RE: paleonet digital camera for copy stand work

[Patricio Dominguez <patricio@xxxxxxxxxx>]

This is an extension of my previous message.

Canon has a wide range of macro-photo lens. If you need magnification
bigger than 1:1, I recommend you the Macro Lens 65mm f/2.8 1-5x MPE.
This is an "only for macro" lens ranging from 1:1 to 5:1. For bigger
magnifications you can add extension tubes, or bellows (automatic
better). However for this magnifications could be better to use
dedicated lens and macro-photo bench. I recommend you to use this
particular lens with the macro flash MT24 EX, the best for macro.

Macro Lens 65mm f/2.8 1-5x MPE	850 € (from 1:1 to 5:1, only for macro)
Macro Lens 180mm f/3.5L USM 	1.250 € (about 50cm of minimum work
distance; up to 1:1, Class L lens 
Macro Lens 50mm f2.5	250 € (up to 1:2)
macro Lens 100mm f/2.8 USM	500 € (about 30 cm of minimum work
distance; up to 1:1)


For other systems besides canon you should use macrophoto lens + bellows
to get such magnifications. If you want to use reflex system, it should
be able to have a mirror lock position and a shutter cable is
imperative.

Respect to the compact cameras systems I am not up to date but One of
the best is the Nikon coolpix 4500 or others of the articulated models
such as the 950. This models have one of the best macro lens in the
compact range of cameras. Usually, the macro position is no more than a
wide angle with short focus distance. However in this model the macro is
more or less in the middle position of the zoom, then you have no barrel
distorsion.


If you need a complete review of digital cameras you should visit
http://www.dpreview.com


Respect for the copy-stand, I prefer to use the setup that I mention
before from Manfrotto. It is very compact when packed (about 40x10x12cm
and 1.5 kg)




__
Dr. Patricio DOMINGUEZ
Dep. Paleontologia. Fac. Ciencias Geoógicas, Universidad Complutense de
Madrid
28040 Madrid, Spain
Phone: ++34 913 944 851
Fax: ++34 913 944 449

-----Mensaje original-----
De: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk [mailto:paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk] En nombre
de Patricio Domínguez Alonso
Enviado el: lunes, 27 de febrero de 2006 9:53
Para: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk
Asunto: Re: paleonet digital camera for copy stand work

Hi, 

My set-up is simmilar: Nikon Coolpix 4500 and Canon Eos 20D

For 20D, I'm mainly using a Tamron 90mm Macro lens f/2.8. This lens gets
1:1, Optically is as good as the original  canon but half price in
europe. For bigger magnifications I'm using automatic extension tubes
and some second hand leitz photar macro lens with a home-made adapted
bellows from Minolta. For macro, I'm using both natural light and
flashes

Respect to the copy stand, I'm using for portability (about 1.5 kg) this
setup:

Manfrotto magic arm #143
Manfrotto super clamp #20
Manfrotto focusing rail #454

All the best

Patricio Domínguez



----- Mensaje original -----
De: "webmaster@echinologia.com" <webmaster@echinologia.com>
Fecha: Lunes, Febrero 27, 2006 9:20 am
Asunto: Re: paleonet digital camera for copy stand work

> Hi John,
> I personally use two cameras for this purpose :
> the first one is a very cheap model : the Nikon 775 (the actual 
> reference is 885 today). You can shoot up to 2cm from the lens ! 
> This is 
> a bridge camera and you don't need to add something on the front 
> of the 
> lens to shoot little specs. My mind is that for a such price 
> (under 350 
> euros) this model has the better lens you can find (the others are 
> built 
> with plastic lenses). 3.5 Mega pix of native resolution.
> 
> the second is more expensive (1800 euros with a macro lens) : EOS 
> 20D 
> from Canon. With this one, you can shoot up to 8 Megapix. This is 
> ideal 
> for publications.
> Mine is equiped with the macro lens EF-S 60mm f1:2.8.  The EF-S is 
> a 
> serie specially designed for the EOS 20D and cannot be used with 
> other 
> cameras designed for Canon. With this one, you can shoot upto 1:1, 
> with 
> a distance between the lens and the object around 25-30cm. It 
> exists 
> another model that can reach 5:1 (X5) but the price... no comment !
> 
> If you want some other specifications, feel free to contact me off-
> list.
> All the best,
> Eric
> 
> JAMES STJOHN a écrit :
> 
> >To all,
> >
> >I'm interested in getting people's opinions & recommendations for 
> a current digital camera models to be used in copy stand work that 
> produces publication-quality photos of medium to small specimens.  
> Can be models with macrolens options built in, or models that need 
> a macrolens added on.
> >
> >Best,
> >
> >James St. John
> >
> >stjohn.2@osu.edu
> >__________________________________________
> >
> >James St. John
> >Founders Hall 156A
> >1179 University Drive
> >Ohio State University at Newark
> >Newark, Ohio 43055  USA
> >__________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
>