Photography News Issue 44

Photography News | Issue 44 | absolutephoto.com

46 Accessories test

Buyers’ guide Close up gear Macro photography is an incredibly absorbing subject, but you need the right kit to make a success of it. The correct accessories will help you light the subject, stabilise your shooting, and get an even more magnified view than a macro lens gives alone. Here’s a mix of gear to help improve results

Manfrotto Xpro Geared 3-Way Pan/Tilt tripod

Pixapro 75cmCube Tent £33

head £149 With macro shooting, even minor camera movements can make a big difference to your focusing and composition; just a few millimetres of difference could see a subject fall out of focus. So, for more precise control than a regular ball or three-way head provides, look for a tripod head like Manfrotto’s Xpro Geared 3-Way Pan/Tilt head. Fine adjustment comes via three knobs, a full turn of which moves the head through just under 10º, so actions are precise. There are also grip levers to free the mechanism for faster adjustment. The model has a vertical tilt range of -20°/+90°, a lateral range of -90°/+30°, and a 360° pan, giving a huge range of movement. The head features two bubble levels, making it easier to get pictures on the level, weighs 750g and will support loads of up to 4kg, while a Manfrotto 200PL quick release plate is included. manfrotto.co.uk Even if you don’t have a dedicated macro lens, there are accessories that can give you a macro effect when attached to a regular zoom or prime. One type is close-up lenses, like this set from renowned photographic engineers, SRB. These lenses screw onto the thread at the end of your lens and reduce its minimum focusing distance, and therefore give a greater magnification than you’d normally get. And you can use them on macro lenses, too, for even larger reproductions. Available sizes from 52mmto 77mm, andwith four filters in the set you can choose from 1+, 2+, 4+, and 10+ strengths, or stack them for even higher magnification. Prices start at £20 for a set of 52mm filters, rising to £26, and each set comes with a protective case. srb-photographic.co.uk 2 SRB Close Up Lens Set from£20

Whether it’s for macro product photography, or fine-art work, diffused and even lighting can give superb results; and it doesn’t come much more diffuse than when shooting in a light tent. The translucent, durable, white nylon fabric of Pixapro’s 75cm pop-up tent sits between your subject and the light sources you’re using, be they flashes, LEDs, or just the sun. The size of the box makes it perfect for small to medium sized items, and the wrap-around diffusion lets you shoot shiny objects without reflections or glare on them; there’s a front door with a slit to poke your lens through, completing the six sides. Shooting in a tent also provides clean backgrounds, and as well as the standard white, there are black, red and blue backdrops included. Hanging loops are provided along the top inner seams, so you can suspend items like jewellery, and its sprung-wire frame lets you quickly fold the tent into its included bag. essentialphoto.co.uk The right lenses and lighting kit are central to successful macro shooting, but other accessories can make a huge difference, too. Clamps, for instance, make positioning the subject much easier, and therefore help you improve focus and composition. This high-quality clamp from Novoflex, the Klammer costing around £15, is a strong and small model, which easily supports flat or curved objects. Crucially, at the opposite end to the clamp it has a 1/4in threaded socket, so can be mounted on tripods, lighting stands, or fixed to other supports. Add this to a flexible gooseneck arm, like the Novoflex 26cm ARM-K, at around £30, and you’ll have a very versatile macro support. novoflex.com 4 Novoflex Klammer Clamp and flexible arm£45

Benro FGP28C carbon fibre tripod £340

Rotolight RL48 LED Creative Colour Kit

Just Ltd reversing rings from£8

V2 £99 LED lights are a great fit withmacro photography. With the camera on a tripod you don’t necessarily need the extra power of flash, and they run cool so floral subjects won’t wilt as they often dowhen facedwith hot tungsten lights. And what you see is what you get, making exposure more simple. Rotolight’s RL48 LED Creative Colour Kit contains all you need to improve your macro lighting, comprising a Rotolight RL48-B ring light, Colour FX gel set including ten filters, a stand and a pouch to put it all in. With its ring shape and included diffuser, soft shadows are created, and away from the gels the light can be set to 3200K, 4300K, 5600K or 6300K output. rotolight.com

Achieving macro reproductions means you need a versatile tripod, for example one that’s capable of shooting very close to the ground, such as when shooting wildflowers, or creepy crawlies. A tripod that does that and loads more besides is Benro’s GoPlus Travel FGP28C. Central to macro shooting is the adjustable centre column’s ability to move from vertical to almost any angle, allowing ground-level shots. If you don’t need to go that low, or are shooting in a cramped spot, the legs can be independently locked at different angles. A carbon-fibre construction keeps it light at 1.62kg, and it supports up to 14kg, which should be plenty for a camera, head and focusing rail if required. benroeu.com life-size

A reversing ring is a macro accessory that lets you mount a lens back to front on your DSLR or CSC. This has the effect of reducing the minimum focusing distance, providing a macro effect. You pick the ring that you need based on the filter size of the lens, and Just Ltd carry 52mm to 77mm rings in Canon and Nikon mounts, as well as 52mm and 58mm fits for Micro Four Thirds mounts. Prices run from £8 to £11, making it a very affordable and effective way of achieving macro images. However, unlike extension tubes, there’s no electronic connection between camera and lens, so it works best with older, manual lenses that have a manual aperture ring – even those that don’t fit your camera’s mount. cameraclean.co.uk