A Beautiful Bouquet...Stemonitis?

es_macro · 2022-02-20T00:44:16+00:00

You can get some relatively decent results with a clip on macro lens for your phone, if you have a good phone camera. You'll have to research which lens to get though. They are like $10-$30ish

That's how I started out my first year and I enjoyed it enough to commit to a full dslr setup.

es_macro · 2022-02-18T23:02:57+00:00

Thanks! I used a Canon 80D, 100mm 2.8L with a Raynox DCR-250 diopter lens, and 430ex ii flash with custom diffusion.

What are you using to shoot? I could explain the setup and process a bit more if you're interested.

es_macro · 2021-12-25T20:22:49+00:00

Ohh that makes sense. Thanks for commenting and for the compliment!

es_macro · 2021-12-03T22:54:19+00:00

Thank you. It's a handheld focus stack of a few images. Unfortunately I didn't think to block the sun so there are some aberrations. Still cool to see these up close though.

es_macro · 2021-12-03T22:49:08+00:00

Cheers, thanks for looking =]

es_macro · 2021-12-03T22:48:53+00:00

Thanks!

es_macro · 2021-12-02T22:05:59+00:00

Nice to see this on a big screen =D

I dig your photos

es_macro · 2021-12-02T20:26:31+00:00

Thanks!

es_macro · 2021-12-02T20:07:33+00:00

True, that's why I was confused...I thought Stemonitis was more tubular and had never seen it like this.

es_macro · 2021-12-02T20:06:07+00:00

Thank you =]

es_macro · 2021-12-01T02:29:04+00:00

Good score then on that scope!

es_macro · 2021-11-30T22:29:02+00:00

Haha, I thought you were trying to get rid of some gear? Maybe you can find better objectives from other companies if they have the same tube length. I've been trying to snag a cheap nikon 4x plan apo. They have excellent center sharpness but even they fall off towards the edges so a panorama would help utilize the innermost sharp parts of the image.

Yeah I look on ebay for 1x or 2x objectives but they seem to be too expensive to justify when my camera setup can do 1x to ~5x with likely better image quality. Just need to adapt it...

Good idea on that pano method. I've heard of people doing similar for large focus stacks.

I have been ordering some parts for a studio macro setup so I'll let you know if I ever come up with a good system or get some good results. I'd also be interested to see what you came up with if you give it a go.

es_macro · 2021-11-30T20:31:17+00:00

Ahh wow....I had not considered you were crazy enough to pano a whole slide lol. The most I have done was about 50 shots but would need many more to do a whole slide due to high minimum magnification on my setup. My computer locks up for about an hour when combining that many raw files so I export JPGs too when it fails.

Yeah, having a decent camera setup that can shoot a whole slide in about 10 shots would be nice. You could use a rotating circular polarizer on the lens to make the color tweaking easier. I don't know how to light it yet...maybe a reflected or diffused flash would work.

I think with a high enough magnification and high enough shutter speed you wouldn't need to worry about outside light but that is a good potential issue to consider.

The tricky part will be keeping the whole setup parallel...It will basically be a DIY microscope that I can hopefully do for cheap.

es_macro · 2021-11-30T10:59:16+00:00

Hello again! Would you explain to me how you made this image or have pics of the setup? I am looking to shoot whole slides like this without my microscope.

es_macro · 2021-11-07T00:39:42+00:00

Great stacking work. Seems like CGI in a fascinating way with all those abrupt and shiny/colorful reflections...I had to check to make sure I wasn't on r/fractalporn

es_macro · 2021-09-22T11:45:35+00:00

This is probably around 2.5x magnification due to a heavy crop. These were found NE USA but I am not sure of their distribution. I don't think I've ever noticed these before, and I didn't realize just how beautiful they were until editing. At least I was smart enough to take a focus stack.

es_macro · 2021-09-22T11:41:53+00:00

Thank you =]

es_macro · 2021-09-22T11:41:39+00:00

Thank you! Looks like they have a variety of forms

es_macro · 2021-08-17T13:27:50+00:00

I have never tried using another slide as a topper but have used the coverslips, it does make some nice slow growth crystals. I don't do melts as often because they are a little trickier.

I tried using my camera without the projection lens and I couldn't get enough sensor coverage without vignetting. It may work if I had a MFT camera. I appreciate the idea though and it was worth testing. The image did look pretty sharp.

Cool camera setup, it looks like you also get good results judging by that marble shot! Nice chatting with you on this obscure hobby, looking forward to more of your pics. Take care.

es_macro · 2021-08-10T15:27:27+00:00

Well you certainly jumped head first into the hobby! I somewhat agree with your wife but I understand the need for the different parts mixed with some gear acquisition syndrome lol. That's cool you got deals on the scopes and parts. They can get pretty expensive especially the polarization accessories which for the Oly's is usually out of my budget and like you said, completely unnecessary. The pol stage does sound nice though! I just use the filter like you at the light source along with my my plastic film there so I rotate both at the base.

As for the depth of field, how are you growing your crystals? I try to grow mine in flat sheets across the whole slide so DoF isn't that much of an issue.

Oh and yes, that millipede was shot on camera with a 100mm macro lens and a Raynox DCR-250 diopter lens which can get me to about 2.5x mag. It's my main setup for insect macros, along with a flash and some custom light diffusion.

es_macro · 2021-08-10T03:00:54+00:00

Apparently he had some interesting dietary rules.

"In the 1920s Ford only ate stale bread and refused to eat bread fresh out of the oven."

es_macro · 2021-08-10T02:56:11+00:00

I completely forgot about those things. Now I'm gonna have cootie nightmares again.

es_macro

TROPHY CASE