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Close-up Photography Seminar (Patreon)

Published:
2022-08-03 01:48:57
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

In this Close-up photography seminar special I look at Sony's Macro lenses and also the Sony lenses that have both a close-focusing distance and high magnification ratio. Many photographers don't actually need to own a macro lens to photograph small subjects, as they can simply use one of their existing lenses.
I provide some tips and techniques as to how to increase the magnification ratio of your existing lenses and show example of how close you can get without owning a Macro lens. I also make some camera setting recommendations for shooting close-up when using tripod and when shooting hand-held and also throw in some tips for lighting on location and when using a wind break would prove useful.

You can download the Slide Deck I used in this presentation (with hyperlinks)from Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p8e79elchysrswm/Close-up%20Photography.pdf?dl=0

If you have any questions about these workflows just drop them into forum below.

Files

Previews only

Close-up Photography Seminar

Close-up Photography Seminar 00:00 Start 00:12 Intro 01:37 Close-up Lenses 06:25 Increasing Magnification 10:37 Recommended Camera Settings 13:24 E 16-55 F2.8 G 14:33 Close-up Lighting and Wind Breaks 18:16 Getting the best performance from a standard lens 23:07 APS-C Macro Lens 25:03 Full-Frame Macro Lens 26:57 When is Macro not Macro 29:47 FE 24-70 F2.8 GM II 30:54 FE 135 F1.8 GM 32:55 Teleconverters 36:37 Extension Tubes 40:58 FE 50mm F2.8 Macro 42:50 1:1 Macro Work 47:03 Steve Axford #SonyAustralia #SonyAlpha #SonyAmbassador #SonyAlphaANZ

Comments

Jeff Goldner

I'll put a plug in for the Tamron 20-40 f2.8. Close focus at the 20mm end is just 6.7 in, 0.26x magnification. Which works out to about 2.5 inches from the front surface. At 40mm, 11.4 in, 0.196x. Maybe not up to "G" IQ (certainly not at the 40mm end).

Cristina Libourkine

Thank you Mark for this Close-up Seminar. There are few more informations that I could get them. But I have no idea about the magnification in each lens. Could you please explain or put a link that I can learn it? I know there is a min. focusing distance in each lens. I am practicing at least the distance of camera and subject with 100-400 GM as I have to learn from beginning in generally. Thanks.

Mark Galer
>>88987502

In the section where I show the chart of the Sony lenses, the ones with magnification ratios larger than 0.2x, I also list the close focusing distance of each of these lenses. I also say that B&H Photo and Sony's own website list both the maximum magnification and the close focusing distance in the specifications section for each lens.

Sue Martin

Heliconsoft, which you recommend in the video, is only available for Canon DSLRs and Nikon DSLRs. How do you use it with a Sony Full frame mirrorless?

Colin H

Hello Mark, Have you used the FE 100-400 with the 2x teleconverter for close up work? If my arithmetic is correct using the formula in your video 0.35x Magnification + 1.5x APS-C Crop + 2.0 Teleconverter would give 1:1 magnification? I am debating whether to get the 1.4 or 2x teleconverter for my 100-400 and this could influence my buying decision. I sometimes take close ups of bees and the extra working distance the longer lens gives could be useful over a shorter macro lens. What are your thoughts on the 2.0 vs the 1.4 for close up work? Thanks for the very useful video and your thoughts.

Brad Townsend

Great seminar Mark, on my favorite genre. I shoot most of my closeups handheld and I always waffle a bit between the 100-400 and the 135. Knowing that the 100-400 has a little better magnification factor I still mostly use the 135 because of less weight and the sharpness that is beyond compare. It’s my favorite GM lens as you can tell.

Mark Galer
>>89048154

Hi Colin I used the 2x Teleconverter when testing the 70-200 MK 1, 100-400 GM and 400 F2.8 GM. I noticed a small drop in sharpness when using the 2x converter instead of the 1.4x Teleconverter so decided to shoot in APS-C mode, use the 1.4x TC or crop further in post rather than using a 2.0x Teleconverter. I have ordered a 2.0x Teleconverter to repeat some tests as I would like to know how it performs when used on the new 70-200 GM II. My order for the 2.0x TC has been on back-order for quite some time, as there are no 2.0x Teleconverters currently in Australia. I also noticed a rumour, on Sony Alpha Rumours, that there my be new MK II Teleconverters announced in early September. Now may not be a good time to purchase the 2.0x TC.

Mark Galer
>>89049110

...and of course when the f/1.8 aperture of the 135 GM is used on a subject at close range the background becomes a sea of silky-smooth bokeh :-) There are not many downsides to being an Adobe Ambassador but one of them is that I am often testing new cameras and new lenses for Sony Australia when I could just be using the A1 with 135 GM.

Scott Robson

HI Mark, could you please consider doing a review of the new Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO lens?

Mark Galer
>>89077217

As a Sony Ambassador I only test non-Sony lenses with specifications that don't replicate an existing Sony Lens. As Sony have a 90mm Macro lens with exceptional performance I will not be testing other macro lenses in this focal range. As you will appreciate from my Close-up photography seminar I rarely use macro lenses at all in my own personal workflows - choosing to use lenses with good close focusing distance and high magnification ratio.

Colin Wright

Hi Mark, thanks for another very informative and detailed seminar - would appreciate your view on the benefits and disadvantages in using a close up lens kit particularly with my Sony 135mm GM lens for close up photography. I know a close up kit is way more expensive than a set of extension tubes but I'm more interested to know whether there is a significant increase in the quality of images that might justify the extra cost. Thanks Colin W

Derrick Mickle

It was eye-opening for me to realize I have five more lenses I can use for close-up photography. Since I mostly do bird photography and macro, going to experiment with using the 100-400 GM as my all-arounder.

Mark Galer
>>89126332

Can you provide me a link to the 'kit' product you are looking at. Extension tubes have no glass elements. They simply move the lens further way from the sensor to reduce the close focusing distance. Because there is nothing between Sony's lens optics and the sensor there is no drop in quality. The only downside when you have attached the extension tube is that you no longer have infinity focus.

Mark Galer
>>89139556

Hi Derrick - I was inspired to make this seminar as I often get asked about Macro and I have to point out that I rarely use a macro lens to photograph tiny flora and fauna. Listing all of the lenses that have a good maximum magnification in one place provides a useful Patreon resource moving forward.

Saul Pleeter

Thanks for your presentation! After watching your presentation, I orderede the Sony 90mm macro lens. I'm having trouble close focusing with it in aperture priority. It seems to constantly go in and out of focus and not hold the focus. I'm using manual focus - but the manual focus immediately enlarges the screen and makes focusing difficult. I'm trying to photograph flowers.

Mark Galer
>>90035399

ManualFocus is really the only way to go with a Macro lens being used for Macro. I would only use the AF when shooting portraits etc. If you don't want the view to magnify when using Manual Focus you need to disable the Focus Assist/Auto Magnifier in MF in the menus.

Al Kaufman

I own the f4/10-18. As an enthusiast, not a professional, do you recommend one of the three new aps-c lens as a replacement or as an addition?

Mark Galer
>>90081890

The E PZ 10-20 F4 has a similar IQ for stills as your E 10-18 F4. It would only be a step up if you need that Power Zoom feature when capturing movies. The 11mm F1.8 would make an excellent Astro lens or Vlogging lens and the 15mm F1.4 is the best wide-angle lens for capturing shallow depth of field or low light/twilight/night images hand-held.