During the “off-season,” I use the downtime exploring new sites for wildlife photography and for experimenting with new photography gear and techniques. For example, I spent a few days in the “BoG Photo Studio” recently experimenting with extension tubes.
Macro extension tubes are inserted between the lens and the camera body and increase the distance between the lens elements and the sensor enabling users to focus on subjects much closer to the camera. Source Credit: Fujifilm Macro Extension Tubes MCEX-11 and MCEX-16.
The subject in this set of test shots is a toy frog. His name is “Señor Frog,” as in, “I seen your frog, Señor.” Just look at him. He’s SO CUTE, don’t you want to kiss him? I found Señor Frog in a geocache located in Fairfax County, Virginia USA; the item I traded for Señor Frog is cool but he is cooler!
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
The first photo was shot on 19 February 2016 using a Canon EOS 5D Mark II plus Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L zoom lens, the 20mm Kenko macro automatic extension tube (from a set of three), 580EX II Speedlite & Vello diffuser, and Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB tripod and Manfrotto 054 Magnesium Ball Head with Q2 Quick Release.
The original image is a RAW file (CR2), taken using manual exposure and manual focus; the flash was on and fired. The minimum focusing distance for the 70-200mm lens is 1.2 m (3.9 ft.). Adding the 20mm extension tube reduced the minimum focusing distance: at a focal length of 135mm, the working distance was ~1.5 feet; at 200mm the working distance was estimated to be 2-3 feet.
ISO 400 | 148mm | 0 ev | f/32 | 1/160s
Fujifilm X-T1
The next photo was taken on 18 February 2016 using a Fujifilm X-T1 digital camera plus Fujinon XF18-55mm (27-82.5mm, 35mm equivalent) “kit” lens, Nissin i40 external flash (TTL), and Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB tripod and Manfrotto 054 Magnesium Ball Head with Q2 Quick Release.
The original image is a RAW file (RAF), shot using manual exposure and automatic focus; the flash was on and fired. The working distance was ~30cm, the same as the minimum focusing distance for this lens. That’s fairly close to the subject considering no extension tubes were used! The 10mm “Fotasy” brand extension tube (set of two) works well with this lens, reducing the minimum focusing distance to ~7 inches (~18 cm). At that distance, it was impossible to see the entire subject.
ISO 800 | 55mm (83mm, 35mm equivalent) | -2 ev | f/16 | 1/250s
The last photo was shot on 15 February 2016 using a Fujifilm X-T1 plus Fujinon XF55-200mm zoom lens, both “Fotasy” brand extension tubes (set of two, stacked together), Fujifilm Shoe Mount Flash EF-42 (TTL), and Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB tripod and Manfrotto 054 Magnesium Ball Head with Q2 Quick Release.
The original image is a RAW file (RAF), taken using manual exposure and automatic focus; the flash was on and fired. The minimum focusing distance of 1.1 m (3 ft. 7 in.) is estimated to be half as far using both extension tubes (10 + 16 = 26mm).
ISO 800 | 134.5mm (202mm, 35mm equivalent) | 0 ev | f/11 | 1/180s
Lessons Learned
So what are the take-aways from my experimentation? The time to figure out how your gear works is not when the photo opportunity of a lifetime presents itself! My skill set now includes several photographic techniques for getting closer to the subject, thereby enabling smaller subjects such as frogs and odonates to fill the frame, that is, assuming these subjects are less skittish than usual.
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
walter sanford's photoblog 
March 6, 2016 at 5:23 am |
Good points. Outdoors you may need more diffusion on your flash.
March 6, 2016 at 9:44 am |
What do you suggest, Victor?
March 6, 2016 at 9:50 am |
I like soft boxes, they come in very small or medium. See my about page. It’s from lastolite.
March 10, 2016 at 11:44 am |
What’s the difference between using a plastic snap-on diffuser and a soft box, Victor? Diffusion is diffusion, right?
March 10, 2016 at 1:06 pm
The space between the front of the soft box and the flash makes a difference as does a second layer of diffusion inside the box. As for diffusion in general here is a website http://extreme-macro.co.uk/macro-diffusers/ hope this helps, the site is for much more rigorous work than I do but it helps.
March 13, 2016 at 10:38 am |
I checked your “About” page, Victor. I see a photo of a soft box mounted on your flash, but I don’t see a description of the one you’re using. I just Googled “Lastolite” and my head is spinning — the company sells a dizzying array of products! Please tell me the exact name and product number for the soft box you prefer. Thanks! (BTW, thanks for the pointer to “Extreme Macro” — looks like a rich resource!)
March 13, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Ezybox speed lite 8.5×8.5 inches (22×22 cm). Pat# LS2420
There is a more expensive John McNally version
March 13, 2016 at 2:15 pm
That last message got away from too fast. The McNally version is part#2420jm ha some advantages.
An external battery pack is also useful, I found the Nikon battery pack not worth the money 300$. Go doc makes one for forty. But even then they are too fragile. I recommend the Godox Pb 960. I went for a month not having to recharge it and your flash recycles instantly.
Hope this helps.