lenses – Photo rumblings and whispers

Digital UVA-photography with M43 equipment

How far can we go, with off-the-shelf equipment

One question which I have been pondering for some time is: do I need to have a digital camera converted to full-spectrum for UVA photography? and are there any modern objectives that are good accidental UVA-objectives?

This is not a question of cost alone. Although a converted camera can be used for VIS photography, obtaining good colour reproduction requires effort. A suitable filter is used on the objective to replace the one removed from the image sensor unit during conversion. As it is not possible to find a perfect match to the filter removed, one or more colour profiles of the camera need to be created and applied instead of the one used automatically by the camera and/or raw file converters. So, in many cases, for best results one would need to carry two different cameras to any field trip. In addition a conversion voids the camera manufacturer’s warranty and even access to official service facilities. Continue reading Digital UVA-photography with M43 equipment

Pinholes in NIR and UVA

Using the E-M1 converted to full spectrum with the Pinhole Pro objectives is possible. Using a 58 mm NIR filter (Hoya R72) attached to the front of the 11 mm Pinhole Pro S11 worked fine, with no increase in vignetting. Using the StraightEdgeU 52 mm or Baader U-filter 2″ with a step-down ring blocked the corners of the image completely. The original 26 mm Pinhole Pro suffers a lot less from vignetting and can be used with these filters of smaller diameter than the front thread of the lens without problem.

Continue reading Pinholes in NIR and UVA

Pinhole objectives arrived today

Introduction

Pinholes need to be very small to provide a useful image. Consequently the corresponding f-values are small, in most cases f:100 or smaller. This results in either very long exposures, or requires the use of very high ISO values. As we will see in the example images this is less of a problem than what could be expected because as the resolution of the pinhole is low, the images tolerate very strong noise reduction processing without losing there character or mood.

Continue reading Pinhole objectives arrived today

Camera objectives for UV photography

I have been testing some objectives for their UV transmission using LEDs as sources of radiation. I developed a protocol for such tests. Although used in this example to measure the spectral sensitivity of a camera sensor, the protocol can be easily adapted for the measurements of biological action spectra.

Continue reading Camera objectives for UV photography

Pinhole Pro and Pro S

An on-going Kickstarter campaign offers sophisticated pinholes for digital cameras in an assortment of different lens mounts. I ordered mine, as I am interested in ultraviolet photography and pinholes, in spite of their many limitations, allow radiation of any wavelength through. Pinholes are simply very small holes in a thin plate.

Photographing insects: lenses

Last week I was asked about what objective I use when photographing live insects in the field. I do not always use the same objective, so I will describe the two I most frequently use. Neither do I use what would be the most suitable or state-of-the-art optics. Continue reading Photographing insects: lenses

Macro extension tubes (lens mount)

This is the third of three instalments on the comparison of three sets of macro extension tubes for MFT cameras: Macro extension tubes (description), Macro extension tubes (glare), and Macro extension tubes (lens mount). Continue reading Macro extension tubes (lens mount)

Macro extension tubes (glare)

This is the second of three instalments on the comparison of three sets of macro extension tubes for MFT cameras: Macro extension tubes (description), Macro extension tubes (glare), and Macro extension tubes (lens mount). Continue reading Macro extension tubes (glare)