Macro photography

[richtea78]

I brought my FZ20 a couple of months back and have to say that overall Im really happy with it. Its my first non point and shoot digicam and while Im still learning all the features it has served me well.

I mainly use it to take pictures of speedway racing so the 12x zoom has been very useful however I would like to take some macro photos as well. This is one area I think is lacking on the camera as I cant really see how the macro mode makes any difference.

It may be Im doing it wrong but I would like to know if there are any lenses I can buy to take better macro pictures. I have the 62mm adaptor on it already but not sure what to get.

any advice would be greatly appreciated

Chris

[StanStan]

I get great macro shots by attaching my old lenses to the FZ20 using macro adapters and step down rings. A macro adapter [connector] is a ring with a male thread on both sides.The front threads for my Minolta Rokkor-X 50mm are 55mm. Screwed on a 55mm/55mm macro rinf and a 62mm/55mm step down ring and you have a macro setup.
I use the guts of a florescent lamp with an aluminum foil reflector to get 360 degree ilumination. Use the geared crank of the tripod for elevation control.
Picture of a penny.

[pbt1234]

Great pic StanStan. I notice in your signature that you have a fabricated wired remote. Would be interested in how you did this? Cost?

Thanks!
pbt1234

[genece]

Until Stan tells you how he did it you can get one here
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43443&item=3879909933

And for a macro lens the Nikon 6T is hard to beat.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=37298&is=REG

Here is something much cheaper
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=48525&item=7505500522&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V

[StanStan]

Great pic StanStan. I notice in your signature that you have a fabricated wired remote. Would be interested in how you did this? Cost?

Thanks!
pbt1234

I made both a wired and a wireless remote.
Which would you like info on?

The wired remote cost me $1.06. That's right $1.06 for the plug from a hands free cell phone attachment that had a 4 conductor 2.5mm plug to fit the FZ20. Dollar store + 6 percent tax. A ring box from my wife and two switches and three resistors.from my junk boxes.

The wireless was a bit more. About $30

If you plan to make either I'll provide full instructions for you

Gene has the diagrams on his site.

[sakk50]

Stan,

I'd love some info on the wireless remote. That's the one thing I wish panasonic would make.

[StanStan]

Stan,I'd love some info on the wireless remote. That's the one thing I wish panasonic would make.

There are two ways to do it depending on your preferences.
The one I built and use has a 9vdc transistor battery powered supply and output relays. Intend to control FZ20's zoom. The other way with 4 AAA batteries and opto-isolator output.
Relays provide more current capacity than opto-isolators.
Both work.
The remote control transmitters and receivers are on EBAY. Either require a FOUR conductor 2.5 mm plug from a hands free cell phone adapter. 1$ from a Dollar store. Four resistors from Radio Shack a box to hold the receiver. On/off Switch. An LED for power on indicator, and some solderand iron.
You will need a cheap multimeter that go for under 10$.

I will post full wiring diagrams after I change them and provide sources for the parts.
Hang in there till I get organized.
Let me know if you want the isolator design or the isolator one.

PM to me for some details!

[richtea78]

thanks for the help guys - I think to start with I will go with those cheap lenses and see how I get on with them and then maybe look to upgrade later

[Tyler]

thanks for the help guys - I think to start with I will go with those cheap lenses and see how I get on with them and then maybe look to upgrade later


I won't disagree with your decision but will point out that you get quite a bit of distortion with the cheaper lenses and focus out on the edges is really soft. The $46 you pay for a Nikon 6T at B&H is very much worth the price and the resulting image quality is superior, IMHO.

A few examples of what the 6T can do can be found here -
http://ken.smugmug.com/gallery/465671

[Balrog]

Quick question: how big of a physical area fills the frame at max zoom using the 6T?

[Tyler]

Quick question: how big of a physical area fills the frame at max zoom using the 6T?

You'll get about 1" x 1.5".

[emalvick]

I get great macro shots by attaching my old lenses to the FZ20 using macro adapters and step down rings. A macro adapter [connector] is a ring with a male thread on both sides.The front threads for my Minolta Rokkor-X 50mm are 55mm. Screwed on a 55mm/55mm macro rinf and a 62mm/55mm step down ring and you have a macro setup.
I use the guts of a florescent lamp with an aluminum foil reflector to get 360 degree ilumination. Use the geared crank of the tripod for elevation control.
Picture of a penny.

Question... I'm thinking about testing a similar setup with my old manual SLR's lens. How much zoom are you using on the FZ20 on average when you are using that setup? Are you basically only using the reversed lens or do you have other macro lens attached under that setup? I could tell too well on the example shot you had.

