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Thread: Question to experts

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  1. #1
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    Dean Donehoo
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    Default Question to experts

    I bought my camera equipment to take pictures of dog show competitions for my wife. I am now interested in taking photographs of my orchids. My photos are OK but I would like to improve. I am presently using a Nikon D40x and the best short range lense I have is a 18-55mm. I have three questions.
    1.Any suggestions on the upgrades I should consider.
    2. What are good resources to learn about orchid photography?
    3. Would a tripod be a good investment?
    THANKS

  2. #2
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    Magnus
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    I am not an expert but have some suggestions.

    First it depends on your budget but i will try to give you options.

    1. I would say a dedicated macro lens or "magnification lenses" that you screw onto your excisting lens, the first much more expensive. For macro lenses I just love the 105mm Nikon but it is somewhat expensive. And all macro lenses are very sharp even used as normal photograpy lenses, they are though often a little slow to focus!
    2. Try to find forums for photography and there is often a section for macro or flower photography, there you can lern alot. Depending on your experience, you may want to invest in a basic photo instruction book that describe photography from the basic.
    3. YES, a good tripod is a very good investment if you would like to do macro photography! You can the n use a small aparature under low light with long shutter times.

    I would suggest a tripod before a macro lens as it is essensial for good macro photograpy. For those screw on lenses I would say that the result depends on what optics they are added to and your lens is a consumer kit lens that is not optically that good.

    /Magnus

  3. #3
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    Jeff Tucker
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    Your Nikon is a good camera. I would highly recommend a tripod if you're going to be serious about photographing orchids. Here are two excellent web-pages about that kind of photography.

    ---- Commercial link removed - see FAQs on Posting ----

    Old Mister Crow's guide to photographing bonsai and kusamono

  4. #4
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    Yew-Sung
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    1. The 18 - 55mm is quite adequate for pictures of the whole plant or even the the whole flower spike. However, as Magnus suggested a dedicated macro lens would give you more options to photograph individual flowers and even close-ups of parts of the flower. The Nikkor 105mm is an excellent lens but very expensive. I use the much cheaper alternative a Tamron SP 90.
    2. Apart from forums, You Tube videos etc , one can learn a lot by studying pictures of orchids posted by our own members on OTF
    3. A good steady tripod is an essential item in every photographers kit.

  5. #5
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    Mietek
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    tripod for sure. Alternative to ever quite expensive macro lens is Rynox RX-250 lens. Look at. I can tell you, cheap and good.

  6. #6
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    Magnus
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    Just a varning.
    If you get a macro lens, make sure that your cameras functions work with it! That auto fucos does not work is not a big deal but when your cameras light meter is non compatible with your lens you get into problems. I say this as you have a "not so advanced" consumer camera that may have restrictions on compability.
    /M

  7. #7
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    Cathy
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    and Yew Sung...the Tamron lenses are super.

  8. #8
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    Dean Donehoo
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    Thanks for the help. The information and articles provided were very helpful. I decided the lens that would best serve my needs (wants) was a AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 G ED. This lens will do anything my ability allows---- and more.

  9. #9
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    Rinaldy Nasrul
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    Quote Originally Posted by sammywolffox View Post
    Thanks for the help. The information and articles provided were very helpful. I decided the lens that would best serve my needs (wants) was a AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 G ED. This lens will do anything my ability allows---- and more.
    It is true, since 60 mm in my opinion is perfect for taking picture of flower and autofocus of Nikon D40x will work with AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 G ED.

  10. #10
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    Steve
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    I use the Canon version of that lens 60mm f2.8 macro and it is great for close up plant and flower photos. For super close-ups a tripod is essential though!

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