Rik, I’ve seen that reference before, but I don’t agree with it. First, what the heck is “medical grade methanol”? Perhaps they mean “drugstore grade isopropanol”? If they get the entire chemical wrong, maybe I can question the bit about a few parts per million of other substances? I’ve cleaned sens...

These look like typical "scientific study" images -- a large number of species in standardized positions with flat lighting and limited specimen prep. Very different goals from most of the images presented at photomacrography.net. I think that distinction deserves emphasis. Most of the images in ou...

Since posting this thread, I've upgraded the Bratcam's tube lens assembly. For anyone considering something similar, I recommend incorporating these additonal features. Both the earlier and current embodiments produce good results, but the newer version makes repeatable results easier to obtain. The...

OK, finally got around to testing Mitutoyo objectives on full frame. They do vignette: http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... 3897#83897

Following up on questions raised in other threads, I tested the Mitutoyo M Plan Apo series objectives on a Nikon D700 full-frame (36 x 23.9 mm) digital SLR. The trial was of interest because it was not known to what degree, if any, these objectives would vignette on a full-frame sensor. It is known ...

Tanner, do I misunderstand, or are you using your reversed EL Nikkor as an auxilary lens on the front of your Pentax 135mm lens? All my experience with the EL Nikkor is in using it alone, reversed, on the end of a bellows.

Cheers,

--Chris

I can think of another problem--one I'm in the throes of dealing with in my own system. With my Nikon D200 DSLR, I get the impression that the viewfinder and sensor are not precisely the same optical distance from the lens. When an image is precisely focused in the viewfinder, the sensor is a bit to...

Very nice, Craig. Keep up the good work! I wouldn’t touch the saturation, unless the real moth actually looks more saturated to the eye. Your image looks appropriately natural to me, though I'm not familiar with this moth. Oversaturating in post seems to be a current fad, especially among landscape ...

I use x-pol almost every day. It is a very straightforward technique--not much mystery to it, once you try it. While there is distinct coolness in scrounging materials, as Brian is doing, the more boring among us can just buy what we need. For in front of the flash, I use Techspec Linear Polarizing ...

Although I got it for the cone adapter, I have also used it to line all my lens hoods and some extension tubes etc. Very strongly agreed. I can't imagine any photomacrographer living without Protostar or a similar flocking material. Those cone adapters are terrible without it, but very good once li...

Yep, looks great! Nice job with the lighting, background, and all else.

As Rik said, it gets easier. I sure have been there myself.

Cheers,

--Chris

Thanks, Rik. One of the things I like to do with the Bratcam is pull away from what I think of as the “tyranny of the flat.” Well-known microscopic approaches already reveal wonderful detail, so long as the specimen is kept perpendicular to the optics. However, with a number of small subjects, I’ve ...

Thanks for all the advice so far. It’s much appreciated. I should clarify that I’m not concerned about the reflections from my lights—those are pretty easy to deal with. What I want to avoid is reflections of the subject itself on the glass slide (or cover slip, if I place them on that, instead). Im...

I agree with Pau, the smoother and flatter you get the surface, the more reflective it becomes. But is this inexorable? The wavelength of visible light is measured in nanometers, while these subjects are measure in microns. Could there not be some substance whose surface irregularities stand betwee...

Thanks, Pau. As an example of what I'm thinking, carpet is not shiny because of its many surface irregularities. Similarly, sandpaper is not shiny because of its surface irregularities. But the surface irregularities in these two materials are differ in size by orders of magnitude. An ideal substrat...