Most of the early close-ups have been shot within a dozen yards of my back door and have been shot with a variety of lenses as I tried out my old Nikon lenses in close-up mode with the Nikon D70 body. Some have used the onboard flash varying the amount of flash. I did find that in extreme close-up situations it was better to put the focus on manual and gradually move in until the target was sharp as the autofocus sometimes went a bit mad. Click on an image for a larger version.
200mm Micro Nikkor 1/250 f? 200asa flash
200mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f?
200asa flash
200mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f?
200asa flash
105mm micro Nikkor 1/125 f8 400asa
105mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f16 200asa flash
105mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f4 400asa
105mm micro Nikkor 1/400 f11 400asa auto flash -.3 ev
105mm micro Nikkor 1/320 f8 +1ev 400asa
105mm micro Nikkor 1/640 f9 400asa
105mm micro Nikkor 1/100 f32 -.7ev flash 400asa
105mm micro Nikkor 1/125 f29 -.7ev 400asa flash
105mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f16 200asa -1ev flash
105mm micro Nikkor 1/125 f20 -.7ev 400asa
105mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f16 200asa -1ev flash
105mm micro Nikkor /160 f22 -.3ev 200asa flash
105mm micro Nikkor 1/160 f22 200asa -.3ev flash
105mm micro Nikkor 1/100 f32 200asa -.3ev flash 50% magnification
Nikkor 43-86 zoom reversed 1/125 f? 400asa flash
105 mm micro 1/100 f32 200asa flash 100% magnification
55mm micro Nikkor (82mm equiv) 1/250 f? 400asa - piece of glass
105mm micro Nikkor 1/500 f40 200asa flash
105 mm micro Nikkor 1/500 f40 200asa flash
105mm micro Nikkor 1/500 f36 200 asa flash
105mm micro Nikkor 1/100 f32 flash 200asa
43-86 Nikkor zoom reversed 1/125 f? 400asa flash
55mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f? 200asa flash
55mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f? 200asa flash
55mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f? 200asa flash
55mm micro Nikkor 1/250 f? 200asa
55mm micro Nikkor 1/125 f? flash 200asa
55mm micro Nikkor 1/125 f? 200asa
Sigma 70-300 zoom macro mode 1/200 f14 400asa
105mm micro Nikkor 1/200 f14 400asa
105mm micro Nikkor 1/200 f29 400asa flash
Sigma 70-300 zoom macro mode 1/200 f22 400asa
vertical crop from horizontal original
Sigma 70-300 zoom macro mode 1/200 f22
55mm Micro Nikkor 1/200 f? 400asa 50% magnification
Sigma 70-300 zoom Macro mode 1/1000 f5.6 400asa
BACK TO D70
Close-ups with Novoflex Bellows Unit and D70
The Novoflex Bellows unit goes back many years so it was dug out to try it with the D70. It is much lighter than the Nikon Bellows and it has its own lens at the sharp end - a 105mm Noflexar f4 that stops down to f22. Alas the shape of the D70 did not allow the bellows unit to be directly fixed to the camera but a Nikon extension tube soon sorted that problem out..I used a PK-13 but you could use a thinner one. The weather for these pictures was not good - dull and some slight rain so the onboard flash was used and a aperture of f16 and 22 with 200asa and 1/400 sec .
These two sets of three images show the range of the Bellows unit from the minimum to the maximum extension.
The largest magnification with this setup is about an inch ( 24mm) across at a working distance of about 5 inches (130mm).
It never ceases to amaze me to see what a great variety of insect life there is just a few yards from ones back door and you get some surprises when you go in close. I had not seen a fly with one wing before ( above right) and just above that I did not see the insect poking his head out of the flower. Below is a combined image. One shot had the head sharp the second one - the feet . They were combined in Photoshop using separate layers and a layer mask.
The above three images were taken with the Novoflex bellows unit with the addition of a plus 1 Nikon supplementary lens. The onboard flash unit was used and the asa rating was 200. Shutter speed was 1/125 and aperture 16/22.
Another set of images using the Novoflex Bellows with the Nikon D70 with the addition of a plus 4 dioptre close-up lens. It is rapidly becoming my favorite bit of close-up gear. The shutter speed was set about 1/200 and the on board flash was used. The apertures varied from f16 to f22. As I was about to shoot the image above centre along came an ant . Note the tiny depth of field even at f22. I am using both manual exposure and focussing.
For subjects like the above butterfly in order to cover the whole subject you have to rack the bellows right back and take off the CU filter.
Now here is an innocent looking spider a couple of millimeters in size enjoying the morning sunshine.
Ah, here's lunch. Now where should we begin.
Now stay still. Stop wriggling and behave.
I wonder what they call this diet.
So you're that big are you. That's my lunch and supper for today.
I think I'll take you home and pop you in the fridge.
Now its not very far - just a few more inches.
Now we're home so I'll pop you in the fridge for later.
Sequence shot with the Nikon D70 with the Novoflex Bellows almost fully extended with plus 4 dioptre CU lens. Aperture was f16-22 and onboard flash 1/200 sec 200asa. No spiders were hurt in the making of this sequence!... and to think I had just been watching Hannibal on the tele!
Ah, well it looks like a nice day. Wish I hadn't got to get up so early but those damn bees will be buzzing soon.
If I can can get my old shell going I'll go and get some breakfast.
Ah, good job I don't live in France.
Now this manoeuvre is pretty tricky first thing in the morning. Guess I will have to be careful. Its a long drop.
Oh look... the suns come out at last. Looks like being another hot day. I 'll sprint off and find some shade.
Now that's better .. a quick snooze I think before the bees start.
The above sequence shot with just the Novoflex bellows attached to the D70. Some images entirely flash with apertures of about f16 and then when the sun came out I varied the amount of manual flash (down to 1/16 power) to give a bit of fill-in.
No snails were injured in the making of this sequence!