzn.to/3BKQ1Ij
🎗 This is my camera strap: amzn.to/3LJA2Ny
⚪️ I use this diffuser: www.popeshield.com
🖼 My favorite place to print my photos: fracture.sjv.io/mw
HOW I MAKE MY VIDEOS
For my indoor RUclips videos I currently use these tools that I feel give excellent results and a very simple workflow.
📷 Camera: Sony ZV-E1 amzn.to/3oBzYsc and XLR-K3M handle amzn.to/3ONbTJH
🔭 Lens: Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art amzn.to/3owvJyh
🎤 Microphone: Sennheiser MKH-416 amzn.to/45FbQpu
💡 Light: Godox SL60W amzn.to/42gcNBq with a Godox SB-UE 80cm softbox amzn.to/3qmrxBu
📷 B-camera: Sony ZV-1 amzn.to/3MEO449
💻 Editing: Macbook Air M1 amzn.to/3INlAUA with Final Cut Pro
🎶 Music: Epidemic Sound: bit.ly/mwepidemic
For outdoor filming I prefer a small and simple setup that makes filming myself very easy and fast.
📷 Camera: DJI Pocket 2 amzn.to/3oAT5Tp
🦵 Monopod that I use as a tripod: Benro A38FD amzn.to/42ibbY1
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Many of the links above are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission if you buy something via the links - at no extra cost to you. I greatly appreciate when people use these links, as it is an important income stream to keep this channel alive. ❤️
Thank you for watching my videos. 🥰
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I wish You a wonderful day! See you in the next video.
7:25 many extension tubes have electronic cobtacts so AF works.
Particularly on Olymous bodies, you want to look for those if you intend to take advantage of automatic focus bracketing or in-camera focus stacking. Meike has a wonderful set for like $20.
Extension tubes are one of those things that are so small and cheao, everyone should get a pair just in case the macro inspiration ever strikes while out and about. :)
Thanks for this video. Lots of photographers whose macro shots are bad are suggesting lenses, but your photos prove you know what you're talking about. I hope I didn't make a mistake by buying a Sigma 105mm macro for a full-frame Sony.
I think this is the best, simply explained macro tutorial I've seen on RUclips!
Wow, thanks!
Thank you, Mikael, I’ve learned so much about macro photography from your channel. I never tire of watching! 😊👍
Nice introduction, I can imagine a lot more people enjoying macro photography with this information. Your approach is what really got me into it.
Godox sells cheap soft boxes for flashes like the V350/TT350, of sizes 10x10 cm and 20x30cm. The larger soft box also fits the larger flashes like V860 etc.
They're universal and will fit other brands too, and they're small and fold flat so they're very easy to transport.
I tried both last weekend and got the larger one. Diffusion seems to be quite good (for macro distances).
I recommend trying them out, they cost only around €25 - €30 (depending on size).
I always carry Sigma 180 2.8 Macro whenever I travel. It serves me as a macro and portrait lens. It’s heavy but the optical quality is great.
Great video! So we'll explained too. I bought some Kenko extension tubes, a cheap Godox flash and a diffuser like yours. I combined them with my Canon 24-105 lens using your settings and got great results straight away. Much, much more practice needed though. I never knew there was so much too it!
Keep up the good work, Micael 🙂👍
Happy my video inspired and helped :)
Thank you so much for providing the settings! Just got my first macro lens and a cheap over-the-lens diffuser. But I was over-worrying the flash and exposure settings. Your recommendations were perfect to get me going.
Now if I can only learn to avoid bumping the foliage with the diffuser…
Try grabbing the leaf that the insect is sitting on and pull it towards you - you will also get much better stability.
These refreshers are always such a good reality check. I really have to start using diffusers to get the improvement you have demonstrated. Being lazy and good photography do not go hand in hand, I'm learning that 🙂
Very useful video
Happy you liked the video!
It's always good to have a refresher!! ☮️💟
Great video Micael, I use your suggested settings and I'm having a blast...getting good photos too :)
Great to hear!
Thank you so much! I'm excited to learn more about macrophotography.
Great refresher! 👍
Glad you think so!
Great stuff. Just ordered the Laowa 90mm RF mount per your suggestion. I owned my own studio for 24 years and have been shooting for 37 years AND YET I have never experimented with Macro until now. (well in a few days when I get the lens) - Thank you sir for inspiring me to try something new! I turned on the bell for my subscription and signed up for your newsletter. In one video it looked like I saw a book maybe that you published. Any details on that if you have one? Great stuff. Thanks again.
