Velvet Mite with Prey!

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:22 pm

Thanks Jody!

One picture is worth ten thousand words.

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:12 pm

Carl_Constantine wrote:I have that exact same bluetooth headset for my phone. That's one very cool setup. What is that "reflector" on your flash? What does it do exactly? Also, how heavy is that setup?

The Diffuser on my flash is a Gary Fong Lightsphere. Works pretty good. I used to use a Lumiquest Softbox and they work both about the same, it's just faster for setup using the Fong.

My bluetooth headset is a piece of crap. It doesn't wake up by itself. The last one I had did, but I lost it while out shooting and didn't notice it missing, since they are so light.

Oh yeah, my rig weighs about, 5-6lbs.

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:23 pm

DaveW wrote:Great Picture Jody!

"I took it at a Conservation area."

Hardly a conservation area if it's eating the exhibits!

Is the diffuser one of these?:-

http://www.planetnikon.com/forums/index ... topic=2604

DaveW

Thanks Dave. Yup, same diffuser, without the metal part inside.

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:24 pm

MacroLuv wrote:Thanks Jody!
One picture is worth ten thousand words.

You are most welcome, Nikola.

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:02 pm

Absolutely stunning photo Jody and such a tiny creature too! DOF must have been minuscule at that magnification so congratulations on getting the key bits (head, palps and prey) right in the sweet spot - amazing!

I had a look round your website and there are plenty of good things there too. I particularly liked your birds in flight and sure enough I found a couple of loons tucked away on page2

. I guess you must have a digicam setup of some type - that's my project for this year (I've got an Olympus SP-350 and a straight Optolyth TBG80, so its just the adapter and a L-O-N-G learning curve).

Bruce

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:33 pm

Jody Melanson wrote:Here is a pic of my setup.

And is that you in the picture? (If so, I apologize for attaching the wrong gender to your name!

)

--Rik

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:58 pm

Jody, judging by the photographs and markers of measurement you've provided you can get about 6:1 magnification from your macro setup!

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:26 pm

Bruce Williams wrote:Absolutely stunning photo Jody and such a tiny creature too! DOF must have been minuscule at that magnification so congratulations on getting the key bits (head, palps and prey) right in the sweet spot - amazing!

I had a look round your website and there are plenty of good things there too. I particularly liked your birds in flight and sure enough I found a couple of loons tucked away on page2 . I guess you must have a digicam setup of some type - that's my project for this year (I've got an Olympus SP-350 and a straight Optolyth TBG80, so its just the adapter and a L-O-N-G learning curve).

Bruce

Thanks Bruce. Yes the DOF is ridiculously shallow! I have to hold my breath and even then have to time my shutter release between heartbeats as each one throws my focus off!

Sometimes I get dizzy from holding my breath and trying to focus.

There is a pic in this thread of me and my gear.

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:28 pm

rjlittlefield wrote:
Jody Melanson wrote:Here is a pic of my setup.
And is that you in the picture? (If so, I apologize for attaching the wrong gender to your name! )

--Rik

Yup, that's my fat butt!

No worries, had that my whole life. I'll tell you one thing, having a name like Jody makes you tough in school!

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:29 pm

MacroLuv wrote:Jody, judging by the photographs and markers of measurement you've provided you can get about 6:1 magnification from your macro setup!

Cool! Thanks Nikola. I wonder what kind of magnification one could get using an MP-E65 reversed?

Moebius · Post by **Moebius** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:21 am

I have been wanting to respond for a few days now, but every time I look at that picture, my jaw drops and knocks a few keys off my keyboard. Am closing my eyes as I type this so that I don't aggravate my sore jaw anymore.

You must have arms like bands of steel!

Ken

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:31 am

Jody Melanson wrote: Cool! Thanks Nikola. I wonder what kind of magnification one could get using an MP-E65 reversed?

I think one of our members has MP-E65 but can't remember who.

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:22 pm

Moebius wrote:I have been wanting to respond for a few days now, but every time I look at that picture, my jaw drops and knocks a few keys off my keyboard. Am closing my eyes as I type this so that I don't aggravate my sore jaw anymore.

You must have arms like bands of steel!

Ken

Heh heh, sorry 'bout the jaw, Ken!

I do get pretty strong arms and shoulders from handholding this rig.

I also shoot Birds handholding with a 400 prime lens.

Thanks a bunch!

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:24 pm

> magnification...using...an MP-E 65 reversed?

Not so great, I'm afraid. It's the old ratio-of-focal-lengths thing, and 150/65 isn't very big.

Now pair the 150 with Canon's 18-55 at its 18 setting, and you've got some serious ratio. I don't think you'll like either the resolution or the vignetting, though. It's pretty hard to beat the performance of a good 50mm prime lens in this application.

--Rik

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:25 pm

MacroLuv wrote:
Jody Melanson wrote: Cool! Thanks Nikola. I wonder what kind of magnification one could get using an MP-E65 reversed?
I think one of our members has MP-E65 but can't remember who.

I know Edwin Bont (Eddysign) does, a few others too, don't remember either.