Just started manual photography with sony just a year ago. Chose the system because it's the most available when it comes to lenses and service, like it's the only one with a service center here in my city.
My choice for insect photography would be a high MP full frame camera. Some people ask about APS-C vs full frame. I find a good way to visualise the difference is to think of a camera at 60MP. If you set the camera on a tripod and take a picture of a small object at a certain distance and fill the frame, then move nothing, but set the camera to APS-C mode and take another image (same camera, same lens, same settings, same distance.). All that changes is that you use a smaller part of the sensor. The depth of field does not change. What normally happens is that the photographer backs away a little because the subject was too large in the viewfinder and then the depth of field on the subject increases. Of course the APS-C image will have less MP (around 26MP). As you say the full frame camera will produce less noise in general than a smaller sensor camera which can help with insect flash photography. You can see a link my work on my "About" page if interested.
Sony A7IV full frame is 33MP and Canon R7 APSC is 32.5MP so your argument is a deception. Sony A7IV if cropped to Sony APSC size will only give 33/(1.5x1.5) = 14.7MP So you need to buy an 83.2 MP Full Frame if you want to equal the resolution of the Canon R7 APSC camera (32.5x1.6x1.6=83.2MP An insect that is very small is better photographed on an APSC sensor because you need not get too close and depth of field is deeper. The Sony A7IV cannot do in-camera Automatic Focus Stacking whereas the Canon A7 CAN. Full Frame advantage is a MYTH and a LIE.
@@set3777 Who said anything about the A7RIV - not me. Who said the full frame has an advantage - not me. I said a camera of 60 MP which I used as an example to show how full frame and crop sensor affect the image which in turn affects DoF. I take pictures of flying insects a lot so focus stacking is of no interest to me. I said "my choice" I have been doing insect photography for 20 years and taken tens of thousands of images, I think I know what "my choice" is. I have used crop and full frame. Do I have trouble getting close to insects and want a crop sensor camera? - no. Will the cannon take good macro shots? - sure. Do I want one? - no. Do I want an A7IV? - no. Would I like an 80MP full frame camera? - I would like to try one and see how it handles noise and diffraction and then make a choice. You have a different choice, then go for it, I would like to see your work.
@@paulstickley4819 This video is about the Sony A7IV 33MP and NOT the Sony AT7RIV-A(61MP). Why I am questioning is your type of "bogus pros" propagating the myth that FF camera is better than APSC camera for Macrophotography. With an APSC camera with smaller diameter lens a small 14EV Ring Macro Speed-light fitted on the lens is enough. FF lenses diameter are too large so the flash solutions are clumsy and ugly. Also one CZcams "pro" who is pushing the same myth, is also recommending modify the NISI Manual focusing rail for MANUAL focus stacking and using some post software to stack. Choose and use what you like. But a big sledge is not better at killing an ant.
@@set3777 I explained "my choice" after years of trial and error. I explained how sensor size affects DoF on an imaginary 60MP camera. I am a hobbyist. You seem to not like what I say. I would still like to see your work.
I've been using M43 for macro work and pretty happy with it. For the noise, there's an easy fix, in Lightroom I just adjust the "Masking" slider up to about 30 (for 200 ISO, maybe 40 at higher ISO). This prevents Lightroom from "over sharpening" and including the "noise" as something it thinks it needs to sharpen. I rarely adjust the Luminance, unless I go to ISO 800, and then I might bring Luminance up to 10 or so. Masking has made all the difference in my satisfaction with the results.
I was prepared to get the Sony A7IV as a second Camera, but As it only has 3.7 mega dots EVF (which my former Sony A7RIII also had) and the a a bit expensive compared to Sony A7III, then I got the Sony A7RIVA which was on sale, the A7RIVA have as my A7RIV a 5.8 mega dots EVF which makes it much more easy to focus. I hope that the next Sony A7RV have a 9.5(+) mega dots EVF. Years ago I always used 90 (or 100) mm Macro Lenses, but for the last 12 to 14 years I use 60 and 65mm Macro Lenses, I think this focal length are a bit more versatile than 85/90/100/105mm Macro Lenses, the 60 (65)mm also fits better with my other Lenses 14, 24, 35 and 135mm, so I have a good set for every kind of Photography.
I’ve been using my old a500 for all my macro shots for over 10 years now and recently I have been looking for a proper upgrate. Very useful review, thank you!
I have a Fuji X-T3 with a couple of lenses. I wish I had the money to follow the advice of all the photography channels I follow, because then I would be having flagship cameras from all the brands with all the lenses to go with them. But I guess I am just a lowly normal guy, with a regular job, so I will make do with what I have.
Thanks Micael, yes I also think it is a question of familiarize with a new system. I startet with Canon and switched later on Sony (full frame) and now I am quite happy with my very small and lightweight Fuji X-E4 (with the Laowa 65mm for macro). And with each switch I had pros and cons. Some things are working better others don’t. The image quality at my Sony (Sensor) was outstanding, and much better as on Canon. I really miss the clear UI from Canon at my Fuji, but I love the small size and still good image quality. And you are right. Every System is good and can be used for many years. But switching gear can also be fun ;-)
On my A7r3 I just put commonly used items in the ⭐ favourite menu which solved the menu diving issue somewhat. One thing that really pees me off with sony is that they don't have focus bracketing like Olympus, Nikon, fuji and canon do. Olympus even have up to 15 frames in body stacking, not sure how well that works though. I can't do macro out in the field with shorts, some times I have to roll down the sleeves and wear gloves and a boonie hat when the horse flies are in season - looks like you have a midge problem in that field! I do love the detail and colour that my sony 42mp sensor and laowa 10mm provides, irony is though most images get heavily cropped to less than 20mps which is basically MFT territory but with less DOF from the FF. Yes Fuji are a pain in post 24mp RAF raws take longer to render in capture one that my sony 42MP files. I think it's something to do with the fuji Xtrans array of image data. Thanks for sharing.
Great endorsement for Sony a7 IV. I think you forgot about denoise software's used these days to get rid of the noise in your pictures. There are MFT macro photographers with fantastic macro portfolios, which can easily compete with FF counterparts.
Thanks a lot Micael. Quite relevant topic for me now. I value hearing about your experiences, observations, and opinions. Lovely and impressive photos, well done.
I like how you described your thoughts through your camera decisions it made me think through my own and helped me. Thank you and those are wonderful shots you shared.
A very enjoyable walk and talk with great photography mixed in. Thank you, Micael! I'll be interested in your Laowa 90mm review and how you think it compares to their 85 5.6 that I still am considering. I'll probably wait until next spring to pick up my first Laowa macro lens.