Thanks for the kind words. No I haven’t published any books yet. But I have around 300 RUclips videos on macro photography :)
Excellent Micael, thank you very much
very helpful - many thanks!
Thanks Micael. Have you looked at the Godox ML-CD15 diffuser? I've only used it once but I think it's a keeper.
Looks like a good option for off-camera flash! Haven't tried it, but I have a similar one: ruclips.net/video/oNJvuP3m9ug/видео.html
just built my kit out.. using my old canon 5d mark II i picked up an even older canon 100mm f2.8 macro (the old non USM model from the 90's). my flash is a 430ex III-RT.
so far its been fun, its heavy as heck tho, i tried my wifes t3i, i knocked about a 1lb off the setup, but i just cant do crop sensor after going full frame, no matter what the usefulness is for crop sensor cameras lol.
ordering a table top tripod now from amazon and looking at slide rails now too lol
you made a lot of this very easy to follow and learn..
whats your take on diopters filters like the raynox or canon brand? (im a canon snob and would have to have the canon brand ones lol).
cheers
john
excellent video as always thanks for sharing *SAVED*
impressive, clear, simple and detailed explanation
Glad it was helpful!
Cool. Very intresting and very helpfull video review. Sometimes I forget that the camera is not the most important thing. Now, at the camera selection stage, there are two Fuji xt-5 or Sony A7IV candidates. You cool man. Good luck on photo-hunting. Thank you.
Very good video!
Terrific video! thank you for sharing your knowlege.
Glad you enjoyed it!
great watch
Thank you
Thank you.
this is very useful! thank you
Glad to hear that!
Your video inspired me to get me a used e-M5 mk 2 / 60 mm macro and a V350flash because as a Nikon Z9 shooter with a 105 mm makrolens and a V860 flash my hand and wrist gets very tired from theese 3 kgs of weight . I am impressed over the Olympus so far. But I am wondering, because when stacking is selected, the shutter will not adjust to any shorter than 1/20. That gives some rather overexposed images - trial and error with that, and the bug has flown away. This weekend I tried an E-M1 mk2 - like yours - and that one would accept adjustment to 1/50, wich is one+ stop better, but still a very slow shutterspeed compaired to the normal sync speed. How do you get around that?
Good lesson ❤
Love your videos Michael! Have you done/would you consider doing an episode on macro *without* flash? I’m usually out hiking with friends or family and I don’t have time or desire to set up a flash and diffuser, though I do have an Olympus 60mm macro lens for my OM-5 that is so small I don’t mind carrying it and it’s even pretty nice for portraits too. Or can you just tell me that I should give up on macro without a flash? Thank you!
I have the video for you :) m.ruclips.net/video/8Ci8J3hMZn4/видео.html
@@MicaelWidell thank you so much!!
A useful reminder to use a flash and diffuser, which I often don't. A Question: Can you use extension tubes with a dedicated macro lens and if so what effect would that have? Thanks for another very good video.
Yes you can use extension tubes with a macro lens. For every X mm of extension tubes, where X is the focal length of your lens, you will get roughly 1x more magnification. So a 1x magnification 100mm macro lens with 10cm of extension tubes will become a 2x magnification macro lens. Since most macro lenses are pretty long focal length, I do not recommend to use extension tubes with them. Better to buy a Raynox 250 filter instead.
Thank you. I have a 200mm f/4 Nikkor, but I might try extension tubes just to see…
Terimakasih telah berbagi.......
Best tutorial ever
Thanks for all your videos - they are really inspiring! I am planning to get a diffusor, probably an AK Mini or a Cygnustech. Will any of these fit my Godox V1 (round head) flash?
I’m not sure. I would ask them directly. The round shape might be a problem I imagine.
@@MicaelWidell Thanks Micael, I just got a reasonable quotation from AK diffuser with a tailor made diffuser to fit my needs
Now you settle on using the AK or Cygnustech diffusers. What's the pro and cons of using these on-camera diffusers against off camera ones like the globe diffuser you used in the past ?
Thank you very much, Micael, for your very helpful videos! I am starting out on this wonderful journey of macro photography. One question I have is: some time ago when you first reviewed the Godox V350, you pointed out a couple of concerns about this flash but I see now it's one of your favourites. I got the Meike MK320 and I am also considering buying this Godox flash for macro and general use. Do you think it's worth it? In fact, I am interested in the TT version because it's a lot cheaper. And I'm wondering if I should wait and invest in a more powerful flash instead, like the V860ii or V860iii. Your video content is wonderful and your advice is much appreciated!!!
Please watch this video, I will answer all of your questions in it :) ruclips.net/video/s15aNl9qZVQ/видео.html
@@MicaelWidell Thank you so much! I missed this video :) I got it now. Great job!!!