I want to see if this type of thing will work with my old lens, then I am going to try to build some type of attachment setup to adapt the reversed lens to my Phayee adapter. I think your setup will be a good starting point, only I'll be a few mm bigger as my lens is 57mm and the adapter is 62mm.

Thanks for the inspiration to try this out.

-Erik

[StanStan]

Question... I'm thinking about testing a similar setup with my old manual SLR's lens. How much zoom are you using on the FZ20 on average when you are using that setup? Are you basically only using the reversed lens or do you have other macro lens attached under that setup? I could tell too well on the example shot you had.

I want to see if this type of thing will work with my old lens, then I am going to try to build some type of attachment setup to adapt the reversed lens to my Phayee adapter. I think your setup will be a good starting point, only I'll be a few mm bigger as my lens is 57mm and the adapter is 62mm.


Thanks for the inspiration to try this out.

-Erik
You do not have to make anything unless you do not have a tripod with a crank that will allow you to shoot straight down.
You need a 62mm/57mm step down ring and a 57/57mm macro ring.
Just make sure the FRONT of the old lens is 57mm for a filter!!!
I have a 55/55 mm MR and a 58/58 MR for different lenses. I believe the old lens are better then new macro lenses. My setup: FZ20 plus 64mm/62mm lens adapter, Phayee, any will do. 62/xx step down ring, xx to xx macro adapter ring, your case 57/57 mm, then lens on backward. Make sure lens is fully open. No other lens. Just my old lens: Minolta 1:1.4 f=50mm. I use spot focus and metering. BTW pictures are great!!!
The zoom is based upon the subject. I seem to use very little zoom. I just play around till I get a picture I like. Just snap a lot to get the feel of it all. Takes about 15 minutes. Oh, I use the crank on the tripod to compose.
Adapters from www.thefilterconnection.com (http://www.thefilterconnection.com/)

[emalvick]

Thanks... I had seen your messages before and had a general understanding, but the photos looked so zoomed in, that I couldn't imagine that the reversed lens could do that much. Then in the photos forum, someone was posting today with some really awesome flower shots, and between you and he, I'm inspired to try it out myself.

Thanks for your help,
Erik

[StanStan]

Thanks... I had seen your messages before and had a general understanding, but the photos looked so zoomed in, that I couldn't imagine that the reversed lens could do that much. Then in the photos forum, someone was posting today with some really awesome flower shots, and between you and he, I'm inspired to try it out myself.

Thanks for your help,
Erik

I have not tried hand held macro shots yet.
I will go to to the photo forum and look at the flowers.
I got most of my inspiration from forums.

[emalvick]

I have not tried hand held macro shots yet.
I will go to to the photo forum and look at the flowers.
I got most of my inspiration from forums.

I will probably start somewhere along the lines of what you do because it seems easier to control. The guy in the other forum doesn't even attach the reversed lens to the camera (maybe a limitation of his camera though) but holds the camera with one hand and the lens with the other.

One thing I will probably have to be careful of is the weight of my lens. The old lens may weigh more than my camera. I'll have to be sure not to damage it.

Anyway, these forums are great... I especially like this Panasonic forum. This forum alone is worth buying a Panasonic camera for. A very creative group is in here.

-Erik

[Tyler]

I have not tried hand held macro shots yet.


That really is one of the draw backs of using a reversed 50mm lens. The DOF is so shallow, and the working distance is so close, it is very difficult to do hand held macro shots with. The dedicated close-up lenses, such as the Nikon 6T, offer a greater working distance and have an edge were DOF is concerned. If your subjects don't move, and you have plenty of time to set up, lens reversing can produce fantastic macros, but you have to work harder to do it. To each his own...

[tigerli]

Hi, does anyone know if the following two closeup/macro fitler sets are any good? Thanks.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...item=7512244260

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._PcY_BIN_Stores

[Tyler]

Hi, does anyone know if the following two closeup/macro fitler sets are any good? Thanks.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...item=7512244260

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._PcY_BIN_Stores

Neither one of your links are working on this end.

[tigerli]

Hope these links work. Any opinions on these macro filters would be appreciated. (My camera is FZ5)


http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15218&item=7512950595&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15218&item=7513955894&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[arghman]

Quick question: how big of a physical area fills the frame at max zoom using the 6T?Tyler's estimate (1"x1.5") seems about right. See my test picture post at http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=45537&forum_id=23