Getting Even Closer

Dicyrtomina saundersi

This is Dicyrtomina saundersi, a springtail, and boy do they jump if they feel threatened. This is an uncropped image. I have experimented with extension tubes for the first time ever this morning, and have found using the 36 mm tube in combination with my Raynox 250 they work pretty well. Normally I would have had to crop the image some to get closer.

The original image was 6000 x 4000 pixels but I have reduced it down to 2000 x 1333 pixels for internet use and have reduced the quality a little to bring down the file size.

Oh, and yes, I probably snapped this individual at an inopportune moment … but there you go in the world of photography.

25 thoughts on “Getting Even Closer”

  7. David
    Reply

    I meant to ask this when I first read your post but was super busy. Coincidently I just put a set of extension tubes on my Amazon Christmas gift list. What kind are you using and is there anything you don’t like about them. I’m assuming you are using the tube with your D7000 and Sigma macro. I have a Raynox 250 but only used it once and I forget why. I probably should dust it off and give it another try.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Peter Hillman
      Reply

      I went for the Neewer extension tubes as they were much cheaper than the Kenko. Pack of 3 – 12 mm, 20 mm and 36 mm. I haven’t done experimenting with them yet, but I have used them in conjunction with the Nikon D7200, Sigma 105 mm macro lens and with the Raynox 250 clipped on the end all at the same time, but only using the 36 mm ring to begin with. Light is crucial, so I also use the NIkon speedlight and a diffuser on the end of the Sigma lens. The tube gives me that little more reach on the really small stuff, and after some tinkering I have been quite impressed so far. You ought to dust down the raynox 250 as it is a real good bit of kit for the tiny critters 🙂

      As for negatives … they can be a little fiddly at first putting them on and off, but you get used to it. Auto focus won’t work unless your camera has a “Release without lens” setting in the camera, which mine doesn’t as far as I can see, but that’s fine with me as I only use manual for macro work anyway as at this close range, and with the Raynox auto doen’t work well.

      Getting enough light without upping the ISO too much is key, hence the flash. I am still playing at the moment, but mainly positives so far.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Vicki
    Reply

    Very impressive image and inopportune times work for me. I’ve only caught a couple of those moments myself 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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