New to macro…are the settings you recommended in the video primarily for outdoor shooting? Any initial settings for indoor macro shooting you could recommend? Thanks and great videos…
The settings described work for both indoor and outdoor as long as you're using a flash speedlight. The light that's hitting your subject is mainly coming from your flash. So that doesn't change.
Personally I use the TTL setting on my flash, but that's my preference. The described settings will certainly get you started whether your indoor or outdoor.
If you're talking about setting up things with off camera flash that's a completely different thing and I'll leave it to Micael to make a video about that. :)
Yeah these settings should work well indoors as long as you are using a flash, as @smolstufff says
Simply spectacular!!!
Good explanation
Hi Micael. Thanks again for your helpful videos.
I wanted to ask you about focus bracketing and the use of flash: I use a Panasonic G9 which, like your Olympus, has focus bracketing. However, I noticed that it does not activate if I mount my flash (YONGNUO YN560 IV) on the camera. It's a completely manual flash so I wonder if we need a TTL flash to make the focus bracketing work at the same time as the flash. Of course, this incompatibility seems strange to me because it should only start the pulse, what changes if I set the flash power manually? Anyway, when you do macro with the Godox V350o flash do you set it to TTL? Thanks if you can answer me.
My guess is that the Panasonic G9 simply does not support bracketing with flash. I think the only brand that supports this in a fast and good way, is Olympus.
@@MicaelWidell it is actually supported. I did this test: I connected the flash via PC-Sync port and keeping the flash disconnected from the hotshoe of the camera the focus bracketing works with the flash. A limitation that Panasonic could frankly spare itself. Anyway, bypassing the obstacle in this way works. Thank you
You explained it well unlike others who don't do it.
Thanks 🙏
Great video
hi, could you test the Godox Ring48 flash please ? and what is the best for macro : ring flash or cobra flash + diffuser ?
Ring flashes give ugly photos. Don’t use them. Just use a regular flash as I talk about in the video. The Godox v350 is a solid choice.
i have no diffuser so i use a white plastic bag and it works perfectly, also you can use a white plastic bottle too
Is the white telephoto zoom lens in the cabinet behind you, a OM Systems 150-450 mm?
Nope it's the Sony 200-600
Parabéns ❤️ 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
What's the reason that you don't use TTL if you don't mind me asking? Is it because you want to ensure that your flash won't go to the higher settings and thus stays faster? I've been using TTL for my macro photography for a couple of years now and it's working out really well especially since there's a pretty significant change in light coming into the lens when going from 1:1 to 2:1. I've been using a godox V1 by the way. So maybe there's a difference there as well. (aside from the size that is)
I'm sure TTL can work well, but I personally prefer manual, because I have complete control, and when I take several photos in a row, I can be sure that the exposure is exactly the same between them.
@@MicaelWidelllo podría explicar en un vídeo con ejemplos. Gracias.
sounds interesting thanks you seem like a nice guy :)
I have TT Artisan 50mm F2.8 Macro and I think it's a manual focus. Any effect on motion blur with manual focus lens or because of stabilizer? Thank you Sir.
Stabilization doesn't matter for the way the photos look, especially if you are using a flash
How does the Godox work with focus stacking and bracketing with the OM-1? Settings etc.. Thanks.
Works great. I just set it in manual mode with 1/32 in strength - can take more than 1600 photos on one battery, super fast, never misses a shot.
@@MicaelWidell Thank you......
do you know what the live view display is on a canon r7 camera? i cant seem to find it. and greate videos btw!
Thank you so much sir i mean alots ❤
Love your macro videos. My problem is that I don’t have the strength to hold my camera with one hand!
Time to hit the gym 😅
Is the pop-up flash too close to the camera to be used with a diffuser?
A great budget lens is the ttartisan 40mm it’s like $110
how do i go around a the very small field of focus?
i have a sigma 105mm 2.8 macro, i shoot at 1:1 and even at f11 the field of focus isn't enough. Last time i shoot some grasshoppers and only the eye is on focus, even the other parts of the face aren't in focus
The only way is to focus stack
I have the Canon R7 with the RF100mm macro lens. And the Godox V1c flash. How much should the zoom actually be? I have difficulty with that for the correct zoom settings. Should I always leave it fixed at, for example, 28mm? I only have a DÖRR diffuser.
Thank you, kindly Linsey
For macro photography I don't think it makes much difference. Set it as wide as possible, as long as the light doesn't go outside the area of your diffuser.
Ok thank you.
For Laowa lens, is it difficult to use with diffuser since it is manual?
