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Macro/Closeup Cockpit Photography

2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8936 posts, RR: 65
Posted (3 months 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 1873 times:

AIRLINERS.NET CREW
HEAD DATABASE EDITOR

Hello all,

I'd like to learn how to shoot extreme close-up shots of instrument panel details, like these:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fhlaran...5798507480/sizes/l/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fhlaran...5798508376/sizes/l/in/photostream/

What (Nikon) lenses should I be considering for this kind of shooting?

What about extension tubes? I think I remember being shown how you can stack more than one for even greater close-up shots. Should I be considering these, and if so, with what lens(es)?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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7 replies: All unread, jump to last

soon7x7 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 2520 posts, RR: 16
Reply 1, posted (3 months 1 week 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1683 times:

Tripod, 55mm macro or ultra wide, mini tripods, and cable release for your shutter. Extension tubes are cumbersome and cut light. The Nikkor 55 manual lens works great on my D300, the manual settings are good for this as you need to control depth of field heavily.

Challenger 604 lav faucet, pink gold machined

alevik From Canada, joined Mar 2009, 751 posts, RR: 9
Reply 2, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1649 times:

AIRLINERS.NET CREW
HEAD SCREENER

I have the 105 Nikkor macro which is a very good close-up lens. I haven't tried for aircraft macro images but imagine it can't be much different than general subject macro. A tripod is very good advice, as the depth of field can be so shallow even breathing can change your focus point. Cable release is good, you can also use the self timer feature to avoid shutter release camera shake.

Improvise, adapt, overcome.

javibi From Spain, joined Oct 2004, 1369 posts, RR: 51
Reply 3, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1627 times:

I bet no tripod was used to get that shots... I have got similar results with a Canon 70-200 f4 IS, though it is probably not the ideal lense for that. My point is, you do not necessarily need macro capabilities for those.

Regards,

j

"Be prepared to engage in constructive debate". Are YOU prepared?

soon7x7 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 2520 posts, RR: 16
Reply 4, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1594 times:

Getting that close to an object with a lens especially with ambient light shots requires the use of some kind of camera mount, many options exist. You can experiment with all sorts of optics, depends on the situation. Macro is not a necessity but with regards to the proximity demonstrated by the two examples...a Macro is required...Below are images that were all tripod mounts and ambient light. They were recorded in various private aircraft. I did not use macro for all.

non macro, tripod

don't remember, but was not macro...

24-70mm, tripod of depth of field

handheld, 12mm

24-70mm

macro

vikkyvik From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 6497 posts, RR: 29
Reply 5, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 1590 times:

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Obviously a quality lens will help, but as stated you don't necessarily need a macro lens to get close.

These were taken with the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens, handheld, using the on-camera flash (not preferable). It has quite a small minimum focusing distance (0.9 feet or something):

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6658839145_bdfdc4e354_b.jpg

IMG_0732 by Vik Sridharan, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6658838507_d3b1d811c4_b.jpg

IMG_0729 by Vik Sridharan, on Flickr

The spirit of Massachusetts is the spirit of America!

soon7x7 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 2520 posts, RR: 16
Reply 6, posted (3 months 1 week 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 1562 times:

Bring an ox hair brush or natural bristle brush to wipe clean your subject area, otherwise you will be cloning out dust spots for hours!...especially if you use a supplamental light source to highlight the area. Note the bottom of the above golf club image, all the lint on the bottom...looks like someone was golfing in their living room...must have made the wife happy!....If you had to remove all that via PS it would be time consuming, a quick brush off with a blow of compressed air will save much time...g

2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8936 posts, RR: 65
Reply 7, posted (3 months 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1509 times:

AIRLINERS.NET CREW
HEAD DATABASE EDITOR

Great tips, thanks everyone.

What is the official definition of "macro"? I understand the general idea, but I once had a 70-300 macro lens, and the only thing the "macro" switch did was mechanically limit the zoom range. In that instance, it seemed like a gimmick.

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