Glad you found the same problem with the micro 4/3 system as I did Micael, just gave up doing macro work when the light started to drop in early winter through to spring even spending time in post could'n fix the noise problem to my satisfaction took a step back to a dslr system and am much happier with the results. 👍
crop is better for macro then full frame: bigger macro, bigger dof, bigger working distance... noise is no issue with external lighting, personally i was using canon 6D and 7D with 100/2.8 macro... tried also 90D and R6 and in case of macro the biggest difference was in sensor resolution... more MP is better, again ;) with 550ex speedlites and ambrella you can run iso200 with 1/250s and f/11 almost everywhere
To think that you get deeper DOF with smaller sensor is a bit of an oversimplification. In reality sensor size does not matter in this regard. I think I will make a video to explain this because it is a common misunderstanding.
@@MicaelWidell not needed... I spent 10 years with full frame and 10 years with crop... I read many many articles about it... but own experience is the best... I was quite disappeared with full frame when bought 6D... full frame was something outstanding according to many articles, but simple is not... to have full frame is just marketing... there no such big difference, esp in macro world :) 100mm lens is quite short, try 200mm and share your feeling!
@@mareksykora3891 Agree about macro photography, that M4/3 or APSC is enough for such type of photography, but in portraits(bokeh), wildlife(high iso performance) full frame have huge advantage over crop sensors.
@@PatrickWithCamera yep, only for portrait there is an advantage of full frame... but if you have some time to prepare background, and you should, then bigger dof is no issue, just make bigger distance... or remember portrait in studio, all time you go on f/8... crop is worse when shooting indoor, anyway 20 years back iso 800 was a dream in analog photography and pushing process produced really grainy results... so nowadays, just look on lenses you need and choose body according to it
Thanks again for yet another informative but casual video. I learn a lot from your videos about Macro Photography but still trying to get good photos from my Fujifilm X-E2s & XF 60 mm combo. 😁
Personally, I'm a Sony-Fanboy. I started with an ancient Sony A500, which was a perfect start, since the camera explains itself and many things more on the Display if you turn that option on. It also tells a lot about Rules, how to improve/do better etc. ... So i learned a lot by using it. Of course, its damn old, so I switched to a Samsung NX300 but that step didn't turned out that well even though the Samsung NX is almost as old but way more modern. ... Meanwhile I switched back to Sony with an A6000 and I'm absolutely happy with it. It does everything i want it to. Its fast enough for me, the functions are well done (even though, i added some stuff like focus bracketing manually). I don't even think about any other camera. There is no Camera at all, where i think "oh, yes, I would love to get it". Even actual Sony Fullframe Cameras etc seem like a waste of money to me, since I'm so fine with the A6000. Maybe sounds stupid but idc....
I was told by a nurse that vitamin B 12 helps to stop insect bites.i don't suffer at the moment from being bitten fingers crossed B12 helps. I also have two sleeves and special gloves to stop bites and things picking me. All in they help make the photo shoot more fun less annoying.
I shoot a Canon 80D crop sensor and my main focus is macro. I've always assumed that a crop sensor was better for macro, but really wasn't sure. I was very strongly considering switching to a Sony A7iv so I could get the quality boost from a full frame but for some completely unfathomable reason, Sony doesn't have automatic focus bracketing in their cameras. That's a deal breaker for me. (so is Nikon's lack of an articulating screen by the way) Frustrating. So, I'm thinking now of either the R7 crop or the R6 FF. Disappointed that the R6 is "only" 20mp but concerned that the 32mp on a crop would be too noisy. As you can see, I'm indecisive. I also do landscapes and have trips planned to Jasper National Park and the Tetons. The R5 is probably more camera than I need. I can afford it, but spending that much is a psychological hurdle. Of course, the Fuji X-T4/X-S10 or X-H2S are also options. OY!
Really interesting video Micael. I've often wondered if I'd struggle less with depth of field if I bought a crop sensor camera specifically for Macro but this has put my mind at ease. I love shooting multiple genres and I can't believe how clean the full frame images are compared to the APS-C sensor camera I taught myself with. Keep up the good work!
Depth of field will be the same you just need to use a bit smaller aperture to get it. And both full frame and crop sensor are limited by diffraction anyway so depth of field is not a good reason to choose crop sensor. I should have explained this in the video but forgot to 😅
@@MicaelWidell don't worry! I was aware that I could claw it back by narrowing aperture. It was just reassuring to know that by doing that I'm not impacting overall image quality anywhere near as much as I thought I would be. My full frame experience has been wonderful so far.
personally I think Nikon system is even better than Canon one, considering the perfect handling and the dynamic range of raw files. smth like Nikon Z7 II
I checked out the raws of the Z7II (DPreview) and I still see the banding issues ( low ISO's) when raising shadows on dark backgrounds as you do in macro flash shots. Noisier ISO's do tend to mask this Nikon Banding better, but who wants noise in their Macro shot.
Hi Michael, I checked Laowa web site and almost all their macro lenses (85, 90, 100 mm, …) can go on the Canon RF mount so you can shoot Canon too…when you decide to do the move! Thanks for your great videos!
That is true…but you shoot in this video with the Laowa 90 mm which is manual focus only, I thought you was a Laowa manual type of guy?…also you could may be take the Sigma, Tokina, Tamron?, Irix,…lenses made for the Canon EF mount and put the EF-RF Canon adapter and use them on the Canon R bodies…I know the Canon RF 100 mm is €1500…by the way Gordon Laing on CZcams just did a video on it…anyway enjoy for now your new A7 IV!
@@MicaelWidell Are there EF options that you could adapt via the EF-RF adapter? There are lots of EF lenses with autofocus from Sigma, Tamron etc that can go to EF system. Not sure what the situation is with Macro lenses, but you would seldom use AF for macro, anyway, right? My other Tamron lenses work absolutely fine with the R6 and EF-RF adapter. I have 35mm f/1.4, 15-30mm f/2.8, 150-600mm f/5-6.3 I had some Sigmas on loan as well from time to time.
Just came across your excellent videos about macro photography. You offer some great advice which I will certainly try out when photographing insects. One suggestion, though, re being out and about in nature - wear trousers and long-sleeved shirts - it really helps to avoid those pesky biting insects. There's nothing worse than being constantly distracted by a sharp prick as an insect decides to taste your blood and the more exposed skin that is available means more bites in my experience. Also, I found that not using strong deodorants, aftershave and other perfumy scents means I don't seem to experience so many bites. Often, I have been with friends who use such perfumes and mosquitoes and other such insects seem to swarm to them rather than me.
Love your videos! I was laughing (sorry) when you were getting bitten! We’ve all been there.. never fails when my prize winning shot is at hand some critter comes along to eat me and ruins it.. haha. I take pretty sharp close ups but man I’d love to be able to get the details you’ve got on thos insects.. I don’t use flash so I wonder if light is what I need ? I get very close and focused but details are just not to your level
you should have tried sony RX10m3 / 4 before jumping on Sony R7m4 it's amazing. ofcaurse the R7m4 is in a another league by itself but Rx10 is amazing for macro :)
Hey Micael! I have the A7 IV + Laowa 90mm macro setup and often have light problems. Only shots in direct sunlight provide really good shots. Hence, I saw a couple of your videos mentioning flash lights. Now, I wonder which setup is better: 1. Godox V1S + diffusor 2. Godox MF12-K2 Number 1 is stronger in light (guide number 76), while number 2 is nearer to the object, but has less light (guide number 32.2). Which one is more suitable? What do you think?
