Max image magnification and extreme macro request

[ktwse]

Following the information about a Sea & Sea MDX housing for the GRD IV that I wrote about here, I'm considering selling of my m4/3 system and investing in this instead. I had to give up my GRD III to finance my current setup and after a year I still miss it...

But given that I shoot a lot of underwater macro, I'm a bit concerned about image magnification given the short focal length. I've been trying to find information but have come up short. Does anyone know the max image magnification rate? Also, roughly what rate would you get at distances of 5 and 10 cm? (It's very hard to get closer than that with some critters.)

Finally, a request: could anyone be so kind as to share some macro shots taken at about 1, 5, 10 and 25 cm respectively? Need to get a feel for what I can expect.

(Some might recall that before I got the m4/3 system, I used a GX-200 aka Sea & Sea DX-2G for underwater work. I'm expecting the same great operation but vastly improved IQ and AF speed from the GRD IV.)

 

[HawkeyX]

No little critters around me as I scan the forum, but for reference I shot these few for you on the IV:

1cm

5cm

10cm

25cm

 

[ktwse]

No little critters around me as I scan the forum, but for reference I shot these few for you on the IV:

Thanks a lot! That's really helpful. At 1 and 5 cm it's perfectly useable, but I wonder how practical it will prove in real life shooting with small, moving critters.

e.g. whip coral gobies... These were shot with the 5D mkII and 100/2.8 macro lens at close to max magnification, which still left me with about ~10 cm between the front of the port and the critters. Getting closer than that is incredibly hard, and lighting becomes a hassle...

Makes me wonder how useful the GRD IV would be for underwater work.

 

[HawkeyX]

Yes, it is quite wide angle. I would imagine getting close enough may be the issue as you suggest.
Could be worth contacting one of the housing suppliers to see if they have any samples!

Love the image btw. I'll have to try some underwater shooting one day!

 

[autochrome]

A 100mm Macro on a Full Frame, seems one of the best solutions for the photo-macro.
A long focal length enables a camera further away from the subject, a better lighting.
In addition to macro the factor of depth of field depends on (almost) exclusively of the size of Magnification!
Under water there is the added problem of the focal length which is lengthened by refraction. But these rules are always true.

 

[ktwse]

HawkeyX, thanks! It's a lot of fun, although very hard and many of the techniques you learn for land based photography simply do not apply... Eg, diffusing backgrounds is better done through stopping down the lens and using manual strobes to only light the subject...

autochrome, a 100mm macro on a DX sensor is probably the best for small critters, but you can do a lot with a 100mm equivalent lens. I'm looking at a number of different options, including the RX-100 and the Fujifilm X10, and with those lenses, you can use diopters to reduce the subject to lens distance which allows for better macro. Depth of field is rarely a problem on smaller sensors, and even on full frame, since you stop down to around f/16 it's usually not an issue (although in the shot above, you can clearly see how DoF affects the goby towards the back).

Refraction is only really an issue with wide lenses, 28 mm or wider.

My dream camera would be a GX 300 with a 1" sensor but otherwise the same equivalent focal length (24-72) and the same overall form factor.

 

[Wiener]

No little critters around me as I scan the forum, but for reference I shot these few for you on the IV:

Thanks a lot! That's really helpful. At 1 and 5 cm it's perfectly useable, but I wonder how practical it will prove in real life shooting with small, moving critters.

e.g. whip coral gobies... These were shot with the 5D mkII and 100/2.8 macro lens at close to max magnification, which still left me with about ~10 cm between the front of the port and the critters. Getting closer than that is incredibly hard, and lighting becomes a hassle...

Makes me wonder how useful the GRD IV would be for underwater work.

Love this image! Fine work!
Andy

 

[ktwse]

Thanks Andy!

Yeah, doing macro work with a full frame SLR is pure joy, the IQ is simply stunning and you've got so much to work with. I somewhat regret having to sell the 5D, but since it funded a trip to the Galapagos (!) and was pure hell to transport (about 25 lbs in a carry-on), I'm not all that sad.

That said, I'm seeing some great work being made with the Sony RX-100 and a diopter so that's where I'm leaning right now. Once the GRD V is out, I'll pick that up as my day to day camera!