DIY Macro Rig II

This is my new DIY Macro Rig since Sept 2009.

After working with my previous rig in the field for few months, I have (or wanted to) made some improvements based on few factor:

1) Power Drainage
2) Quality of Light
3) Weight & Size

After few considerations, I come out with this:








Although I have not really tested it in the field, but I can already feel the improvements on #1 & #3. It costs more than 3 stop less power to achieve the same output compared to my previous one. And it's obviously smaller and lighter than my previous one.

I will post more field test updates soon. Stay tuned.

DIY Macro Rig

My macro lighting set-up is far from perfect, I have to do something to improvise it. Without a budget, you can try this:



It costs almost nothing except a small piece of aluminium foil. Before I have this reflector, the maximum aperture I can have is f/11, any smaller aperture will cause insufficient light (or any smaller aperture with slower shutter speed will cause image blur). Now I probably can stop down until f/16 or even f/22 to achieve more DOF while maintaining my shutter speed.

However its raining when I completed this, I will try the effect when I have a chance.

UPDATE: Here are pics taken by this set-up on f/16. I finally can stop down to f/16 or more while retaining 1/200s shutter speed.

(100% crop)

As you can see, the lighting is better than last time, however, the major problem is the reflection, it is a bit too strong where some of the details are blown out. I still need to fine tune my set-up.

DIY Light Tent

DIY a light tent is easy, provided you have the necessary tools.

Just find a square box, cut the 3 sides, leaving some space near the edge, paste the holes with white paper and it's done!

This is how it looks like:




And this is the result:



Due to the thickness of the paper, the result is not so good. I have to actually expose the object quite long. I will replace the thick A4 paper with some thin white fabric instead in the future.