2 basic questions

Just bought that first macro lens? Post here to get helpful feedback and answers to any questions you might have.

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dhmiller
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Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:42 am
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2 basic questions

Post by dhmiller »

Generally happy with this one, though still seeking a high precision specimen holder with gears/micrometers for all axes.

1. How do you hide the pin holding the specimen?
2. When using a camera lens for a tube lens, what is the best aperture to use?

Thanks for any suggestions/comments.Image
Last edited by dhmiller on Sat Dec 21, 2019 7:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Chris S.
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Re: 2 basic questions

Post by Chris S. »

2. When using a camera lens for a tube lens, what is the best aperture to use?
The quick answer is "wide open."

As a longer answer, you might try closing the iris down to find out where vignetting occurs, then opening up until the vignetting disappears (one or two stops). Compare this with using the lens wide open.

In one lens I tried, this improved image quality (contrast, if memory serves). Presumably, the lens has a bit of internal flare, and the partially-closed iris acts as a baffle. I have no idea how widely this might be the case.
Generally happy with this one. . . .
Did you intend to post an image? I don't see it.
1. How do you hide the pin holding the specimen?
I don't shoot pinned subjects, but have heard the answer to this question often enough. The idea is to position the pin on the opposite side of the subject to the camera. You can run the pin through a background, such as a piece of neutral-colored paper. Aka "through pinning."

--Chris S.

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