Final Upgrades to Macro Setup
I think I have all the pieces in place for the mechanical portion of my macrophotography
I replaced some of the mechanical parts in my macro setup today. I also used my most recent lens for this image. I’m thrilled with the results; it only took about two years to learn enough to even be able to make these upgrades!
Here’s what I’ve changed:
There is a moving stage that adjusts the camera’s position in small increments. I pulled out the ‘pretty good’ stage and replaced it with an older but precision industrial stage. The result is perfectly steady movements that support as much magnification as I am likely to do.
I added a black backdrop. This is not only a nice look for these photos, but it simplifies the processing. You take multiple shots as the camera moves along a rail, and then combine them (stack them, in the lingo) to make the final image. Some parts of the subject are sharp, and some are soft because they are not in focus. A black background makes it easier to deal with the out of focus bits during final cleanup.
I am using much better lenses, which are designed to provide magnified views of small objects. I started with microscope objectives, but the good ones are incredibly expensive. This was made with a machine vision lens—the type of lens that is used to examine, say, computer chips for defects. These are some of the most precise lenses you can find—even old, used ones like the one I’m using are fantastic. The new ones are crazy expensive ($2-6,000); this used one was less than 1/10th of that.
I have upgraded my lighting, with more to come. Good lighting can be whatever I need it to be: flat (from a ring light) if I need to keep down deep shadows; brilliant (for dark subjects); multiple angles (to help show the shape of some subjects), and so on. There is enough room around the setup now to allow whatever type of lighting I need.
Here’s the current version of the setup:
From left to right: black background (special optical cloth that is non-reflecting), a rail for the background to adjust distance as necessary, a moveable platform with clip to hold subjects, ring light, and then a vertical stack (from top to bottom) with mounting rail for camera, breadboard to allow more intricate setups, an industrial stage with stepper motor.