I’ve had acceptable results photographing moths and other insects at a common MV/UV light setup on a sheet or tarp using my 1" sensor Sony RX10iv and an inexpensive LED light ring. But I’d like to take my mothing photography up a notch or two using the mirrorless/FF Canon R5 I recently bought.
This 2020 thread provides some good information/advice, but I’d like to see an updated version of this discussion, perhaps including some lens that have become available since that time.
I’d also appreciate knowing what lighting (for the camera/lens, not the insects!) setups people have had success with, particularly considering the challenges MV/UV lighting can sometimes present. A flash + diffuser is often recommended for high-quality daylight insect macro photography, but I’m not whether such a setup works for an MV/UV mothing situation.
Mine aren’t the greatest photos, and it doesn’t fully answer your question, but I use a macro ring light flash with my Nikon DSLR (no diffuser). For example: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/164654648
Not much changes in lenses, I’m afraid. Canon RF 100mm macro may or may not be newer than that discussion. I don’t recall. That one goes to 1.4:1. That, the older EF version, Sigma Art or the Laowa are still good.
For light I use the old version of the Canon twin flash (MT-24 EX) with small diffusors, which are no longer available. It doesn’t give the best light, but good enough for most uses. Fancy systems with large diffusors can be somewhat difficult to transport and to use in tight spaces. I used to use integrated flash with homemade diffusor fixed to the bayonet at lens end, but with my current cameras that is no longer an option. The light color can be a problem when operating close to the lamp. I haven’t found a cure for that. It is especially bad if some part of the picture is shadowed from the UV light and others not.
I use a Nikon Z8, which is pretty analogous to the R5 II, and Nikon’s Z 105mm macro lens, which is a phenomenal lens. I’m sure Canon’s RF 100 macro is also superb, and you can get a bit more magnification with it (although you’re also paying for its, in my opinon pointless, bokeh control as well). You could alternatively get the older EF 100m macro, which is an excellent lens, or go third party, as @JKT mentioned. Personally I like having autofocus for macro, many others don’t.
For flash I use Nikon’s SB-700 flash (having four batteries is helpful for reducing refresh time) and I custom ordered a Large AK Diffuser that’s built for longer macro lenses, so it covers more area. It’s a stupidly heavy and unwieldy rig, but I think it makes for nice images. Here are some from my desert trip last year: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?project_id=200973&taxon_id=184884&user_id=tiwane&hour=20,21,22 Some were made with the Raynox DCR-250, but most were just the lens.
Thank you for this information, particularly on the flash/diffuser setups.
I agree tiwane on Canon RF100 bokeh ring…I haven’t seen or read a review where someone has said they intend to use it. But otherwise this seems like a good choice. The Laowa options also interest me, but I wonder how how much I’d miss the autofocus. I don’t have an issue manual focusing, but particularly for moth sheeting, there are always insects down low on the sheet that would make manual focusing much more of a challenge. I was likely going to pick up that Raynox DCR-250 as well, since I’ve seen some terrific images (and video) made with it.
In my experience you have to get your lens really close to the subject with the Raynox on. With a moth sheet and a diffuser, that usualy means the diffuser is pushing back the moth sheet before you’re close enough to focus with the Raynox.
I use Canon R5 with the 100mm Canon, a Speedlite, and an AK diffuser. I also often have one to two 35mm extension tubes if I am trying to get a micro. The AK has a Raynox holder on it, so that gets used often also. I have no issue with the diffuser hitting the sheet, but for Raynox I’m often getting more parallel with the sheet. I did have a 4 flash Godox MF-12 setup, but that gets very heavy after a while.
Hi chipperatl, So as I mentioned I’m coming from using a bridge camera & inexpensive light ring for my moth sheeting photography (no flash). Would you mind sharing the flash settings you use on your R5 with this setup you’ve described, as well as any other tips/advice for using flash in this situation since I’ve no experience using the flash? Thank you!
I have a custom setting on the camera that is f/22, 1/60th and ISO 200. Flash is set on ETTL with zoom set at 80mm. The AK Diffuser has a built in LED light you hook up to a small external battery (have to purchase separate), so the camera has that light to help the auto-focus.
My setup is attached to side of my house (wood siding), and my main lights are just incandescent bulbs in the porch lights, with 2 Entolights on one side, and 1 cheap Amazon 100 watt blacklight. 3 separate sheets, with one that is 4x7 (I think) on one side, and then 2 more roughly the same size on the other side. I still end up with moths that are off the sheet still. I don’t have just the UV/MV as the light source.