Great video, Michael. I have a Canon R with a 100mm RF Canon macro lens. Haven't been that happy with the lens--images just never look sharp and crisp as they do with the Canon 24-105 mm f/4L that originally came with the camera. I can get a Laowa lens that will fit the Canon, but you have to use focus peaking rather than the Canon focusing guide. I actually prefer using focus peaking anyway. What are your thoughts on the differences between the Laowa (60 or 85) and the Canon 100?
I would be very very surprised if the Canon RF 100mm isn't perfect optically. The main difference is that the Canon has some features the Laowa does not have, while the Laowa provides 2x magnification and Canon only 1.4x. If you can't get sharp photos with the Canon lens, you will not get sharp photos with the Laowa. It is probably a matter of practice and learning what goes into taking sharp macro photos. Watch some of the videos in my "beginner" playlist and follow the advice.
Love the photos, I really need to do more macro photography. You should try, Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Spray, Original, for the bugs. I was recently recommended it apparently it’s the best out there and used by the British army.
Really enjoying your channel as I have literally just got the Laowa 90mm for my Sony A7 IV. The weird thing is, I am doing some indoor stuff to practice and I have a dedicated light on the subject, at f8, unless I completely crank up the ISO I can't see anything through the view finder, at most apertures! When I take the pictures they are coming out fine (although obviously I need to practice way, way more)!! Any advice?
The shutter sound is probably different, because they changed default behavior of the shutter. (Front curtain is electronic - if I remember correctly).
Nice video Micael, just need a small guide as my lens is new but f stop number is not showing. Kindly can you help me how to set it up or what might be the problem😊
This is normal for a manual lens without a chip in it. You will not be able to see the aperture in the camera unfortunately, because the lens has no chip and cannot tell the camera what the aperture is. Should not affect your shooting or images though.
2:00 minor critique: it sounds like you're saying FF colour is in general better than M43 colour, but you just mention one camera of each (or have you compared other than the Panasonic M43 and the Sony FF?). As said, a minor critique, and of course what you say *may* well be the case -- but you would need to back it up more.
I think this is true in general though, even though there are of course some FF sensors that are worse - for example the one in Canon RP. But the larger sensor in general gives better colours, and also MFT sensors sadly don’t seem to have been very actively improved in many years now.
Micael, i just got this camera for macro photography as well. I am a little disappointed that they did not add focus bracketing for the a7iv. Do you still use this camera a lot for macro photography these days??
I have m4/3 Olympus m5-2, crop fuji xt30, ff canon r and r6 and mf fuji gfx50r. I like gfx most of all, use pentax 645 and mamiya 645 120mm f4 macro lenses. Manual focus is a little bit hard to use with one hand, but the results are great. Now I want gfx100s and gf fujinon macro lens with af... But I need to collect some money at first. I suggest you to try gfx system 50 or 100 megapixels it doesn't matter :) It just amazing experience :)
Hi Micael, thank you for the topic of diffraction limin in high resolution cameras. Did you try to overcome the diffraction limit in such cameras by decreasing the resolution in save options, like medium or small size file?
Congratulaton on your A74 but one unrelated question: Do you have experience with cameras that have in-camera-macro-stacking, like almost all mirrorless Lumix, many Olympus and so on, and if so what do you thing of this feature? Then which is your recommended camera body in terms of in house macro stacking?
Haven’t tried that feature. Considering how complex stacking is to perform I am sceptical of how good it can be. But would love to try it and probably will one day.
Hi Micael; I'm constantly in the field and have learned a long time ago to NEVER wear short pants. Suggest light-weight Columbia convertable pants because they have a nice loose fit and are cool. Tuck the pant legs inside your socks to help stop ticks and spiders from biting. I also use long-sleeve light weight shirts. Love your channel -- Canadian fan. 👍🙂
I also tried to balance all I'd need a camera for and ended up buying Nikon Z5 and tbh I'm loving it! Have you tried Nikon? I'm curious where you'd place them for macro?
I use my Z6 with a Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro and have really enjoyed it. After watching Micael's video on it, I was sold. There are lots of Z mount lenses out there and more coming every day!
@@steveroy1 Good to know :) thanks for the rec. Yeah, they are awesome tho a bit expensive so I'm mixing and matching af-s and z mount lenses for the foreseeable future. I'm so tempted to buy one of the af-s macro lenses because they are way cheaper but we'll see, I'm shooting mainly with the 50 mm 1.8 atm and definitely can't complain!
@@MicaelWidell I quite like what i get, but I'm new to the game and have no experience with another system besides compact Sonys :D however my bees and butterflies are coming really nice! I'm definitely sending one to Nat Geo :)
Hi Micael, which flash (brand and model) do you use with sony a7iv? Is it fully compatible with a7iv? Do you use ttl or manual Mode? And which flash settings do you use with a7iv? Thanks.
Can't agree more on the point about poor grep of sony a7 camera. I got mine a74 a month ago, almost dropped it on the concrete floor (I never use camera strap). Guess I have a lots of getting-used-to, since I was a nikon user.
i used to enjoy making macro on film many years ago. although i have digital cameras, i only very recently obtained sony a7r because full frame and high MP. i wonder if any one will recommend good lens for this camera for the macro photos. thank
Congratulation on your New Sony Alpha IV. I like the small and lightweight Flash you are using. It is perfect for Macro photography. Can you tell us more about it... (Brand & Model No.) ???
Micael, what are your thoughts after owning and using A7IV for a while now?, You still think it’s a big upgrade from A7III? I myself thinking of upgrading A7III with A7IV or even A7RV, but can’t make up my mind. I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject some more. Thanks for all your help and advice in advance.
Hi! Why do you put two aperture values in the descriptions of your photos? F8/F11 frequently appears. Greetings and thanks, your channel is inspiring and I just subscribed as a patreon.
It's because it is a manual lens, so the aperture value is not recorded in the photos. And I don't remember what aperture I used in each photo. But I do remember that I only used apertures between f/8 and f/11 for all photos. Thank you for supporting me on Patreon!
Nice video, thanks. I am thinking that you have may have a future as a dancer, some of your moves and steps were pretty impressive! Macro Interpretive Dance. 😀
Hi Micael I enjoyed your video. Your comment near the end particularly interested me. I have an a7r2 and am frustrated by the time lag between turning the exp compensation dial and seeing its effect… I think sometimes its so slow that I over compensate thinking i need to do more when it is just really a matter of waiting for the original adjustment to manifest. Is this by any chance what you mean by the a7iv being more responsive?
