Macro Photography on a Budget

[risbill1]

Try a reversing ring for some super close up Macro/ micro shots. It allows you to put two lenses together front to front. I have taken photos of quarters where the frame is filled with a single letter on the face.

[Jgilbert232]

I have that same camera!!! If you guys are ever on instagram I used my 18-55 Lens to make some amazing water drop photos. Check me out @fc_freekickerz

[HeffernanProductions]

Another great piece of equipment for macro photography is a ring flash. You can get them for really cheap, but if you're serious about macro, there are high-end ones out there too.

[sterf666]

I resently bought a canon 600D kit with an extra 55-200mm lens. If you already have one of those you can also go sit al little bit furter away and zoom all the way in. You can get a bigger close up this way then using a 18-55mm lens.

[JayyGone97]

@sterf666 YES! yes you can but this only works well if you have it on a tripod and use a shutter remote,and a tripod.

[sterf666]

@JayyGone97 haha yeah it does work better that way, true.. but I have tried it without a while back, and it worked quit well actually. if its inside and you have a steady hand, it's not that big of a problem.

[3antaralhatab]

macro technically has to be 1:1 or higher (basically any photo with detail beyond what the naked eye can see), the term has been deviated primarily due to P&S market, the close ups shown here are mere close ups, not macro photography, nikon now has a reasonable (very good) micro nikkor (40mm DX) for ~$300, try it out if you don't already have a micro nikkor... i pulled the trigger on it first as an experiment and got hooked to macro, now using the 60mm and hopefully upgrading to the 105mm soon)

[ThePhotogalleria]

MF? That's my middle name.

[coffieworld101]

macro tubes doesnt effect image quality. well for me it doesnt

[cowboystuff2002]

OK

[cowboystuff2002]

That's because they are true micro lenses, not just macro.

[TheSnapChick]

@cowboystuff2002 They have the same characteristics as other brands' lenses marketed as "Macro." We will simply need to disagree on this.

[cowboystuff2002]

Macro is closeup photography.

Micro is short for microscopic photography, or extreme close up.

They are not the same.

[TheSnapChick]

@cowboystuff2002 Nikon's Macro lenses are marketed with the term "Micro" lenses.

[8javed]

@TheSnapChick Hahahaaa...sure thing. Some brands market it as macro; others as micro. You deserve a Ph.D in photography. Or, are you already?

[TheSnapChick]

@8javed Haha! I wish. Bachelors in Art History. Masters in Business.

[tubernery]

Some real good info! I use a wonderful Canon macro lens (EF 100mm f/2.8L). Depending on the lighting, you can get some beautiful bokeh shots. I do lots of outdoor action-figure photos.

[crackspider101]

I'm sure I've seen that sofa in a porno...

[TheSnapChick]

@crackspider101 You can visit it at IKEA

[shaun2312]

You recorded with the camera on the piss, not straight

[Pianoman0488]

d3100 = win. the 18-55 is pretty good at macro as advertised. macro/micro is great fun.

[TheSnapChick]

@Pianoman0488 Agreed! :)

[mreastwood1]

Oh yes. It is on my wishing list, not for Christmas, but for next payday! I bought the 50mm prime lens, but without AF motor, since I have the D3100... But I have had a lot of practise in focusing manually. And to get a wider shot, I´ll go for the 35mm. Thank you for all your tips!

[mreastwood1]

You made me go on a macro/micro adventure with things on my kitchen table! Overall I am glad you like the kitlense 18-55mm for the Nikon d3100 so much. I assumed I had to get a better equivalent, but not anymore! ;-)

[TheSnapChick]

@mreastwood1 The 18-55 is surprisingly capable. I use it quote often. An increase in image quality without breaking the bank is the 35mm f1.8 DX

[rongthienco]

@TheSnapChick that is if we are talking about nikon 18-55....the canon 18-55 is just horrible >"<

[TheSnapChick]

@rongthienco I've used them both and am definitely partial to the lower end Nikon lenses, but I had an OK time with the Canon lenses that I had for my XTi

[mreastwood1]

Point and shoot did a better job there! Cant you shoot in manual mode using your D3100, to get the lighting and exposure better?

[TheSnapChick]

@mreastwood1 The point and shoot gets a little more "pop" out of the camera, but the DSLRs have much more dynamic range / color information to work with when processing the images.

[martenfisher1]

One thing you did not mention was a macro filter. They come in different + numbers and my favorite is + 4 on the Nikon 50mm. The higher numbers reduce depth of field reducing quality. I have been using this filter even on my kit lenses with great success. People that told me that you don't get good image quality with a filter have been amazed at the quality I produced with it. Look me up on flickr and look at my macros. All with a + 4 filter. You do lose quality with long lenses. Short is must.

