This article features handheld macro photographs captured late last week with the M.Zuiko 90mm Macro lens around the house. As I’ve gained more experience through my experimentation with the M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 PRO IS Macro lens, my approach to this genre of photography has shifted somewhat.
NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.
As noted in my review of the M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 PRO IS Macro lens my standard set-up for macro photography now includes the STF-8 Twin Macro Flash, as well as either the MC-14 or MC-20 teleconverter.
The M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 PRO IS lens is now my ‘go to’ macro lens, with the M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens now quite comfortable in its new home in my wife’s camera bag.
I’m finding that I’m capturing a lot more images using the M.Zuiko STF-8 Twin Macro Flash than I ever did in the past. This is due in part to my wife’s suggestion to ‘soften’ the flash by adding some veiling material on the inside of the plastic diffusers on the STF-8. Although not perfect, this has worked quite well.
I still enjoy using the 90 mm macro for handheld in-camera focus stacking. There are specific macro situations when deeper depth-of-field is preferred. In these instances I’ve found that handheld in-camera focus stacking is a better solution than using the STF-8 flash. The images above and below are good examples.
It took some time and ongoing practice to improve my technique in order to be consistently successful with handheld in-camera focus stacking with the 90 mm macro lens. Rather than blame one’s equipment when results don’t meet expectations, I’ve found it is far more productive to assume operator error.
Shooting macro photography around the house can be an enjoyable and sometimes surprising experience. Finding a tiny grasshopper on a leaf in my front yard was one such experience.
It gave me the opportunity to use handheld in-camera focus stacking… as well as the STF-8 Twin Macro Flash in combination with the MC-20 or MC-14 teleconverters.
mm, efov 252 mm, f/13, -0.3 EV, 1/250, ISO-200, M.Zuiko STF-8 Twin Macro Flash, cropped to 2193 pixels on the width, subject distance 250 mm
Being able to get in quite close to this tiny grasshopper and use the S-Macro mode handheld… along with the MC-14 teleconverter and STF-8 Twin Macro Flash… was a liberating experience from a creative perspective.
Even though using the MC-20 has a 2 stop penalty in terms of light loss, I find that I tend to use that teleconverter more frequently than the MC-14. I love the additional flexibility that the increased reach provides from both subject acquisition and creative interpretation perspectives.
As we know, moving away from a subject can help increase depth-of-field in our composition… and getting in closer produces shallower depth-of-field. You can see the amount of depth-of-field with the subject insect in the above image. Now, let’s look at the same subject… but photographed from a shorter subject distance using the same aperture of f/13.
You can see that the depth-of-field is dramatically different, as is the creative interpretation of the subject. Using a lens like the M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS that accepts teleconverters, gives us additional creative latitude, and increased flexibility in the field.
One of the beauties of doing macro photography around the house is that subject matter is readily available. When we find ourselves in a bit of a funk we can simply grab our macro photography set-up and explore our own backyards.
I like to do a bit of a scouting mission around the house to identify higher potential areas. Then, I grab my stool, sit down and relax… and observe the tiny intricacies of life that are unfolding right in front of me.
Handheld macro photography is something that we can do with a minimum of camera gear… and still enjoy the creative challenges that it presents to us.
Technical Note
Photographs were captured handheld with the camera equipment noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files or out-of-camera jpegs using my standard process in post. This is the 1,396 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
How you can keep this website advertising free
My intent is to keep this photography blog advertising free. If you enjoyed this article and/or my website and would like to support my work, you can purchase an eBook, or make a donation through PayPal (see Donate box below). Both are most appreciated.
Sometimes all we need as photographers is a bit of inspiration. We hope you can find some of that inside Finding Visual Expression II.
Finding Visual Expression II is available for download for an investment of $11.99 CDN. The best viewing experience of this eBook will be at 100% using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
You may be interested in all of the 30 concepts covered in both of these related eBooks. If so, you may want to also consider Finding Visual Expression.
Finding Visual Expression is available for download for an investment of $11.99 Cdn. The best viewing experience of this eBook will be at 100% using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Our other eBooks include Images of Ireland, New Zealand Tip-to-Tip, Nikon 1: The Little Camera That Could, Desert & Mountain Memories, Images of Greece, Nova Scotia Photography Tour, and a business leadership parable… Balancing Eggs.
If you click on the Donate button below you will find that there are three donation options: $7.50, $10.00 and $20.00. All are in Canadian funds. Plus, you can choose a different amount if you want. You can also increase your donation amount to help offset our costs associated with accepting your donation through PayPal. An ongoing, monthly contribution to support our work can also be done through the PayPal Donate button below.
You can make your donation through your PayPal account, or by using a number of credit card options.
Word of mouth is the best form of endorsement. If you like our website please let your friends and associates know about our work. Linking to this site or to specific articles is allowed with proper acknowledgement. Reproducing articles, or any of the images contained in them, on another website or in any social media posting is a Copyright infringement.
Article and images are Copyright 2024 Thomas Stirr. All rights reserved. No use, duplication or adaptation of any kind is allowed without written consent. If you see this article reproduced anywhere else it is an unauthorized and illegal use. Posting comments on offending websites and calling out individuals who steal intellectual property is always appreciated!
I enjoy and learn from reading your articles. You are adept at using your equipment and produce excellent images. When you first got the 90mm macro you talked about experimenting as to settings for hand held focus stacking. It appears that you have mastered focus stacking with the 90 mm. I wonder if you could be so kind as to share those settings?
Thanks.
Joel Leff
Hi Joel,
I’m glad that the articles have been of some benefit. As far as the shutter speed and aperture used for handheld in-camera focus stacking that varies by subject and creative intent. Those details are found with each image. With the M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro lens I’ve been using a focus stack of 12 images, with a focus differential of 5. This has worked well thus far. As mentioned earlier, I do adjust the aperture and shutter speed as needed.
Tom
Thanks for the wonderful articles about photography! I was surprised to find that I completely coincide with you in choosing technology& Longtime fan of Nikon 1 and now own 1X and 90 macro& The only thing that upsets me about the camera is the shutter speed sinchro when stacking at 1/50 second& How do you find it?
Hi Roman,
I don’t use any flash when doing in-camera focus stacking… only natural light and handheld.
Tom