Yes exactly. It is so frustrating when you turn wheels on the camera and the reaction is not instant. The A7iv feels super fast compared to previous generations.
@@billtomlin6176 I didn't have a big problem with slow exp-comp dial, but for aperture adjustment it always felt a bit laggy. Also to turn on the camera took a frustrating number of seconds before it is ready to shoot. Also menu is slow, with a slight lag between each button press. The A7iv has the same processor as the A1, so it is a bit overpowered, which probably makes it so very quick :)
If you don't need macro videos, then you would probably like A7R4 (iv), or the (rumored) coming A7R5. We have joke "buy A7R4 get A6600 for free", because when cropped, it delivers exactly the same amount of pixels as an apsc camera. Most macro lenses deliver more resolution than camera sensors, for instance, Sony 90G macro hard-caps resolution tests at 61mp because lens was superior than the sensor. As a result, A7R4 extracts more of the lens's potentials.
I would like to try a a7riv but I don’t think it is for me, for the reasons I stated in the video. In macro photography diffraction increases fast as you increase magnification. At 2x there is a lot of diffraction. I shoot mostly at 2x.
Do you ever worry about ticks? I know its a random question, but as a wildlife photographer I am constantly concerned about catching Lyme. Have you ever had any issues with insects that can cause serious damage?
I don't worry too much about ticks. I had like 20 ticks throughout my life but never got sick. I am vaccinated against TBE. I check myself after being outdoors though to catch any ticks that might be on me. You don't need to worry too much about Lyme disease, just check your body after being out, and if you DO get bitten by a tick, keep an eye on the place where it bit you for a week, to make sure you don't see a big red circular rash around it - then you might need to go to a doctor and get some antibiotics. As long as you do this I think the risk of Lyme disease is pretty small.
@@MicaelWidell Thanks for the response! I am going to get vaccinated against TBE. That should ease some concern. To be honest, I didn't know there was a vaccine for it. Take care. :D PS.. Your photos are amazing, keep it up.
Hi Micael, thanks for your video. I want to start macro photography and I just bought the Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS lens. Which settings would you recommend for the Sony a7IV to do macro photography? Thanks. Antonio Caiado
Sorry Micael, I was referring to the menus set up regarding Release w/o lens , should I turn this on and off if I switch between manual and auto focus lenses? Do I have to also change the focal length of the lens to suit the manual lens, and does this have to be reset for auto lenses? Apart from Focus peaking and zebra settings is there any thing else I should change SONY camera menu, Loawa lens on way, never used a purely manual lens before hence my maybe obvious / questions, I do shoot in manual but with Af lens many thanks love your CZcams vids
You are beginning to make me feel that I should have opted for the iv, not the iii - In fairness to you I've not found it to be such a great step up from the a6000, other than for capturing in bad light.
May I ask why all of your sample pictures show the aperture as being f8 - f11 whilst the specific shutter speed is quoted? Am I misunderstanding something?
I’m using a manual lens which does not give me the exif data about aperture. So I would have to memorize it for every shot. Other info such as shutter speed and iso is stored by the camera. But I remember the range f/8 - f/11 was used for all shots.
I sold my Sony 90 mm because I wasn’t using it much. Then as the flowers are ready to bloom, I missed it. The person I sold it to didn’t like a scuff on the body, so I gladly let them return it.
Great video! The only thing is that there are tons of 3rd party lenses for Canon, from all the major 3rd party manufacturers, like Sigma, Tamron, Rokinon/Samyang, and Laowa. :) I shoot Nikon though.
I think that you will find that you will be in love with the Sony a7iv - I'm struggling with the Laowa 65mm, lovely and light - must persist, could have been advisible to buy another laowa for the a7iii?
U can try new laowa 85mm/5.6, super small lens for FF, it's even smaller and lighter than laowa 65mm, if I ever go from crop to FF i will get that lens for sure ;)
@@PatrickWithCamera Yes Patrick, saw that - The 65mm has started to earn its way on my Sony a6000 - not ventured to 2x Mag but starting to produce some wonderfully clear images
@@hjones451 Yes, 2x magnification is much more difficult, with 1:1 I could live with simple flash and diffuser, but 2:1 require tons more light to get clear images, so now im trying to build something similiar to cygnustech diffuser to use full potential of this glass, love this 65mm, it's my best pruchase next to sigma 56mm for sony apsc :)
I hear this complaint all the time about macro 4 3rds cameras. Noise. And I have been hearing it for years. Amazingly, this had always been an obvious limitation of smallish sensor cameras, but yet people still keep ignoring it and drawing others into these systems only for them to finally realize the noise issues.
I personally shoot on 1 inch sensor Nikon 1 J5 camera and the noise is not an issue. I found the most annoing in such a small sensor is pixel pitch is so small, so it introduces the difraction limit on aperture 5.6, so even there is no other option like as focus stacking.
It pains me to look at you in shorts. It seems almost masochistic to go by the lake in shorts ... use a repellent spray? 😁 For the rest, I'm happy to follow you.
This is not true. It depends by crop resolution and now the best crop factor is by Canon R7 APSC more thah 30 mpx with an APSC sensor. Let's keep in mind a 90mm macro RF in a APSC is mutch more then in a FF in Sony. More: you have a smaller and lighter tool to take your photos.
Apparently you don’t know about diffraction. Your whole argument would be very sound if it wasn’t for the extreme diffraction present in macro photography.
@@Tom-Tenerife Diffraction is a physical limit which affects all optics. After a certain point additional pixel density on the sensor won't add more detail to the image (though it does help until you reach this limit). Some quick maths suggests the R7 is in a similar ballpark to the pixel density of my m43 camera. My camera is equivalent to the pixel density of an 80mp full frame camera (the r7 about 76mp) and is definitely limited by diffraction for macro work. The only way around this is to shoot at wider apertures, severely limiting your depth of field, and focus stack a bunch of images together
@@MicaelWidell Yeah would have been nice, I have been watching your reviews and a couple of other video, all good talking about Laowa so I am thinking about buying the 90mm, I have the Sony a7 IV today. Or would you recommend the 60mm instead? 😀
@@MicaelWidell nice, thanks! Btw, in your experience when ordering from Laowa directly, is there any customs and border cost for the shipping to Sweden?
Those 'black flies' act like sand fleas. The Sony menu was so bad with Betamax and video recorders I* swore never to buy another Sony product. Their logic is so bizzarre.
