Top secret macro camera stabiliser

[Lord Vetinari]

Thought I'd show some pics of my secret weapon in action- no not the cat- the metal bean pole. Instantly adjustable- I just grip it with along with the flash bracket handle in my left hand. Allows me to happily take shots at 2:1 magnification.
Brian V.

http://static.flickr.com/41/75900442_47fd4f3814_o.jpg


http://static.flickr.com/37/75900443_a7aa850a50_o.jpg

and a recent fly shot taken using it.

http://static.flickr.com/9/75177200_c78eb88fa5_o.jpg

[JimM]

WOW, amazing shot!!!

[Jnichols]

That IS an amazing shot! What do you have going on with your flash? :scratch

[Lord Vetinari]

That IS an amazing shot! What do you have going on with your flash? :scratch
Thanks,
The flash is mounted on a modded generic vidcam light bracket via a small ball head and an off camera flash cable. This enables me to get the homemade diffuser near the end of the lens no matter how many extension tubes and/or reversed lens I put on my macro lens.
Brian V.

[DanielB]

Thanks,
The flash is mounted on a modded generic vidcam light bracket via a small ball head and an off camera flash cable. This enables me to get the homemade diffuser near the end of the lens no matter how many extension tubes and/or reversed lens I put on my macro lens.
Brian V.


whatever works i guess:dunno , but its very cool:thumb

fantastic shots too.

[Lord Vetinari]

whatever works i guess:dunno , but its very cool:thumb

fantastic shots too.
Thanks Daniel B
Brian V.

[ginger_55]

And I paid over 100.00 for a thing called a "monopod". What is yours called again?

ginger:huh :D

[ginger_55]

How did you get the fly to pose?

ginger:D

good macro work, AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHH, giant fly!

[Red Bull]

Very cool. It's always interesting to see what people have rigged on their cameras to get the amazing shots posted. Thanks for sharing.:thumb

[Lord Vetinari]

How did you get the fly to pose?

ginger:D

good macro work, AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHH, giant fly!

Thanks Ginger_55,
Not so much how you get them to pose, more a case of how do you not scare them off :)

It's called a bean pole. So far I just find a monopole too clumsy to manipulate one handed and too slow to adjust- The beanpole is instant, but you do need a flash bracket with a handle to make it work. Now all I need is a 7 foot stainless steel telescopic bean Pole. :)

Brian V.

[Lord Vetinari]

Very cool. It's always interesting to see what people have rigged on their cameras to get the amazing shots posted. Thanks for sharing.:thumb

No probs, Someone on the DPreview forum asked for a pic of me using it so thought I might as well post it here as well :)
Brian V.

[Tom K.]

Your macro gallery displays incredible work. Shot after shot is nothing less than superb.

Can you give us some general tips and methods you use as well as equipment? For example.....extension tubes, lighting, lens (looks like a sigma 105 to me), ect, ect. Techniques? Any info would be most helpful. Thank you.

[Lord Vetinari]

Your macro gallery displays incredible work. Shot after shot is nothing less than superb.

Can you give us some general tips and methods you use as well as equipment? For example.....extension tubes, lighting, lens (looks like a sigma 105 to me), ect, ect. Techniques? Any info would be most helpful. Thank you.
Thanks Tom,
You can find some more info on how I do my shots etc here-
http://www.flickr.com/groups/mimicry/discuss/66514/

The only addition to that is I use a set of Jessops EOS fit extension tubes (similar to the Kenko ones)- using 31mm of these gives me approx 1.5:1 and using all 65mm gives 2:1.
Brian V.

[Tom K.]

Thanks very much Lord Vetinari (http://www.dgrin.com/member.php?u=3181) for this useful information.

[DoctorIt]

Ah well, of course, the bean pole is green = camouflage!!! That's how you sneak up on all these bugs!

:lol3

Lord V, I'm trying to dig up your thread on the flash bracket for many who have been asking, but i can't find it. Do you have it handy?

[Lord Vetinari]

Ah well, of course, the bean pole is green = camouflage!!! That's how you sneak up on all these bugs!

:lol3

Lord V, I'm trying to dig up your thread on the flash bracket for many who have been asking, but i can't find it. Do you have it handy?
Is this it?
http://www.digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=15634
Brian V.

[DoctorIt]

Is this it?
http://www.digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=15634
Brian V.that's the one. :nod