Technique
Catch the tube
Get support
are more equal than others and many are not worth the money, especially the cheaper models. Expect to pay at least £100 for an aluminium-alloy model and £150 for a carbon-fibre pod, and then you need a suitable head and good ones start from £50. With this level of budget, you can get a decent pod for smaller mirrorless models, but if you shoot full- frame, perhaps with long lenses, you’ll need a bigger budget. Here’s a couple of models for your shortlist. The Novo Explora T10 is a carbon model, weighs 1.34kg, has one detachable leg to make a monopod and costs £169.99. With a load capacity of 15kg, it’ll take any camera/lens
There are any of number of reasons why you should use a tripod for tackling seasonal close- ups. You might be shooting under the tree canopy, as fungi like gloomy areas, meaning you need smaller apertures for good depth- of-field and it gives you time to contemplate the shot. Also, despite the amazing skills of the latest image stabilisation systems, they don’t truly compare with the stability of a tripod. So, the need for a tripod is clear, but which one? There are literally hundreds – probably thousands – of different models out there. It is true that while tripods all are fundamentally the same – they have three legs – some
ABOVE Shot taken with the support of the Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO using a Fujifilm GFX 50R with an exposure of 1/20sec at f/9 and ISO 200
pairing you care to throw at it. Manfrotto’s Befree series has proved very popular and the GT XPRO is the first in the family to feature a special centre column mechanism, making shooting straight down a piece of cake, so perfect for flatlays. Plus, this compact, lightweight pod is not too much of a burden for long walks. The carbon version is £415.95 and the alloy model £208, both prices include the 496 head.
Benro: benro.eu/uk FLM: snapperstuff.com Gitzo: gitzo.co.uk Leofoto: leofoto.com Manfrotto: manfrotto.co.uk Novo: ukdigital.co.uk PeakDesign: transcontinenta.co.uk Vanguard: vanguardworld.co.uk
LEFT 50mm lens,
minimum focus, no extension tube
RIGHT 50mm lens, with 12mm tube
IMAGES Here are two tripods that offer more flexibility when it comes to camera set-up, making shooting autumnal close-ups easier. The Vanguard VEO 3+ 263CB (right) is an innovative carbon tripod with a multiangle central column and costs £299.99 complete with ball head. The Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO (above) is offered in carbon and alloy, priced at £415.95 and £208 respectively, complete with the 496 ball head
LEFT 50mm lens, with 12mm and 20mm tubes
An essential for close-up macro work is the Wimberley Plamp II. It’s an articulated arm with a spring clamp at one end to attach it to your tripod (or a ground spike, fence etc) and another clamp at the other to hold your subject (plant stem, branch etc) or a reflector. It is a great gadget to have in the camera bag just in case and it’s priced at £52. bobrigby.com A firmgrip
Fuss free close-ups
RIGHT 50mm lens, with 12, 20, 36mm tubes
Increase the distance between the sensor/film plane and the lens has the benefit of giving much closer focusing – that’s what extension tubes do. Available from the camera brands, as well as third parties, these are non-optical accessories, so your lens’s performance is unimpaired. They often come in sets of three that can be used individually or in combination, offering a range of magnifications. The Kenko Tube Set DG comes in 12mm, 20mm and 36mm and costs £150. Many of the latest extension tubes allow autoexposure and, in some cases, autofocus. Moving the lens further away from the imaging plane means less light reaches it, so extra exposure is needed, so having tubes that allow these auto functions is a benefit. You can calculate how much magnification using this formula: New magnification = native lens magnification + (extension length/focal length). The other option is trial and error with a splash of experience. Kenko: intro2020.co.uk
Just like any filter, close-up lenses screw on to the accessory thread of your lens and allow the lens they are fitted to focus closer than normal. This means these are very easy to use – and they are compact, too. Also, because they are clear glass, there is no filter factor to take into account. These accessories are available individually, but they are also often sold in sets of three and their diopter rating tells you how strong they are, with higher numbers being the stronger. Close-up lenses can be combined for a higher magnification, but adding glass in front of the lens can impact on image quality. Marumi Achromat close-up lenses are available in +3 and +5 strengths. For reference, the 58mm size DHG Achromat 330 +3 lens costs £68.35. Hoya sells close-up lenses in sets of three with +1, +2 and +4 in a padded pouch. These HMC filters come in thread sizes from 46mm to 77mm, with prices from £53 to £73.
parkcameras.com wexphotovideo.com
Hoya: intro2020.co.uk Marumi: kenro.co.uk
ABOVE The Plamp II is like having an extra hand, perfect for keeping your subject steady or, as here, for holding a reflector
12 Photography News | Issue 82
photographynews.co.uk
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