11:42 Hey hey! Don't be hating on my Sony A7R3! Just kidding :P I really am in awe (still years later) when I zoom in like 200%+ and still see so much detail in the image. I wish I would've gotten the A7R4 because that menu really is much nicer looking and feeling, but it had just come out when I wanted to buy a "real camera" so I went with the Sony A7R3 and paired it with the Sigma 105mm 1:1 Art Macro lens. The Sigma lens is the sharpest one out there by a significant margin, BUT it does get a lot of chromatic aberrations (at least compared to the Laowa lenses, which have virtually no fringing or multicolors anywhere even when using a flash on reflective surfaces). I've been thinking on which time to get. Kinda wanted to get the 65mm since it was your favorite and you got such amazing pictures with it, but now that they made the 90mm and the 85mm I'm in between those 2 and I'm stumped. The 85mm seems like a no brainer but I'm afraid it might be too short to use with the popeshield and the roof on it. I'll likely end up buying both lenses and seeing which I like best, starting with the 90mm. It's really time I tried 2x macro already, it seems too fun. Edit: Small grammatical error.
@@MicaelWidell it does. It was a pain to find anything. I recently switched to the Panasonic S1R and it is really nice to be able to find settings easily
@@MicaelWidell Really? I thought it had the colorful menu of the Sony A1. Is it maybe the video oriented Sony A7S3 that has the new menu? (Either way, the menu change is very minimal, it's mostly the colors that change, the order is mostly the same, but it is a bit more responsive and you can use touch for more things overall on the new "system")
I find that the sigma 70mm macro art (mirrorless version) is about perfect, and can be purchased new for around $500. I do not notice any problems with CA, and it is also a great general purpose lens as well (if you do not need fast af). Has beautiful rendering, and very sharp. I am pairing it with a Sony a7r ii. Nisi makes a 58mm screw on magnifier, that brings it to about 1.5x without loosing much (a tad less sharpness), which is nice for like small jumping spiders (with a 49 to 58mm adaptor).
I use a Laowa 100mm CA dreamer on my A7r3 super sharp from f2.8 - f8 any higher and diffraction softens it up. I have a Flickr and a video on my YT page with samples.
Are you being bitten by biting midges?🤣I usually wear cargo pants stuffed in a lightweight army boots (very comfy) with long sleeves t-shirt so you have less exposed skin for them to enjoy and focus on your photography/videography. The boots, while not 100% protective, are good as well against some of the nasty vipers and snakes around here.
You need to concentrate on hitting the eyes of these bugs. The DOF is so narrow you need to really make sure you are focused correctly or use a tripod and focus stack the image set. You will get there. Keep trying.
@@MicaelWidell someone seems triggered with a critique. I would be happy to set an appointment up for you to view and purchase my work. I do require a 300 dollar showing fee. If you are good with that we can set up a viewing time once the fee is paid. The viewing fee will be applied to any purchase.
😂 my point, which was proven just now, is that people who make comments like yours never have anything to show for themselves. Most of the time they will not even reveal their true name, because they know they don’t have anything of value to show. Their only skill is typically to provoke reactions in comment fields.
Thanks for watching! Also find me in these places:
💌 newsletter: mwroll.com 🌄 instagram: instagram.com/mwroll
🎖patreon: patreon.com/micaelwidell 🐦 twitter: twitter.com/micaelwidell
💬 discord: bit.ly/widelldiscord macro lens buying guide: lensguide.micaelwidell.com
Just started manual photography with sony just a year ago. Chose the system because it's the most available when it comes to lenses and service, like it's the only one with a service center here in my city.
Canon RF system is so nice to use and shoot with. Problem is they are pricing out their user base by blocking lens manufacturers 😢
My choice for insect photography would be a high MP full frame camera. Some people ask about APS-C vs full frame. I find a good way to visualise the difference is to think of a camera at 60MP. If you set the camera on a tripod and take a picture of a small object at a certain distance and fill the frame, then move nothing, but set the camera to APS-C mode and take another image (same camera, same lens, same settings, same distance.). All that changes is that you use a smaller part of the sensor. The depth of field does not change. What normally happens is that the photographer backs away a little because the subject was too large in the viewfinder and then the depth of field on the subject increases. Of course the APS-C image will have less MP (around 26MP). As you say the full frame camera will produce less noise in general than a smaller sensor camera which can help with insect flash photography. You can see a link my work on my "About" page if interested.
Sony A7IV full frame is 33MP and Canon R7 APSC is 32.5MP so your argument is a deception. Sony A7IV if cropped to Sony APSC size will only give 33/(1.5x1.5) = 14.7MP
So you need to buy an 83.2 MP Full Frame if you want to equal the resolution of the Canon R7 APSC camera (32.5x1.6x1.6=83.2MP
An insect that is very small is better photographed on an APSC sensor because you need not get too close and depth of field is deeper.
The Sony A7IV cannot do in-camera Automatic Focus Stacking whereas the Canon A7 CAN.
Full Frame advantage is a MYTH and a LIE.
@@set3777 Who said anything about the A7RIV - not me. Who said the full frame has an advantage - not me. I said a camera of 60 MP which I used as an example to show how full frame and crop sensor affect the image which in turn affects DoF. I take pictures of flying insects a lot so focus stacking is of no interest to me. I said "my choice" I have been doing insect photography for 20 years and taken tens of thousands of images, I think I know what "my choice" is. I have used crop and full frame. Do I have trouble getting close to insects and want a crop sensor camera? - no. Will the cannon take good macro shots? - sure. Do I want one? - no. Do I want an A7IV? - no. Would I like an 80MP full frame camera? - I would like to try one and see how it handles noise and diffraction and then make a choice. You have a different choice, then go for it, I would like to see your work.
@@paulstickley4819 This video is about the Sony A7IV 33MP and NOT the Sony AT7RIV-A(61MP).
Why I am questioning is your type of "bogus pros" propagating the myth that FF camera is better than APSC camera for Macrophotography.
With an APSC camera with smaller diameter lens a small 14EV Ring Macro Speed-light fitted on the lens is enough.
FF lenses diameter are too large so the flash solutions are clumsy and ugly.
Also one CZcams "pro" who is pushing the same myth, is also recommending modify the NISI Manual focusing rail for MANUAL focus stacking and using some post software to stack.
Choose and use what you like.
But a big sledge is not better at killing an ant.
@@set3777 I explained "my choice" after years of trial and error. I explained how sensor size affects DoF on an imaginary 60MP camera. I am a hobbyist. You seem to not like what I say. I would still like to see your work.
I've been using M43 for macro work and pretty happy with it. For the noise, there's an easy fix, in Lightroom I just adjust the "Masking" slider up to about 30 (for 200 ISO, maybe 40 at higher ISO). This prevents Lightroom from "over sharpening" and including the "noise" as something it thinks it needs to sharpen. I rarely adjust the Luminance, unless I go to ISO 800, and then I might bring Luminance up to 10 or so. Masking has made all the difference in my satisfaction with the results.
