Macro photography kit

[YorkshireBees]

Having indulged my passion for photography during beekeeping using a trusty compact camera for a few years I have decided to upgrade my DSLR kit to enable me to have a better go at macro shots.

I have a Nikon D300S and have pretty much decided on the lens to buy

Nikon AF-S VR Micro NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens

but am now considering which ring flash to use.

Any experts / current users of macro ring flashes out there with advice?

 

[Black Comb]

I have that lens and it is excellent.

The Nikon R1 is the natural fit with this but it is expensive.
The yongnuo flash units are also well regarded (I have never used one)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54107155

FYI Nikon have at last just launched a successor to the D300s, the D500.

 

[YorkshireBees]

I have that lens and it is excellent.

The Nikon R1 is the natural fit with this but it is expensive.
The yongnuo flash units are also well regarded (I have never used one)
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54107155

FYI Nikon have at last just launched a successor to the D300s, the D500.

Yes I have researched and read so much about the lens that I finally convinced myself to buy it.

Regarding the flash, the R1 is just too much for me to justify for the amount of use I would make of it!

I just can't decide if to spend a bit more than some of the cheaper offerings for TTL

 

[Black Comb]

Check out some of the Nikon dealers for a Nikon re-furbished which is worth buying. They come with a 6 month Nikon guarantee. Also, Wex give a 12 month guarantee on used if they have one.

Note that the Vr and possibly the autofocus are a little noisy on this lens, it is fine if you hear it.

 

[Black Comb]

Re. Flash.
The problem with a traditional ring is that it produces a flat image.
The R1 units are off centre ad allow you to set one side lower output than the other, thereby introducing some shadow and therefore depth.

Good luck. Quality optics are not cheap.

 

[YorkshireBees]

Thanks for all the advice. Have just spent some time reading about ring flashes vs macro flashes!

ATM I'm considering

Metz mecablitz 15 MS-1 Macro Flash

 

[Black Comb]

Well Metz has always been quality product.
With this one you can set different power to each side which is good.

 

[YorkshireBees]

Well Metz has always been quality product.
With this one you can set different power to each side which is good.

Glad you seem to agree with what I was thinking!

Funnily enough another thing (besides the price) that put me off the Nikon R1 system was the use of non-standard (as far as I'm concerned) CR123A batteries!
I have AA and AAA rechargeable batteries for all my kit.

Anyway still have a few weeks to decide as I'm away on my Winter (Beekeepers Summer) holiday!

Thanks again for the advice / info.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Appreciating the image quality may be somewhat lacking in comparison to nikon or zeiss lenses has anyone tried one of these relatively low cost items
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-3-Mega-...193959?hash=item43d8ec9c27:g:uC4AAOSwqu9U~Vun

 

[YorkshireBees]

Appreciating the image quality may be somewhat lacking in comparison to nikon or zeiss lenses has anyone tried one of these relatively low cost items
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-3-Mega-...193959?hash=item43d8ec9c27:g:uC4AAOSwqu9U~Vun

I have no experience with the above but looking at the specs
"Image sensor 1.3 Mega Pixels (interpolated to 2M)"
It's not a high number of pixels for the resolution they offer so it all really depends on what you want to do with it.