HELP!!!! Macro lens for a Nikon D5200

Fordprefect · June 24, 2015, 11:21:48 AM

Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='74811' dateline='1435105916'Thanks Trout, I can't wait to read enough of the manual to understand what all the bells and whistles mean. It's like a plane's instrument panel!!

And you don't realy need to know that much to set up and start shooting. Set camera to Aperture Priority Mode, Set Aperture to F8, set ISO to 400, set Metering mode to spot, White Balance to Auto to start with, manual setting after you become comfortable with gear.

The D5200 Nikon has live view support and the Free software
digicamcontrol is reported to work with it.
http://digicamcontrol.com/supported_cameras/d5200
(Control My Nikon will also work but costs)

You wil need a solid Tri-Pod to shoot full face coins.

Unicorn · June 24, 2015, 11:23:33 AM

Thanks heaps FP!

Unicorn · August 13, 2015, 05:54:37 PM

Well I finally finished building my camera stand and have taken my first pics using FP's settings above. (Set camera to Aperture Priority Mode, Set Aperture to F8, set ISO to 400, set Metering mode to spot, White Balance to Auto).

For these I had 2 extention tubes connected (36mm + 20mm).

Camera was set to auto focus and I used my external shutter release gizmo.

Obviously I have quite a bit to work on, but pretty happy with the first results.

Here's a couple of pics of my contraption.

Camera bar moves +/- 60cm horizontal and +/- 90cm vertical (for those large group shots).

El-cheapo lighting box of 200 white LEDs $13 (yes folks, it's Christmas all year round now). It fits under the horizontal bar etc allowing the camera lens into it. Going to muck around with the height of the lighting more now. The photos above were taken with it where it is shown. (Although I found a better coin stand than my tube of dynasteel ..... the clothes line base from little Uni's dolls house was perfect).

Comes apart with four screws (2 arrowed) into 7 pieces (2 vertical bars, 2 horizontal bars, camera bar & 2 ends) and fits easily under a bed.

ausjack · August 13, 2015, 06:44:54 PM

Gee dad so what's me little mate gonna do now :cray:

Dare ya to go pinch Mrs Uni's clothes line :winkextra: bet I know where you'd get a swift kick too :blink::laugh2:

Lookin good Uni so now just need more lights and your all set mate :good:

also looks like chrissie is out since ya pinch the chrissie lights :fie:

But serious mate just be careful they don't melt the foam box or catch it on fire as the tinsel near went up on our tree one year so no more lights on the chrissie tree for us.

Now that's

trout · August 13, 2015, 07:33:10 PM

Try using the Manual Focus, It is Better by a long shot :good:

I took these today using manual focusing with a Nikon D3200 and a Tamron lens.

Unicorn · August 13, 2015, 08:07:27 PM

I'll get the bucket of water ready AJ :laugh2: (I'm dreaming of a wet Christmas ..... ).

Thanks Trout, I'll give that a run when I do my next set.

robbiegal · August 13, 2015, 08:13:00 PM

Uni
what the heck are those fairy lights for?

Unicorn · August 13, 2015, 08:17:32 PM

:laugh2: .... That's my whole lighting set up RG!

200 lights are better than 1 ..... (well cheaper for me at this stage, so this is the pensioner version of coin lighting).

robbiegal · August 13, 2015, 08:40:34 PM

how do you take the photo?
is it remote?

if that were my set up i'd probably set my hair on fire
the lighting would be brilliant for 20 seconds that i'm screaming for someone to throw a bucket of water on me though!! haha

Robster · August 13, 2015, 10:19:08 PM

"Necessity is the mother of invention." Very innovative Uni. Look forward to your progress.

ausjack · August 14, 2015, 05:27:13 AM

Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='77698' dateline='1439462247'I'll get the bucket of water ready AJ :laugh2: (I'm dreaming of a wet Christmas ..... ).

Thanks Trout, I'll give that a run when I do my next set.

:laugh2: now that could be a shocking experience Uni

Don't know if I can wait until chrissie as some rain would be nice now, it's just so dry ATM :-/

Unicorn · August 14, 2015, 07:49:40 AM

Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='77703' dateline='1439464234'how do you take the photo?
is it remote?

:laugh2: ... I can visualise the hair on fire RG ..... quick press the button!!! (We'd have to rename you "Flash").

Yes, have a lovely and very inexpensive ($13.90 incl. postage) cabled shutter release remote which seems to work quite well.

Quote from: 'Robster' pid='77707' dateline='1439470148'"Necessity is the mother of invention." Very innovative Uni. Look forward to your progress.

Thanks Robster, yes the only thing I had to buy (apart from the camera accessories .... tubes & remote) were the Christmas lights. Had everything else laying around, so it worked out pretty cheap and the camera mounts as solid as a rock on the hardwood bar.

Fordprefect · August 14, 2015, 01:45:38 PM

Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='77699' dateline='1439462580'Uni
what the heck are those fairy lights for?

Nearly my first thoughts but with a somewhat more expletive tone.

Congratulations you have entered the dSLR devotees.

There is a real problem with focus that needs to be addressed.

Being a Zoom lens they are known to at times to suffer from "Zoom Creep" and with your setup having the lense pointing at the ground I'm assuming your lense is altering it's zoom during the focus stage.

A quick fix may be achieved by using a small strip of electrical adhesive tape placed over the preset zoom ring which should stop the "Creep".
From the Tech Spec's of the lense Tamron do state that it is fitted with a Zoom Lock on the barrel, if it can be set at the desired length
then use it.
The Zoom Locks I have encounted only locked at minimum zoom.

Do the mod, the focus is No1 priority.

Unicorn · August 14, 2015, 02:52:07 PM

Thanks FP, I really appreciate your assistance.

I hope to do some more practice pics over the weekend.

Quote from: 'Fordprefect' pid='77741' dateline='1439525738'The Zoom Locks I have encounted only locked at minimum zoom.

Just read the paperwork, 100% correct for this lense too.

Fordprefect · August 14, 2015, 03:15:51 PM

Just a thought, but if it was my combo I'd start by removing the extension tubes set the lens to its maximum zoom, focus shoot and then proceed if the image turns out to be not so flash.

Until now lt is only assumption that the long zoom is not ideal for coin imaging.(Probably correct though)

The other critical item is the distance the camera back, (where the sensor is) is in fact the 450mm minimum distance from the coin you wish to image. There is no wriggle room in this distance, greater by a mm or two is o'k but anything less is a BIG NO NO.