My gear, setup, and results (Canon)

magicdrainpipe

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 31, 2018
Messages
3
Background:
I am new to the boards, so I apologize if this is in the wrong spot. Just looking through a lot of the posts I saw that many had questions on good lenses for macro. For some background on me, I have been shooting macro for well over ten years. I started with a Canon SD1000 point and shoot, and eventually worked my way up to my current setup of a 5D Mk IV and the MP-E 65mm 1x-5x. In between I had an APS-C body and the 100mm f/2.8 USM macro lens. I love shooting primarily spiders, but any arthropod will do. I have been known to take some photos of other things, but arachnids are my favorite.

My Gear:

So like I said above, I am currently shooting with the 5D Mk IV and the MP-E 65mm, with the MT-24EX for light. Here's a photo of that setup:



Currently I do not use the 1.4x teleconverter (the white piece between the body and the lens), and technically this was when I had my 5D Mk II, but same difference. The important part is the diffusion element on the front:



The diffusion element is to soften the light from the MT-24EX. It's made of Lee filter gels that I cut. Something like 2x lux and a couple frost gels. I used to use paper towels, which worked, but gels work much better. The GoPro was pretty fun for a while, but just got in the way. I got some great videos of me trying to get some of the jumpers.

I only shoot in RAW (and as should you!), with my settings being pretty consistent. I've found that I'm almost always shooting at 1/200s, ISO400, and f/9-f/13. The light from the MT-24EX is always at 1/4 on each head unless it's dark out, then I back down to 1/8.

Results:

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we see you have the gear, but do you take good photos?"

I'm pretty proud of where I have come with my photography, and I think the results are decent. I recently acquired a pet P. audax, who had served as a great model. Here's some photos of him:

This was pre-molt, when I still thought he was a "she" :p


Right after molting. You can still see residue on his eyes.


Colors started to come in nicely.


Very curious little guy.


A more recent one.


And this one is from a couple days ago.


And to round the results section out, one of my more popular photos on Instagram, a fly that was overcame by fly death fungus, Entomophthora muscae. This was also before I got my nifty watermark and was just using plain type.



I hope you like my photos, and if you have any questions be sure to ask. I love talking about photography as much as I do taking the photos. I'd also be interested in your gear and photos too!
 

advan

oOOo
Staff member
Joined
Apr 11, 2010
Messages
2,086
Very nice! Are these single shots or stacks?
 

Mikew9788

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 14, 2018
Messages
39
That mp-e 65mm is amazing. Im going to get one this summer. Love jumping spider photography. Incredible shots.
 
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