Macro-ish Photography for the Wildlife Photographer

[@stevemartin239]

Cracking information Scott. Thanks for sharing.

[@WildlifeInspired]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@garymc8956]

Going to give my extension tubes more of a try with my 300mm f4 since I love that lens’ fairly close focusing and size. I’ve used the tubes with my 100 macro but think I’ll like the increased distance and longer focal length aspect. Good perspective piece, thanks.

[@eugecoscarelli9745]

Hi Scott, I thought the same as you some years ago as I use a Canon 7DII with a 400mm 5.6 L series prime. There was one particular butterfly which was impossible to photograph with standard macro because as soon as you got within 6 feet it was off. So I went and purchased the Kenko 12,20 and 36mm extension tubes and added them to the setup. I got the photos I had tried so often to get, I now keep the extension tubes in the camera bag for any occasion that may arise again. Yes I was also concerned with the weak connection point but I cradled the camera in my arms and this worked fine. I really appreciate the video as it shows that as photographers we need to experiment and consider different options/styles and equipment to what we normally take. Hopefully others will take up this form of close up photography. Another option you can use is close up lenses such as the ones that NISI created, but they only work upto 77mm lens diameter. Keep up the good work as always. See you out there!

[@WildlifeInspired]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@edbritelight7683]

Hey Scott. I just love this video ❤, thank you so much for your work! I own the Z 70-200 and both the 1.4 and 2 times TC and will definitivly add the Meike extension tubes.

[@WildlifeInspired]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@LouisaLee63]

The 70 to 200mm is a great lens for up close flower photography!

[@WildlifeInspired]

Totally agree!

[@MichaelQPowell]

I loved this video. I am the atypical wildlife photographer who spends most of the warm months with my macro lens attached to my crop sensor DSLR, shooting a lot of dragonflies and damselflies (for the record, your "dragonfly" is actually a damselfly--you can tell by the way that it perched with its wings closed above the body versus the way that a dragonfly keeps them extended and open). I solve the stand off issue by using a 180mm macro, which gives me the 1:1 magnification from a greater distance. My challenge is almost the opposite one--I try to photograph birds with my macro lens and have gotten some decent results, including an eagle in flight and a hawk. With my crop sensor Canon body, the 180mm macro has the equivalent field of view of 288mm, which is about the minimum needed for bird photography. I am a huge fan of using what you have to shoot what you want and telephoto lenses definitely can give the "macro-ish" results as you so clearly showed.

[@WildlifeInspired]

It's so embarrassing. I actually know damselflies and dragonflies pretty well and had no idea I called this wrong. It's worse when I do bird videos and call out a species I know well by the wrong name. Then I have to have all my bird friends be like. Omg. He's such a rookie. Lol. Oh well. Appreciate the gentle correction. I'll have to listen closer on the editing next time.

[@alanolander9983]

Good introduction to using long lenses for close-up photography. Worth mentioning is the Nikon Z 100-400mm S lens which by itself gets to 0.38X magnification. With a 1.4 TC, you get a little over 0.5X (half life size). You're at f/8 with the TC, but you usually are using smaller apertures for increased DOF when shooting macro/close-up.

[@WildlifeInspired]

I'll try to get my hands on one. I don't think I have an interest in purchasing but I should be able to get a loaner

[@anaphylaxis2548]

I've shot butterflies and wasps with my 70-200 f2.8E. It's very sharp. I'm going to try this again with my Z9.

[@WildlifeInspired]

That lens is soooo good.

[@ambrosechiu2338]

thank you Scott, great video. i think youtube can read my mind. I have ordered the Z 2xTC few days ago and today i have received my Z 70-200mm lens and this video popped up. i have one question, when you use the 29mm extension tube to take the bird photo, is the autofocus still works or you have to use manual focus? thank you.

[@VinceMaidens]

I wouldn't have thought to do this, I still likely won't but I'd not have thought to do it. You should have Nikon send you the new 600 F4 with the 1.4tc to try.

[@WildlifeInspired]

Oh ya.... hey Nikon can I get your best gear before the big names you usually send them to.... I'm sorry, who are you? I've had the 400 on back order for like 5 months, still waiting.

[@VinceMaidens]

@@WildlifeInspired funny you’d think you’d get some traction by now, you’re one if the few who gives an honest review of things. I’ve seen a few absolutely shit photographers getting them for review. Switch to canon I’ll hook you up heh

[@k.g.wuensch9998]

You would have achieved a bigger magnification if you had added the extension tubes between teleconverter and lens, not the camera and teleconverter... Meike is a cheap manufacturer - they also do a reverse ring that allows big magnifications by using something like a cheap 50mm lens reversed. If you want something to be used on large lenses you could look at the all metal constructed extension tubes from Kenko... Edit: You can achieve bigger magnifications with extension tubes the shorter the lens is. So if you use the 70-200mm lens you can achieve about 1:2 magnification at 70mm with your 29mm extension tubes (a little more depending on the native focusing of the lens) but only about 1:6 magnification at 200mm (depending on focus breathing, which is a reduction in focal length, which is very strong on the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 it could result in a higher magnification).

[@WildlifeInspired]

YES! After I made the video, I forgot to mention the 70mm factor. In the editing I tried to include some text that shows the 70mm min focus is much closer and ultimately with tubes and converters you get significantly more magnification. I will look into the metal tubes from Kenko. I try to make the point, that macro isn't my expertise and always appreciate the input and education from "real" macro photographers. Some of my content is designed to show what can be done and encourage a little experimentation with my wildlife friends.

[@wanpaulinacini4617]

Not to over simplify, but wouldnt it have been EASIER to just do these great combinations you came up with and put it on the D500 you then would already be starting with the bonus 1.5 crop. Im a macro shooter.

[@WildlifeInspired]

I did the first video with a crop sensor and wanted to show this a full frame. Sensor size is really irrelevant as pixel density matters. The z9 or d850 have almost identical pixel density to the d500, and they just allow flexibility to include more environment or to crop down in post (or shoot in crop mode). When cropped down they are essential the same resolution as most crop sensors.

[@wanpaulinacini4617]

@@WildlifeInspired Thanks. Ill have to go and watch the first of your video set. I really enjoy your content.

[@jlr3636]

Be careful with your extension tubes, I enjoy my 70-300mm with extension tubes for butterfly photography however I never carry or shoot the camera without supporting the lens at all times. My cheaper extension tube plastic body cracked at the screws and the lens crashed to the ground.

[@WildlifeInspired]

If you know of a brand that is better built. let me know! For my set up I think I'm okay as I normally use it with a light Tokina 100mm macro

[@HalMoran]

I use a Sigma 150-600 for all my butterfly and bird photography. I'll mount it on a generic gimbal with mono-pod when possible (I have Tourettes so it's hard to handhold). Check out my images if desired. (Webpage link upon request)