Camera/Lens combo for closeup & telephoto shots?

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Camera/Lens combo for closeup & telephoto shots?

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DrPete

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I am looking into purchasing a DSLR/lens that will be suitable for landscape, but also close up detail photos. I am an optometrist and will be using the camera primarily to take shots of the eye under normal lighted conditions or with cobalt blue illumination to fluoresce stain instilled in the eye. I can shoot directly or using an adapter on my confocal microscope. Many of my colleagues successully use point and shoot cameras to take direct photos of the eye.

I would also like to try my hand at some landscape shots. I haven't owned any camera other than the Minolta Super T FSLR that I used as a teen. I have read about DX having better pixel density with zoom lenses &/or that higher resolutions 20+ are really needed for landscapes. I have only shot them with large format film loners.

Any infomation/ suggestions that you have will be greatly appreciated.

Posted 2 years ago #
zoomnclick

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Hi Dr Pete.

I would recommend a DSLR. Personally I use a Nikon, however if you choose a Canon you will get equally good results.

The below lens is a good one that has a really good wide angle for landscapes, as well as a macro feature that will let you get to a minimum of 8 inches away from your subject. It has a constant 2.8 aperture that should let you take really good pics under normal lighting conditions

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/18-50mm-f28-ex-dc-macro-sigma

You don't really need a 20mega pixel camera for landscapes unless you plan on really blowing up the prints. Most pro photographers have taken stunning scenes on 8-12 mega pixel cameras too

Posted 2 years ago #
gelu88

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I would recommend getting a normal tele lens (55-200, 55-300 or 70-300 depending on your budget) and also getting a close up filter. I would recommend this model:
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=2618

i posted some pics i took with it and it works very well.

The biggest issue will be light, the popup flash will not help and neither will a separate flash on its own. you will need a ring flash setup of some kind, check out strobist or diyphotography for homemade ones from $5-$50 or real ones from $150-$500.

Also check out the Ophthalmic Photographers' Society http://www.opsweb.org/ this is all they do.

Posted 2 years ago #
Ter Roshak

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You could also use a light telephoto lens like 50-80 mm and take multiple pictures and stitching them together in photoshop (or other panorama software products).
Then you get your high megapixel shots with high details.
You could go for an Nikon Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens.
Maximum magnification of 1:1 and also suiteable for perfect sharp landscape stitches.

Also the adapter is much more cheaper than an equal quality solution for shooting without the microscope.

The lens mentioned the post above only can produce a maximum magnification of 1:3.
You should be able to take a photo with eyebrows ;), but nothing further.. I don't know what you are looking for, but i think you want to take pictures at least with a magnification of 1:1.
The Sigma also is not a true macro lense, maybe the quality does not fit the subject, does it?
Telephoto lenses with close up filter also tend to be the cheap way to go, with the cheap quality that comes with it.

You also don't want to hurt your patients with closeup macro flashes or something similar..

Posted 2 years ago #
gelu88

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Actually at 200mm my close-up filter is 2:1 aka double-lifesize

here is a shot of a ruler, showing 12.5mm-ish, the DX sensor is 23.6mm wide, meaning the image is 1.9:1

Also, please dont judge the IQ if the pic, it was D7000, ISO 6400 handheld on my kitchen table

as far as lights go, patients are exposed to bright light regularly so the doctor can look inside with their eyes, so flashes(at low power) are no worse.

Posted 2 years ago #
LoveTheBerry

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Hello Doc,

I see that you are wanting to take a close-up of the Cornea and see if there are any scratches on the surface?

Using flourecein drops/strips will show using a Gam (Cobalt) filter. We have done this with a Welch Allyn Panoptic hooked up to a monitor.

Posted 2 years ago #
LoveTheBerry

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Oh,...105mm 2.8 is wonderful! You will need a tripod for this.

Posted 2 years ago #
gelu88

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OK. I just spent the past half hour trying to take a picture of my eye myself, without glasses im blind, and the DOF is razor thin, and im looking at the live-view through a mirror...

so yeah, it didn't happen...

i'll have to try this again with a willing subject later.

Posted 2 years ago #
Ter Roshak

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about flash in low power mode.. the problem is the reflection, not the flash itself.. didn't try a polfilter, but i think this would be against the rules :).
And DOF is also a serious problem. Without a static light source and drugged eyes (which don't react as much to light) i won't be able to produce good results.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaoTeJared

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It sounds like you would prefer a DX (D7000 or D300s) and a minimum two lens set up.

Macro - Nikon 60mm AFS and 105mm VR are the best macros out there and will capture the eyes great. You need the lens to capture the detail and Nikon lenses do it better than the rest. The 105mm VR would probably give you the best image resolution (density) for what you are looking for. Tokina 100mm or Tamron 90mm macros are good as well just not the best. You may need to look into a macro ring light. Nikon used to have them but not any more that I have seen. I'm sure there are 3rd party one's that work great. You are doing a specialized thing, so possibly some of your dealers will have good suggestions.

I would absolutely steer clear of any non-nikon zoom macros for what your needs are. They do alright for some things but if you need a high quality for work, then they will fall short.

For landscapes and everything else the Nikon 18-200mm is the best DX all purpose lens.

For home and lower light and smooth backgrounds I would suggest the 35mm 1.8 DX and any of the 50mm 1.8 or 1.4s.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaoTeJared

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gelu88 said:
OK. I just spent the past half hour trying to take a picture of my eye myself, without glasses im blind, and the DOF is razor thin, and im looking at the live-view through a mirror...

so yeah, it didn't happen...

i'll have to try this again with a willing subject later.

It is Very Very hard to do this to one's self. I have had almost no luck trying haphazardly but didn't take the time to stage it right.

Posted 2 years ago #

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Camera/Lens combo for closeup & telephoto shots?

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