Great tip! I will try it
I was prepared to get the Sony A7IV as a second Camera, but As it only has 3.7 mega dots EVF (which my former Sony A7RIII also had) and the a a bit expensive compared to Sony A7III, then I got the Sony A7RIVA which was on sale, the A7RIVA have as my A7RIV a 5.8 mega dots EVF which makes it much more easy to focus. I hope that the next Sony A7RV have a 9.5(+) mega dots EVF. Years ago I always used 90 (or 100) mm Macro Lenses, but for the last 12 to 14 years I use 60 and 65mm Macro Lenses, I think this focal length are a bit more versatile than 85/90/100/105mm Macro Lenses, the 60 (65)mm also fits better with my other Lenses 14, 24, 35 and 135mm, so I have a good set for every kind of Photography.
I’ve been using my old a500 for all my macro shots for over 10 years now and recently I have been looking for a proper upgrate. Very useful review, thank you!
To my subjective eyes, your new setup results in WAY sharper images. Just look at the eyes of those insects! 🤩👍
I have a Fuji X-T3 with a couple of lenses. I wish I had the money to follow the advice of all the photography channels I follow, because then I would be having flagship cameras from all the brands with all the lenses to go with them.
But I guess I am just a lowly normal guy, with a regular job, so I will make do with what I have.
Yeah men, thats the spirit !
Thanks Micael, yes I also think it is a question of familiarize with a new system. I startet with Canon and switched later on Sony (full frame) and now I am quite happy with my very small and lightweight Fuji X-E4 (with the Laowa 65mm for macro). And with each switch I had pros and cons. Some things are working better others don’t. The image quality at my Sony (Sensor) was outstanding, and much better as on Canon. I really miss the clear UI from Canon at my Fuji, but I love the small size and still good image quality. And you are right. Every System is good and can be used for many years. But switching gear can also be fun ;-)
On my A7r3 I just put commonly used items in the ⭐ favourite menu which solved the menu diving issue somewhat. One thing that really pees me off with sony is that they don't have focus bracketing like Olympus, Nikon, fuji and canon do. Olympus even have up to 15 frames in body stacking, not sure how well that works though. I can't do macro out in the field with shorts, some times I have to roll down the sleeves and wear gloves and a boonie hat when the horse flies are in season - looks like you have a midge problem in that field! I do love the detail and colour that my sony 42mp sensor and laowa 10mm provides, irony is though most images get heavily cropped to less than 20mps which is basically MFT territory but with less DOF from the FF. Yes Fuji are a pain in post 24mp RAF raws take longer to render in capture one that my sony 42MP files. I think it's something to do with the fuji Xtrans array of image data. Thanks for sharing.
Great endorsement for Sony a7 IV. I think you forgot about denoise software's used these days to get rid of the noise in your pictures. There are MFT macro photographers with fantastic macro portfolios, which can easily compete with FF counterparts.
Yes there are a lot of great macro photographers creating beautiful work on MFT. But for me personally, I prefer FF.
Thanks a lot Micael. Quite relevant topic for me now. I value hearing about your experiences, observations, and opinions.
Lovely and impressive photos, well done.
Thanks 😊
I like how you described your thoughts through your camera decisions it made me think through my own and helped me. Thank you and those are wonderful shots you shared.
A very enjoyable walk and talk with great photography mixed in. Thank you, Micael! I'll be interested in your Laowa 90mm review and how you think it compares to their 85 5.6 that I still am considering. I'll probably wait until next spring to pick up my first Laowa macro lens.
Glad you found the same problem with the micro 4/3 system as I did Micael, just gave up doing macro work when the light started to drop in early winter through to spring even spending time in post could'n fix the noise problem to my satisfaction took a step back to a dslr system and am much happier with the results. 👍
crop is better for macro then full frame: bigger macro, bigger dof, bigger working distance... noise is no issue with external lighting, personally i was using canon 6D and 7D with 100/2.8 macro... tried also 90D and R6 and in case of macro the biggest difference was in sensor resolution... more MP is better, again ;) with 550ex speedlites and ambrella you can run iso200 with 1/250s and f/11 almost everywhere
To think that you get deeper DOF with smaller sensor is a bit of an oversimplification. In reality sensor size does not matter in this regard. I think I will make a video to explain this because it is a common misunderstanding.
@@MicaelWidell not needed... I spent 10 years with full frame and 10 years with crop... I read many many articles about it... but own experience is the best... I was quite disappeared with full frame when bought 6D... full frame was something outstanding according to many articles, but simple is not... to have full frame is just marketing... there no such big difference, esp in macro world :) 100mm lens is quite short, try 200mm and share your feeling!
@@mareksykora3891 Agree about macro photography, that M4/3 or APSC is enough for such type of photography, but in portraits(bokeh), wildlife(high iso performance) full frame have huge advantage over crop sensors.
@@PatrickWithCamera yep, only for portrait there is an advantage of full frame... but if you have some time to prepare background, and you should, then bigger dof is no issue, just make bigger distance... or remember portrait in studio, all time you go on f/8... crop is worse when shooting indoor, anyway 20 years back iso 800 was a dream in analog photography and pushing process produced really grainy results... so nowadays, just look on lenses you need and choose body according to it
Thanks again for yet another informative but casual video. I learn a lot from your videos about Macro Photography but still trying to get good photos from my Fujifilm X-E2s & XF 60 mm combo. 😁
Personally, I'm a Sony-Fanboy. I started with an ancient Sony A500, which was a perfect start, since the camera explains itself and many things more on the Display if you turn that option on. It also tells a lot about Rules, how to improve/do better etc. ... So i learned a lot by using it. Of course, its damn old, so I switched to a Samsung NX300 but that step didn't turned out that well even though the Samsung NX is almost as old but way more modern. ... Meanwhile I switched back to Sony with an A6000 and I'm absolutely happy with it. It does everything i want it to. Its fast enough for me, the functions are well done (even though, i added some stuff like focus bracketing manually). I don't even think about any other camera. There is no Camera at all, where i think "oh, yes, I would love to get it". Even actual Sony Fullframe Cameras etc seem like a waste of money to me, since I'm so fine with the A6000. Maybe sounds stupid but idc....
Yes I also own an A6000 and it is incredible value for money. Love it.
I was told by a nurse that vitamin B 12 helps to stop insect bites.i don't suffer at the moment from being bitten fingers crossed B12 helps. I also have two sleeves and special gloves to stop bites and things picking me. All in they help make the photo shoot more fun less annoying.
I shoot a Canon 80D crop sensor and my main focus is macro. I've always assumed that a crop sensor was better for macro, but really wasn't sure. I was very strongly considering switching to a Sony A7iv so I could get the quality boost from a full frame but for some completely unfathomable reason, Sony doesn't have automatic focus bracketing in their cameras. That's a deal breaker for me. (so is Nikon's lack of an articulating screen by the way) Frustrating. So, I'm thinking now of either the R7 crop or the R6 FF. Disappointed that the R6 is "only" 20mp but concerned that the 32mp on a crop would be too noisy. As you can see, I'm indecisive. I also do landscapes and have trips planned to Jasper National Park and the Tetons. The R5 is probably more camera than I need. I can afford it, but spending that much is a psychological hurdle. Of course, the Fuji X-T4/X-S10 or X-H2S are also options. OY!
