Macro Photography Of Pelikan Fountain Pen / Nib

[Deirdre]

Good question, Stephen. (Bumping for an answer for ya!)

 

I just ordered a generic ring flash for my GF1.

[wimg]

Is that Canon twin macro flash a big advantage over the less expensive ring macro flash? I really want a macro flash, but I'm more comfortable with the price of their ring flash. What will the twin macro flash give me that I won't be able to get from the ring flash?

 

--Stephen

 

 

Good question, Stephen. (Bumping for an answer for ya!)

 

I just ordered a generic ring flash for my GF1.

The advantage of the twin lite is that it has a higher GN (ground number, more flash output), which can become critical in large magnifications, and because it has two flashes positioned at different (variable) angles the lighting is less flat and can be used for modeling the apparent depth better. By this I mean that it is easier to make some kind of "natural" light fall-off, which isn't possible with a ring flash. Ring flashes were really designed for medical photography in the first place, not necessarily for the artistic approach .

 

If one is looking for a cheap alternative, there is such a thing too. Personally, I often use a bunch of smaller flashes, old pre-digital ones (which I essentially got for free, because they are useless with digital cameras), with slave units attached to them, placed on very cheap, small tripods or clamps, plus 1 digitally prepared flash (lower contact shoe voltage), generally off-camera (extension cable), to trigger those slave-unit controlled flashes. By placing the flashes with slave units further or closer away from the object, it is possible to use them as infill flashes, for sidelights, a little contra light, etc. Works actuallly very well indeed, and also helps in avoiding the flat lighting of a ringflash or the bright spot head on lighting of a single flash.

 

Total cost of such a setup would be, if you use 4 -5 old flashes (which I do), about 40 to 60 euros for the slave units, and another 25 to 150 euros for the cheap mini-tripods (depending on the size you'd want), plus the price of a master flash and extension cable if you don't already own these. Still cheaper than a dedicated macro flash, and more versatile. It just requires a bit more experimenting, and is less portable or less easy to set up of course.

 

Warm regards, Wim

[Fuddlestack]

Gotta get one of those rails... What is that one?

[Apotheosis]

all the jargons are making my head spin..but the pictures are fantastic

[ginantonix]

Gotta get one of those rails... What is that one?

Adorama has those rails here... Adorama which is where I got mine.

 

Thanks for the tip on the lens hood. I had no idea they even existed!

Edited October 21, 2010 by ginantonix

[Fuddlestack]

Gotta get one of those rails... What is that one?

Adorama has those rails here... Adorama which is where I got mine.

 

Thanks for the link. I found the identical item locally - they're made by Soligor. USD 179 at Adorama somehow translates to EUR 200 in crossing the ditch - exactly the same price as stacking two Manfrotto slides. Still, if I order from Adorama and add shipping, customs and VAT, it comes to a thumping $302!

 

Thanks for the tip on the lens hood. I had no idea they even existed!

 

It were not I - in fact, I didn't notice it, I must seek it out.

Edited October 22, 2010 by Fuddlestack

[Fuddlestack]

....

If one is looking for a cheap alternative, there is such a thing too. Personally, I often use a bunch of smaller flashes, old pre-digital ones (which I essentially got for free, because they are useless with digital cameras), with slave units attached to them, placed on very cheap, small tripods or clamps, plus 1 digitally prepared flash (lower contact shoe voltage), generally off-camera (extension cable), to trigger those slave-unit controlled flashes. By placing the flashes with slave units further or closer away from the object, it is possible to use them as infill flashes, for sidelights, a little contra light, etc. Works actuallly very well indeed, and also helps in avoiding the flat lighting of a ringflash or the bright spot head on lighting of a single flash.

...

 

What I've been doing is using two Nikon wireless flashes off-camera plus a couple of old Vivitars on slaves, but the pre-flashes fire them too soon no matter how I set the sensitivity. I suppose I need to cable the Nikon flashes, or put them on slaves as well and use totally manual exposure. Another slave would prolly be cheaper than a Nikon extension cable (~120 €).

 

JohnE

Edited October 22, 2010 by Fuddlestack

[wimg]

....

If one is looking for a cheap alternative, there is such a thing too. Personally, I often use a bunch of smaller flashes, old pre-digital ones (which I essentially got for free, because they are useless with digital cameras), with slave units attached to them, placed on very cheap, small tripods or clamps, plus 1 digitally prepared flash (lower contact shoe voltage), generally off-camera (extension cable), to trigger those slave-unit controlled flashes. By placing the flashes with slave units further or closer away from the object, it is possible to use them as infill flashes, for sidelights, a little contra light, etc. Works actuallly very well indeed, and also helps in avoiding the flat lighting of a ringflash or the bright spot head on lighting of a single flash.

...

 

What I've been doing is using two Nikon wireless flashes off-camera plus a couple of old Vivitars on slaves, but the pre-flashes fire them too soon no matter how I set the sensitivity. I suppose I need to cable the Nikon flashes, or put them on slaves as well and use totally manual exposure. Another slave would prolly be cheaper than a Nikon extension cable (~120 €).

 

JohnE

Yes . Even new a strobist type flash shouldn't really set you back more than about 70 euros, plus another 10 for a photoelectric slave unit. And generally, strobist units allow one to decrease the output by up to 5 stops, so that'll work very well indeed .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[wimg]

Gotta get one of those rails... What is that one?

Adorama has those rails here... Adorama which is where I got mine.

 

Thanks for the link. I found the identical item locally - they're made by Soligor. USD 179 at Adorama somehow translates to EUR 200 in crossing the ditch - exactly the same price as stacking two Manfrotto slides. Still, if I order from Adorama and add shipping, customs and VAT, it comes to a thumping $302!

