Doyle D. Chastain
(K=101119) - Comment Date 7/14/2006
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Karl . . . Great questions one and all . . . and a good lens too.
I have a D50 and a micro 105 f/2.8 lens which is also good. First . . . Certainly USE the tripod. Little things will cause blur (like earthquakes, traffic or a photographer's heartbeat)! I also use and recommend the remote (for the same reasons already mentioned). Generally I have found natural light to be the best bet, though there are those that recommend a ring flash. Your D50 is digital so experimentation is free. I have recently added extension tubes so that I could focus closer to the subject . . . but it's NOT required or even necessary; only different. Set the subject up by framing in the viewfinder and keep in mind you will have an extraordinarily narrow DOF. The fixed lens will focus rapidly . . . provided something . . . ANYTHING . . . is within the DOF. The BEST advice is practice practice practice....... especially in the yard . . . but watch out for the dreaded archrival (a slight breeze) trying to kill your shots. Motion WILL be an issue. Set you rpreset to Macro to begin with until you're ready to go to manual. I prefer shooting in RAW so I can push the exposure if necessary. Best of luck and will look forward to seeing more of your work.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Jeroen Wenting
(K=25317) - Comment Date 7/14/2006
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The aperture ring isn't needed on your camera.
The figures you see moving in that little window is the distance to which the lens is focussed, handy when using manual focus (which you'll do a lot when shooting macro).
You will want to use the camera on tripod with the remote, and get a flash (if you don't have one) you can use off the camera.
Ideally you'd have an RC-1 and at least 2 SB-800s, but that would set you back something like $2000 in flashes which is overkill unless you're REALLY serious about your macro work :)
One on-camera flash and one or two off-camera units are enough. SB-600s will do well, certainly on-camera (I'm not sure how good they are when triggered remotely).
Off camera SB-50s can be good enough, they're cheap (because they won't work on most current Nikon cameras, but they're fine through remote control) and small.
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Karl Davies
(K=276) - Comment Date 7/17/2006
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Ok...I seem to be getting the hang of the settings but having light issues.
Could some recommend a good ring flash for a D50 with the 60mm lens.
i've been looking at this one: http://www.warehouseexpress.co.uk/photo/flashguns/sigma.html#em140
But can't see if it will work with the d50.
Cheers
Karl
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Doyle D. Chastain
(K=101119) - Comment Date 7/17/2006
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Karl . . . check with Stingray . . . he's an expert at this but I should tell you neither he nor I use a ringflash.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
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Karl Davies
(K=276) - Comment Date 7/17/2006
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ok...the ring flash is £280 is there an alternative option that will allow me take the shots for around the same price?
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Karl Davies
(K=276) - Comment Date 7/17/2006
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ok have found one of these on warehouseexpress
SB-R1C1 Close Up Commander kit which is a bit pricey for me at the moment. Apparently I need this one rather than the cheaper one due to the D50 not having built-in speedlight :(
Would I be better saving and going for that rather than a ring flash?
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Jeroen Wenting
(K=25317) - Comment Date 7/17/2006
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R1C1 is a replacement for the old ringflash which indeed won't work with your camera.
It serves the same purpose but is more flexible and customisable (you can expand it with more flash units both fixed to the camera and remote).
If you're really serious about macro it's the best thing to get, if it's a sideshow for you it may be too specialised and you're better off with 2-3 SB600s.
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Karl Davies
(K=276) - Comment Date 7/18/2006
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ok thanks for the advice. 3 SB600s (£204each) is roughly the same price as the commander kit (£550 for SU800, 2xSB-R200, attachment ring, lens adaptor). So I went for the kit, I have this mental problem of if your going to do it, then do it well. :0)
lol now I have new camera, new lens and new flash...now all I need is to learn how to use it all.
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