[nevadaxtube]

Hi Leigh, I just discovered your videos and I was impressed. Thanks for sharing the videos on Youtube.

I am learning photography (the learning never stops does it!) with my Canon T2i and it is really fun and creative.

I like your quirkiness that I've seen on a couple other videos and I feel you are a kindred spirit. I also think you are quite attractive which makes the videos even that much more entertaining.

I'd love to go on a photo safari with you sometime :) Best wishes

[TheSnapChick]

@nevadaxtube :D

[nevadaxtube]

@TheSnapChick Quirky and verbose! Who knew?

[TheSnapChick]

@nevadaxtube :P

[nevadaxtube]

@TheSnapChick Communicating with only emoticons - what is happening here? It's not a time saver when I have to look them up :)

[nevadaxtube]

@TheSnapChick What's with all the emoticons? I have to look these things up! I have this bad habit of using words to communicate :)

[TheSnapChick]

@nevadaxtube ;)

[surferboy36O]

You are by far the most technically knowledgeable, fun and interesting female photographer I have ever seen! I think I'm in love with you! I have just found your channel by accident (and sooo glad I did!), saw a couple of your videos and suscribed. I like the way you do your videos, this is just what youtube needs! Besides, you're super hot!

PS: I like your DOF video haircut.

[TheSnapChick]

@surferboy36O Thanks!!!! :)

[psesinkclee]

Sorry. An 18-55 kit lens isn't a macro lens. Try to you'd need tubes on that to even get close to 1:1. I realized this a while back and started saving my money. Now I've got a Nikkor 105mm f2.8 VR and I would never try anything else.

[vi54]

or you can use a magnifying glass on static subjects, its a bit of experimental. but it sure works.

[TheSnapChick]

@vi54 It would probably cause quite a bit of distortion... on the other hand, that could be quite a neat effect :)

[vi54]

@TheSnapChick yeah it depends, i have this large magnifying glass on a holder, the distortion is pretty weak. I won't suggest those handheld cheap things, as with lenses, the better glass, the better results.

i need to get my photography site sorted so i can post some examples for back in the day. I experimented with this when i was still studying yeeeeaars ago :) But fact. some cheaper glasses can get you a neat effect.

[Miken2341]

You should do a photoshoot in that outfit

[TheSnapChick]

@Miken2341 OK. Location?

[Miken2341]

@TheSnapChick hmm in the studio on the sweep? i guess :)

[mohamed3212]

cool things in cheep way thanx lee

[player1CR]

Hi, you can visit my macro photos at my channel:

watch?v=G-z_KPH4Dv4

[Owendart1]

What about a reversing ring? Like £2 and you can get really close up :)

[billfromelma]

this (again ) is good stuff !! Funny you should bring this up because I was just looking at a teleconverter for my D300s. I found a Sigma 2x for around $300. then I looked on line and found a Nikon 2x for almost $700. I know to get the same results I could buy a lens for many thousands of dollars. Have you ever used a teleconverter ? If so did you like the results you got?

[TheSnapChick]

@billfromelma I use a 1.7x teleconverter often with my 70-200 f2.8. The teleconverter makes the lens a little softer at wider apertures, but at f8, it's very sharp.

[billfromelma]

@billfromelma Soooo is it a Nikon teleconverter or Sigma or does that really matter?? I have a Nikon 18 to 200 f3.5 . Do you think I'll get "happy results" (sharp) pics with it? I know you f2.8 really makes the difference !!

[ShelpR]

Great idea!

[Sindorai]

Gotta remember to take VR off when on a tripod tho :P

[kano1raider]

hi i just want to say thank you i did notpp

[quint150]

That's a creepy looking Barbie. LOL.

[anthonyhuynyh]

I don't see you breaking "that" camera...

[marboed]

photo a barbie doll is consider macro photography? I dont think so..

[sweetypie000]

tbh, whenever I get a closeup of you it's always hard to focus and you always make me wanna point and shoot

:)

[ettoma]

VR should be switched off when on a tripod, right?

[ChrisLARun]

@ettoma yup, that's what I heard

[frankiemalt]

if you have the cheap 50mm you should try it back to front. amazing macro on the cheap however your looking at almost .5mm depth of field

[taquanrocks]

Omg thanks lol been looking for a vid like this thanks so much

[gentel916]

6ths

[santos2386]

hello



[LydiaKrow]

My macro shots are all "on the cheap" as well - I mostly photograph flowers and occasionally rings that I think are interesting. I don't do a lot of macro photography, though, although I really love looking at what others do, especially with flowers.

[Meteorix007]

Nice videos, good info.  : )

[nickwoo2]

lol orange couch.

[8javed]

You must have a very good high-paying job to be able to afford all those photography equipment. And oh! I just so love macro and close-up photography; but I still don't have the equipment to do it. Tnx for all the helpful tips. :~D