Really interesting video Micael. I've often wondered if I'd struggle less with depth of field if I bought a crop sensor camera specifically for Macro but this has put my mind at ease.
I love shooting multiple genres and I can't believe how clean the full frame images are compared to the APS-C sensor camera I taught myself with.
Keep up the good work!
Depth of field will be the same you just need to use a bit smaller aperture to get it. And both full frame and crop sensor are limited by diffraction anyway so depth of field is not a good reason to choose crop sensor. I should have explained this in the video but forgot to 😅
@@MicaelWidell don't worry! I was aware that I could claw it back by narrowing aperture. It was just reassuring to know that by doing that I'm not impacting overall image quality anywhere near as much as I thought I would be. My full frame experience has been wonderful so far.
Great video man, gorgeous photos as usual 👍🏻
personally I think Nikon system is even better than Canon one, considering the perfect handling and the dynamic range of raw files. smth like Nikon Z7 II
I checked out the raws of the Z7II (DPreview) and I still see the banding issues ( low ISO's) when raising shadows on dark backgrounds as you do in macro flash shots. Noisier ISO's do tend to mask this Nikon Banding better, but who wants noise in their Macro shot.
Coming into this I hoped to god the video was 4k and you did not disappoint.
Hi Michael, I checked Laowa web site and almost all their macro lenses (85, 90, 100 mm, …) can go on the Canon RF mount so you can shoot Canon too…when you decide to do the move! Thanks for your great videos!
Yes of course. But for autofocus lenses there aren’t as many options :)
That is true…but you shoot in this video with the Laowa 90 mm which is manual focus only, I thought you was a Laowa manual type of guy?…also you could may be take the Sigma, Tokina, Tamron?, Irix,…lenses made for the Canon EF mount and put the EF-RF Canon adapter and use them on the Canon R bodies…I know the Canon RF 100 mm is €1500…by the way Gordon Laing on CZcams just did a video on it…anyway enjoy for now your new A7 IV!
@@MicaelWidell Are there EF options that you could adapt via the EF-RF adapter?
There are lots of EF lenses with autofocus from Sigma, Tamron etc that can go to EF system. Not sure what the situation is with Macro lenses, but you would seldom use AF for macro, anyway, right?
My other Tamron lenses work absolutely fine with the R6 and EF-RF adapter. I have 35mm f/1.4, 15-30mm f/2.8, 150-600mm f/5-6.3
I had some Sigmas on loan as well from time to time.
Just came across your excellent videos about macro photography. You offer some great advice which I will certainly try out when photographing insects. One suggestion, though, re being out and about in nature - wear trousers and long-sleeved shirts - it really helps to avoid those pesky biting insects. There's nothing worse than being constantly distracted by a sharp prick as an insect decides to taste your blood and the more exposed skin that is available means more bites in my experience. Also, I found that not using strong deodorants, aftershave and other perfumy scents means I don't seem to experience so many bites. Often, I have been with friends who use such perfumes and mosquitoes and other such insects seem to swarm to them rather than me.
Love your videos! I was laughing (sorry) when you were getting bitten! We’ve all been there.. never fails when my prize winning shot is at hand some critter comes along to eat me and ruins it.. haha. I take pretty sharp close ups but man I’d love to be able to get the details you’ve got on thos insects.. I don’t use flash so I wonder if light is what I need ? I get very close and focused but details are just not to your level
You definitely should use a flash. Watch the videos in my playlist for beginners, where I share my most important tips :)
Deffo get a flash as that extra micro contrast adds so much more detail - don't forget to soften the light with a diffuser though.
Totally agree Full frame for the win
you should have tried sony RX10m3 / 4 before jumping on Sony R7m4 it's amazing.
ofcaurse the R7m4 is in a another league by itself but Rx10 is amazing for macro :)
Hey Micael! I have the A7 IV + Laowa 90mm macro setup and often have light problems. Only shots in direct sunlight provide really good shots. Hence, I saw a couple of your videos mentioning flash lights. Now, I wonder which setup is better:
1. Godox V1S + diffusor
2. Godox MF12-K2
Number 1 is stronger in light (guide number 76), while number 2 is nearer to the object, but has less light (guide number 32.2).
Which one is more suitable?
What do you think?
I would go with option 1. Search youtube for MF12 to get my opinion on it :)
@@MicaelWidell Ok, thanks for the quick feedback.
Great video, Michael. I have a Canon R with a 100mm RF Canon macro lens. Haven't been that happy with the lens--images just never look sharp and crisp as they do with the Canon 24-105 mm f/4L that originally came with the camera. I can get a Laowa lens that will fit the Canon, but you have to use focus peaking rather than the Canon focusing guide. I actually prefer using focus peaking anyway. What are your thoughts on the differences between the Laowa (60 or 85) and the Canon 100?
I would be very very surprised if the Canon RF 100mm isn't perfect optically. The main difference is that the Canon has some features the Laowa does not have, while the Laowa provides 2x magnification and Canon only 1.4x. If you can't get sharp photos with the Canon lens, you will not get sharp photos with the Laowa. It is probably a matter of practice and learning what goes into taking sharp macro photos. Watch some of the videos in my "beginner" playlist and follow the advice.
I’m sure you are right and I will definitely watch your other videos. Thanks very much for thoughtful (and quick!) response!!
Love the photos, I really need to do more macro photography.
You should try, Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Spray, Original, for the bugs. I was recently recommended it apparently it’s the best out there and used by the British army.
You love good Shuttersound? Try out the R5! You will be addicted.
Thanks for all ur work
Any plans on testing the A7RV for macro. I would love to know how the A7RV AI AF and subject recognition works with small insects, still and moving.
Would love to try it if I can get my hands on one.
@@MicaelWidell I certainly hope you do. That video will draw alot of interest... AI AF and the new in-body focus bracketing.
Really enjoying your channel as I have literally just got the Laowa 90mm for my Sony A7 IV. The weird thing is, I am doing some indoor stuff to practice and I have a dedicated light on the subject, at f8, unless I completely crank up the ISO I can't see anything through the view finder, at most apertures! When I take the pictures they are coming out fine (although obviously I need to practice way, way more)!! Any advice?
The shutter sound is probably different, because they changed default behavior of the shutter. (Front curtain is electronic - if I remember correctly).
Front curtain has always been electronic in the a7 series
I am a wildlife hobby photographer! Your vídeos are inspiring me to do some macro, thanks! :)
Happy to hear that!
Yes, the trees are amasing though!
Hi.
I have the mk320 flash, but it does not fit onto my new a7RIV camera. Do I need another horseshoe?
Nice video Micael, just need a small guide as my lens is new but f stop number is not showing. Kindly can you help me how to set it up or what might be the problem😊
This is normal for a manual lens without a chip in it. You will not be able to see the aperture in the camera unfortunately, because the lens has no chip and cannot tell the camera what the aperture is. Should not affect your shooting or images though.