 

Thanks for the tip on the lens hood. I had no idea they even existed!

 

It were not I - in fact, I didn't notice it, I must seek it out.

Hi John,

 

There is a guy over here who sells them for ~70 euros, excl. shipping. I tried to locate him, but it looks like he gets a shipment in, sells them all, and once sold removes his adverts from sites he uses to advertise them.

 

The moment I see a new bunch of adverts, I'll let you know if you are interested.

 

Warm regards, Wim

[Fuddlestack]

Gotta get one of those rails... What is that one?

Adorama has those rails here... Adorama which is where I got mine.

 

Thanks for the link. I found the identical item locally - they're made by Soligor. USD 179 at Adorama somehow translates to EUR 200 in crossing the ditch - exactly the same price as stacking two Manfrotto slides. Still, if I order from Adorama and add shipping, customs and VAT, it comes to a thumping $302!

 

Thanks for the tip on the lens hood. I had no idea they even existed!

 

It were not I - in fact, I didn't notice it, I must seek it out.

Hi John,

 

There is a guy over here who sells them for ~70 euros, excl. shipping. I tried to locate him, but it looks like he gets a shipment in, sells them all, and once sold removes his adverts from sites he uses to advertise them.

 

The moment I see a new bunch of adverts, I'll let you know if you are interested.

 

Warm regards, Wim

 

Hi Wim,

 

Yes please! There are a few oriental knock-offs going on eBay, but I've had a few bits of such kit and they always seem to niff of creosote. Dunno if it's the grease or the plastic. Come to think of it, an E. German lathe I bought in the 80s had the same smell.

 

Cheers, JohnE

Edited October 23, 2010 by Fuddlestack

[wimg]

Hi Wim,

 

Yes please! There are a few oriental knock-offs going on eBay, but I've had a few bits of such kit and they always seem to niff of creosote. Dunno if it's the grease or the plastic. Come to think of it, an E. German lathe I bought in the 80s had the same smell.

 

Cheers, JohnE

Ok, I will do so. That smell I think is typical of anything produced involving metal when produced in countries using older manufacturing equipment, it seems .

 

Warm regards, WIm

[Fuddlestack]

Hi Wim,

 

Yes please! There are a few oriental knock-offs going on eBay, but I've had a few bits of such kit and they always seem to niff of creosote. Dunno if it's the grease or the plastic. Come to think of it, an E. German lathe I bought in the 80s had the same smell.

 

Cheers, JohnE

Ok, I will do so. That smell I think is typical of anything produced involving metal when produced in countries using older manufacturing equipment, it seems .

 

Warm regards, WIm

 

Thanks! Either the metal or else the workers all smoke unblended Latakia (with possibly a soupçon of Lapsang Suchong).

 

Cheers,

 

JohnE

Edited October 24, 2010 by Fuddlestack

[wimg]

Thanks! Either the metal or else the workers all smoke unblended Latakia (with possibly a soupçon of Lapsang Suchong).

 

Cheers,

 

JohnE

:roflmho:

Now you mention it: I used to smoke pipe, many years ago, and there was this tabacco which I snoked occasionally, very heavy, came in a orangy yellow square box with rounded corners and red lettering if I am not mistaken, and the tobacco consisted almost entirely of fermented latakia , maybe with a smudgeon of perfume à la Earl Grey tea . Something to smoke only if you had no further plans of leaving the house afterwards .

 

Warm regards, Wim

[wimg]

Thanks! Either the metal or else the workers all smoke unblended Latakia (with possibly a soupçon of Lapsang Suchong).

 

Cheers,

 

JohnE

Here it is:

http://link.marktplaats.nl/389215673

 

If you'd like some help getting one, let me know backchannel (PM or email).

 

Warm regards, Wim

[Fuddlestack]

Thanks! Either the metal or else the workers all smoke unblended Latakia (with possibly a soupçon of Lapsang Suchong).

 

Cheers,

 

JohnE

Here it is:

http://link.marktplaats.nl/389215673

 

If you'd like some help getting one, let me know backchannel (PM or email).

 

Warm regards, Wim

 

Thank you! I speak German and I can decipher most things in Dutch if I think about it long enough; the pronunciation defeats me, though. I now have to decide which budget to raid...

 

Hum... this site appears to work via email only, am I right? If the vendor doesn't speak English, I'll take advantage of your offer and contact you.

 

Cheers,

 

John

[wimg]

Thanks! Either the metal or else the workers all smoke unblended Latakia (with possibly a soupçon of Lapsang Suchong).

 

Cheers,

 

JohnE

Here it is:

http://link.marktplaats.nl/389215673

 

If you'd like some help getting one, let me know backchannel (PM or email).

 

Warm regards, Wim

 

Thank you! I speak German and I can decipher most things in Dutch if I think about it long enough; the pronunciation defeats me, though. I now have to decide which budget to raid...

 

Hum... this site appears to work via email only, am I right? If the vendor doesn't speak English, I'll take advantage of your offer and contact you.

 

Cheers,

 

John

Ok, fine with me. I made the offer after all.

 

Marktplaats (Market place) was actually bought by eBay about two years ago. Slightly different rules, less strict for the buyer. It works via email via the site, yes, or a telephone number if the seller did leave a telephone number (or both obviously in the latter case).

 

Warm regards, Wim

[Fuddlestack]

Thanks, Wim. I've sent an email and we'll see what happens...

 

Cheers, John

 

P.S. I seem to have bought one.

Edited October 25, 2010 by Fuddlestack

[Fuddlestack]

...

Images combined using Zerene focus stacking software.

...

 

How would you say that Zerene compares (okay, stacks up) beside the auto layer blending in Photoshop?