I have done a lot of macro insect photography in the field, but now am also interested in photographing specimens, using some of the techniques I have read about here, cleaning, stacking, etc, and using a trinocular dissecting scope. I would like to be able to shoot the insect that are less than about a half inch, as I think the Nikon 60mm macro with close-ups may do well enough for that.
I see a lot of such microscopes on eBay for varying prices, and wonder what would be suitable. It seems like a lot don't list a brand name.
I don't have any idea of how the quality may vary.
I am hoping for starter info. I've seen some great insect closeups here and hope to be able to achieve some such results.
micro photographing insects
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rjlittlefield
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robirdman, welcome aboard!
Most of the great insect closeups that you see on this site were not shot through a dissecting scope. The optics in those scopes are optimized for visual hands-on use, not for photography. You can get better photos by using the dissecting scope only for specimen prep and doing your photography with other lenses attached directly to your DSLR.
For some basic info, see our FAQ: How can I hook a microscope objective to my camera?
For ideas about stacking rigs, see the large set of links HERE.
Since I don't know anything about your budget and DIY inclinations, I'll point out two commonly emulated but very different setups in the above list:
1) John Hallmén: simple setup using Proxxon screw table, HERE.
2) Chris S: "Bratcam" (focus blocks and goniometers), HERE. Magnetic lighting stage HERE.
I gather from your reference to Nikon 60mm macro that you have a Nikon DSLR. What other lenses and other bits of kit do you have to go with that?
--Rik
Most of the great insect closeups that you see on this site were not shot through a dissecting scope. The optics in those scopes are optimized for visual hands-on use, not for photography. You can get better photos by using the dissecting scope only for specimen prep and doing your photography with other lenses attached directly to your DSLR.
For some basic info, see our FAQ: How can I hook a microscope objective to my camera?
For ideas about stacking rigs, see the large set of links HERE.
Since I don't know anything about your budget and DIY inclinations, I'll point out two commonly emulated but very different setups in the above list:
1) John Hallmén: simple setup using Proxxon screw table, HERE.
2) Chris S: "Bratcam" (focus blocks and goniometers), HERE. Magnetic lighting stage HERE.
I gather from your reference to Nikon 60mm macro that you have a Nikon DSLR. What other lenses and other bits of kit do you have to go with that?
--Rik
Thanks for your quick reply. I had discovered the link about connecting a microscope to a camera shortly after and posted more info there, after realizing that seems to be the way to go.
I have a Nikon 200mm F4 AF macro that usually use in the field. I use the R1 with 3 flashes attached.
I have some older lenses such as 20, 28 and 35 mm and some newer zooms such as 18-55 NS 28-85
Cameras include D4, D3 and D300s.
I have a Nikon 200mm F4 AF macro that usually use in the field. I use the R1 with 3 flashes attached.
I have some older lenses such as 20, 28 and 35 mm and some newer zooms such as 18-55 NS 28-85
Cameras include D4, D3 and D300s.
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rjlittlefield
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At this point I would be going for a lower budget simpler setup to photograph this collection.
I think as I got more into it, I would expand because the extreme close-ups are so fascinating. It is almost like lower mag scanning microscopy.
I started in a basic way, with the macro lens set at about F45, and the flashes on manual illuminated this pretty well through some plastic circular bowl.
These setups are totally different from my experience, with the open aperture and smaller depth of field, necessitating stacking. I have no experience with this or bellows or reversed lenses and suggestions on how to proceed from what I have would be very welcome.
I think as I got more into it, I would expand because the extreme close-ups are so fascinating. It is almost like lower mag scanning microscopy.
I started in a basic way, with the macro lens set at about F45, and the flashes on manual illuminated this pretty well through some plastic circular bowl.
These setups are totally different from my experience, with the open aperture and smaller depth of field, necessitating stacking. I have no experience with this or bellows or reversed lenses and suggestions on how to proceed from what I have would be very welcome.