Doesn't make a difference if it is manual or not in regards to the diffuser
Hi, I have a 85mm ef canon lens. With which add-on can I get a macro lens that allows me to get much closer to objects? There are 6d mark 2 bodies.
... And have 35 mm sigma ef lens
Your best bet is probably a Raynox DCR-250 filter. But it will likely not get you as close as a dedicated macro lens. Extension tubes also work but you would have to add many of them.
@@MicaelWidell thanks your respond. and If I buy this, will it be compatible with my 85 mm lens? or 35 mm ?
Micael, does it have to be a flash. Why not use an LED Lumecube type steady light? No sync required. Mine has a removable translucent plastic diffuser cap. Might that replace the unwieldy diffuser issue as well?
I would not recommend a LED light. Something like a lume cube is too weak, and also too small to give a diffused enough light. Furthermore it cannot stop the action the way a fast flash can do, so you need even faster shutter speeds to get sharp photos. For more details of how you can shoot with a LED and why I advice against it, see this video where I try LED macro photography: ruclips.net/video/ShzAm4WPm-I/видео.html
@@MicaelWidell Thank you, Micael. Very helpful input. I will view your LED macro video next.
Hi during night do this white balance of 5500 work for macro photography
Yes as long as you are using a flash, this white balance is perfect.
I have a Hasselblad X2D and would like to shoot macro with it. What lens would you recommend?
Sorry I have no idea what lenses are good for that mount, maybe a laowa lens adapted?
Can you take macro photos with a 1:1 lens? I only have one 1:1 Pentax 645 120mm FA macro
Sure, that's the definition of macro photography :) To use 1:1 magnification or more! If you want more magnification you can add a Raynox DCR-250 filter in front.
can i use a nikon d7200 for this stuff
Sure!
one moment, you say in another vid. that the V350 is not good for macro? to much black photos.. how is he now your favorite?
Maybe I should remove that video... Because I had a bad unit. I bought another v350 and it is excellent.
Canon 580ex or GODOX TT685II for macro photography?
Probably doesn’t matter that much
sorry for the new comment here on an older video. is there a way to get macro lenses with cameras that don't have interchangable lenses? mostly because most cameras with interchangeable lenses are up in the thousands of dollars, but I have a camera that doesn't have an interchangable lens currently :(
Your best bet is to get a Raynox 250 lens. If your camera has a long maximum focal length of 70mm or more, you will get pretty good magnification
@@MicaelWidell thank you so much!!
I use iphone 14 and kase macro filter, and they also work in macro photography!
Yeah sure. I made a video about that combination
Hii, I love macro photography. I want to shoot subject less than 1 cm. These subject are not moving. Would u suggest me good camera n lens combination. Thank u from India
Any camera with a 2x macro lens from Laowa will work well, or a modern Olympus camera with one of their macro lenses. Please use my lens guide to find the right lens. Here is an idea for a complete kit: ruclips.net/video/3UwrIz17afI/видео.html
do I need to buy a flash or my camera flash is ok?
I think in general you need an external flash because the built in might not be powerful enough. But try the built in first.
Hej Micael, strålande video! Men du, macro deffuser, vad heter et på svenska och finns det någon svensk site?
I think you made this video for me...because I can't figure out this damn OM-1 and 60mm yet hahaha
Utan tvivel har du sett en vivel ?
We need a tool connecting the camera with the leaf supporting the insect.
Some insects are in fact friendly😁
Bryan
I think the idea is NOT to be able to focus as close as possible, but to get a sharp image as big in the frame as possible. It is even better to have a longer distance in between the lens and the subject so the insects are not disturbed
When I say “focus as close as possible” I do not mean the shortest possible physical distance between front of lens and subject
@@MicaelWidell very good. Hopefully the newbies will understand it correctly.
What is your favorite lens for ultra macro/insect photography? And favorite flash+diffusion?
No diffuser is far better.
everyone's taste is different I guess
LOL I don't use or own anything what you said and I have pretty nice macro pictures of flowers and insects. No flash, No DSLR or Mirror camera, No defuse light thing..... I do it the hard way, just 1 cheap bridge camera and the Raynox DCR-250 , its extremely dificult to focus and takes sweat and exercise, but hey, I take 20-40 photo's of one insect for 20 seconds or so, got 2-5 good ones, sometimesq better then a guy with gear of 800+ bucks, im sitting at 275 bucks LOL, the pleasure and satisfaction is in how difficult you make it yourself NOt Money to do easy way, Its cheating for me, I do it like sport is done ;) The real deal not the gears deal, a real mens work
Would love to see your photos
Great video
Thanks!