What camera do I buy? / general gear talk

800 is a steal for all that assuming good nick but it's a particular bundle if you include the monopod and gimbal, so not for everybody. Is that an underwater case as well? @pit

Yes it is. Never used. Didn't do any scuba since I got it.

unfortunately my new Lumix gx9 arrived the day before.

And I already picked up the 15mm f1.7 summilux and 30mm f2.8 macro to go with the 12-32mm kit lens. so for what I spent your bundle would have been a steal, such a shame.

best of luck with the sale though.

You’ll love the GX9, also the 30mm strikes me as being pretty perfect for miniature macro photography.
I love my 15mm f1.7 too, proper jewel of a lens.

Yeah loving them so far from the few test shots I've done, I'm currently pulling together a tabletop lighting rig by buying various bits and pieces as I figure out what can attach to what so once it's up and running I'm hoping I'll be able to get some decent pics. though I'm still at the bottom of the learning curve having mostly forgotten my pre-existing camera knowledge.

I have a Sony Alpha a6000. I use it to take photos. That is the extent of my photography knowledge.

It came with an 18mm to 50mm e mount zoom lens which is perfect for my general usage however I'd like to start taking macro photos of smallish items, such as watches in my watch collection.

My current lens struggles with this as it can't seem to focus less than 15cm to 30cm away or so depending on the zoom level.

Could any of you ladies and chaps point me in the right direction? Could I purchase some sort of adapter? Is there a lens type I should consider buying? Am just doing something wrong with my current lens?

You can buy either:

A dedicated macro lens with autofocus
A dedicated manual lens with a closer focus
An adapted manual lens (like an old slr lens)
A filter that will work to reduce your minimum focus distance

So, Sigma or Sony have £££ options the first. The second I have my Pixco manual lens for sale that gets much closer than most others. It is also possible to use with a macro adapter filter. Third you must be careful since most people will rip you off for a piece of shit lens, and sting you hard for a good one. Macro rings will vary in actual quality, lots of aberration.

Thanks mate. As I suspected. Lots of potential to make an expensive mistake for somebody with neither the gear nor the idea.

If you can wait a little while (week or so) I can bring the Pixco and some other bits with me (if I can find them) for you to try on a lunch break or weekend.

Macro filters are really cheap if you want to have a go, like £8.99 for a set of 4 on Amazon, but quality and sharpness will be pants. Maybe it will be enough, but the A6000 sensor is excellent, and would be a bit of a waste to use shit glass.

Just use glassless extension tubes/rings for the 50mm? I think you can buy some which retain autofocus.

Sharp. Minimal cost.

@Stonehedge is using the zoom lens, not a prime, so using extension tubes will be nasty.

I think the easiest path for me will be to speak to some people with some knowledge and just buy a suitable lens to play with. I don't mind spending a bit of money. If I lose interest I can always flip it. I just like the idea of combining watch collecting/repairing/making hobby with taking photos and sharing them online.

Thanks for the offer of a trial though, much appreciated.

You don't have to spend loads, I'd get something like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-SEL50M28-Mount-Frame-Macro/dp/B01LDII0VS

I see. I miss read. Thought there was a 50.

I’d buy a fixed lens then (because everyone needs one anyway) and some tubes.

Well, not being funny, but over 15 years of camera use, and two degrees kinda means I have a little knowledge. ;)

I didn't say you didn't. Was just indicating that I'd prefer to buy the right kit rather than bodge something.

Thanks mate. I'll probably buy one once I've done some more reading.

It’s very subjective what is a bodge and what is a solution, with photography. Nowadays you are sold a product that is especially designed and marketed to do what you can succeed one hundred other ways.

A prime, plus extension tubes (or even just the filter), may suffer from a loss of a stop of light but you may gain a faster, lighter, more versatile and cheaper solution. It’s a lot of cat skinning.

Edit: also, minimum focus distance of 16cm really isn’t very close at all for that focal length, it’s acceptable for watches, but as I envisage it you will still max out your focal range and be cropping. You won’t get the best of up-close shots of the parts inside the watch.

So of you wanted to take photos of watches and their movements using a Sony a6000, what would your first choice solution be? (Ignoring cost at the moment).

Prime with extension tubes and proper manual focus capability, whilst using the focus assist zoom or at a minimum focus peaking.

I can almost guarantee that buying the dedicated macro lens will result in loads of photos where it focuses on the wrong area of the watch. That’s negated a little by the necessary use of a tripod and smaller aperture, but it will still be clear where the point of focus is, and where it was intended.

Depth of field becomes incredibly shallow the closer you get.

Just bought a second hand Nikon D3000. Seem to be having an issue putting the lens on. Attached is a very painful video that demonstrates the issue [CAMERA NOOB, viewer discretion advised - also note I hadn't expected it to drop off].
Am I doing something wrong?
There is quite an audible click.

PS sorry if this is the wrong place, I have a tendancy to pop up on the photography section and jam questions into threads.

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• TRIM_20190625_161523.mp4

Something is fucked.

Try the lens on any other f mount body.

Show us a photo of the lens’ mounting and the camera’s mounting. One of the two is missing a piece.

Edit either way take it back and get a refund if possible.

Haven't got any other cameras to fit it to, will be taking it to a shop tomorrow to see.

Thinking back there was a small but of black plastic in the bag that it came in but I hadn't thought much of it, looked circular and black so could be what may have sheared off of the first photo area maybe??

Bloody eBay. Thanks guys.

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