Daily Archives: October 5, 2011

 

 

 

Ever since I did my Kelby Training close-up classes, (yes a part II is on the way).  I’ve gotten a lot of emails asking what is the least expensive way to get into doing close-ups.

 

I assembled a kit that will cost about as little as you can spend and still get high quality images from infinity to 6 times life size!  The kit includes the 85mm Micro Nikkor DX f3.5 lens, a set of automatic extension tubes, and a couple of diopters, mine are the long discontinued Nikon 3T and 4T, but several other manufacturer still make diopter in the 52m size  required by the 85 Micro.  With these few tools, you can do a great variety of close-ups.  Because the lens will be used on a D7000, or some other Nikon DX body, the “effective” focal length with be 127.5 mm.  Working distance is good and the complete set will run you around, $800.  The diopter I would recommend if you can’t find the Nikon ones, would be the Hoya 52mm +3 Close-Up Pro 1 Digital Multi-Coated Glass filter.  This is a 2 element diopter unlike the simple single element +1, +2, +3 kits which I would avoid!  Below are the images with each part of the system.  Image one is for size perspective, it includes my thumb.  The next is with 36mm of extension and the 5T.  Remember you can stack the diopters and you have two more extension tubes, (12mm & 20mm).  The bottom line; great close-up possibilities with a reasonably affordable system!

 

Want to save even more?  One other route is to use the same extension tubes and close-up diopters on a very high quality zoom lens.  If you own a 70-200 Af-S VR f2.8 version I or II, you could add a 77mm Diopter and the same automatic extension tubes and do wonderful close-ups.

 

One last thought is, once again if you are a Nikon shooter, the older manual focus lenses will still work on the D7000 on up.  I picked up a great mint condition, 105mm Micro Nikkor f 2.8 for less than $300.

 

Learn good technique and acquire the gear you can afford, and have fun!

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE   “How the Comments Section Works”

 

 

 

 

 

I just figured it out, the comment section to the new blogs have had me vexed.  Here is how it works; If you look above you will see two things circled in yellow.  the number to the right is the number of comments that have been made to this blog.  If you click the small symbol to the left of the number, it will bring up all comments and give you a box to make a comment.  I still haven’t figure out how to keep them open all the time, but I’m working on it!

 

When I was packing  my duffle last night I was thinking about one of the last times I shot in Vermont and New Hampshire.  I remember it well, doing a workshop with my dear friend David Middleton.  We walked up into a stream in Vermont and shot the image featured here.  I can remember the peace of the moment like it was 15 minutes ago!  The sound of the stream the beauty of the fall color, and the rich golds of the rocks in the stream.

 

Shooting in a beautiful landscape  location is more than just a great subject, with great conditions, under perfect light, it’s also the ambiance of “being there”!  There is something about just the environment, the company and the moment that add up to such a great memory.  It is an immense honor to to have been a photographer for so many years shooting such wonderful scenes, in the company of such great people!  I don’t see it as something I have earned or that I deserve because of anything I’v e done, no I see it as a blessing.   But, what is a blessing?

 

Blessing