@@MicaelWidell Ok understood. Thank you Micael🙏🏽❤️
2:00 minor critique: it sounds like you're saying FF colour is in general better than M43 colour, but you just mention one camera of each (or have you compared other than the Panasonic M43 and the Sony FF?). As said, a minor critique, and of course what you say *may* well be the case -- but you would need to back it up more.
I think this is true in general though, even though there are of course some FF sensors that are worse - for example the one in Canon RP. But the larger sensor in general gives better colours, and also MFT sensors sadly don’t seem to have been very actively improved in many years now.
@@MicaelWidell thanks for the feedback 👍🏼
Micael, i just got this camera for macro photography as well. I am a little disappointed that they did not add focus bracketing for the a7iv. Do you still use this camera a lot for macro photography these days??
I use it quite a lot, but these days I use my OM-1 more for insects, because of the excellent focus bracketing.
I have m4/3 Olympus m5-2, crop fuji xt30, ff canon r and r6 and mf fuji gfx50r. I like gfx most of all, use pentax 645 and mamiya 645 120mm f4 macro lenses. Manual focus is a little bit hard to use with one hand, but the results are great. Now I want gfx100s and gf fujinon macro lens with af... But I need to collect some money at first. I suggest you to try gfx system 50 or 100 megapixels it doesn't matter :) It just amazing experience :)
Hi Micael, thank you for the topic of diffraction limin in high resolution cameras. Did you try to overcome the diffraction limit in such cameras by decreasing the resolution in save options, like medium or small size file?
No, I cannot do that since I shoot in RAW
Decreasing the resolution does not give better image quality.
Well I'm sticking to my a7iii, got it since 2018 and the macro photography is not bad at all😂
What happened to the OM System OM-1? Was this video made before or after the change to the OM-1?
This video was made before I discovered OM system :) Check the upload date. Every year I discover new gear, and I often switch cameras.
Congratulaton on your A74 but one unrelated question:
Do you have experience with cameras that have in-camera-macro-stacking, like almost all mirrorless Lumix, many Olympus and so on, and if so what do you thing of this feature? Then which is your recommended camera body in terms of in house macro stacking?
Haven’t tried that feature. Considering how complex stacking is to perform I am sceptical of how good it can be. But would love to try it and probably will one day.
Great advice, thank you!
Hi Micael; I'm constantly in the field and have learned a long time ago to NEVER wear short pants. Suggest light-weight Columbia convertable pants because they have a nice loose fit and are cool. Tuck the pant legs inside your socks to help stop ticks and spiders from biting. I also use long-sleeve light weight shirts. Love your channel -- Canadian fan. 👍🙂
Yeah I need to get more mindful about how I dress lol. But I'm just so excited to get out and shoot that I never think about such things.
@@MicaelWidell LOL can't argue with that! Take care Micael!
I also tried to balance all I'd need a camera for and ended up buying Nikon Z5 and tbh I'm loving it! Have you tried Nikon? I'm curious where you'd place them for macro?
I haven’t tried any of the newer Nikon cameras. Mostly because I find the lens selection lacking. Would be fun to test one out!
I use my Z6 with a Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro and have really enjoyed it. After watching Micael's video on it, I was sold. There are lots of Z mount lenses out there and more coming every day!
@@steveroy1 Good to know :) thanks for the rec. Yeah, they are awesome tho a bit expensive so I'm mixing and matching af-s and z mount lenses for the foreseeable future. I'm so tempted to buy one of the af-s macro lenses because they are way cheaper but we'll see, I'm shooting mainly with the 50 mm 1.8 atm and definitely can't complain!
@@MicaelWidell I quite like what i get, but I'm new to the game and have no experience with another system besides compact Sonys :D however my bees and butterflies are coming really nice! I'm definitely sending one to Nat Geo :)
Hi Micael, which flash (brand and model) do you use with sony a7iv? Is it fully compatible with a7iv? Do you use ttl or manual Mode? And which flash settings do you use with a7iv? Thanks.
Meike mk320. Watch my video about it. I use it in manual mode. Watch my video on macro settings.
@micaelwidell what lens were you using with the a7 iv?
Why not consider Nikon FF?
Can't agree more on the point about poor grep of sony a7 camera. I got mine a74 a month ago, almost dropped it on the concrete floor (I never use camera strap). Guess I have a lots of getting-used-to, since I was a nikon user.
i used to enjoy making macro on film many years ago.
although i have digital cameras, i only very recently obtained sony a7r because full frame and high MP.
i wonder if any one will recommend good lens for this camera for the macro photos.
thank
For this camera I would personally buy the Laowa 85mm or 90mm
Congratulation on your New Sony Alpha IV. I like the small and lightweight Flash you are using. It is perfect for Macro photography.
Can you tell us more about it... (Brand & Model No.) ???
Meike mk320. By the way I always write all equipment used in my videos in the description.
Thank you.. I will check it out. 👍
Micael, what are your thoughts after owning and using A7IV for a while now?, You still think it’s a big upgrade from A7III? I myself thinking of upgrading A7III with A7IV or even A7RV, but can’t make up my mind. I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject some more. Thanks for all your help and advice in advance.
I feel pretty much the same as when I made this video. It is a very good upgrade. Lots of things have improved. If you have the money, go for it!
@@MicaelWidell Thank you for your time and advice, I will definitely consider it.
Hi! Why do you put two aperture values in the descriptions of your photos? F8/F11 frequently appears. Greetings and thanks, your channel is inspiring and I just subscribed as a patreon.
It's because it is a manual lens, so the aperture value is not recorded in the photos. And I don't remember what aperture I used in each photo. But I do remember that I only used apertures between f/8 and f/11 for all photos. Thank you for supporting me on Patreon!
No Focus stacking?
Fint!
Ha det bra!
Nice video, thanks. I am thinking that you have may have a future as a dancer, some of your moves and steps were pretty impressive! Macro Interpretive Dance. 😀
🕺 🦟 🦟🦟🦟🦟
Hi Micael I enjoyed your video. Your comment near the end particularly interested me. I have an a7r2 and am frustrated by the time lag between turning the exp compensation dial and seeing its effect… I think sometimes its so slow that I over compensate thinking i need to do more when it is just really a matter of waiting for the original adjustment to manifest. Is this by any chance what you mean by the a7iv being more responsive?
Yes exactly. It is so frustrating when you turn wheels on the camera and the reaction is not instant. The A7iv feels super fast compared to previous generations.
@@MicaelWidell thanks for responding… its been a big question for me and very few talk about it
@@billtomlin6176 I didn't have a big problem with slow exp-comp dial, but for aperture adjustment it always felt a bit laggy. Also to turn on the camera took a frustrating number of seconds before it is ready to shoot. Also menu is slow, with a slight lag between each button press. The A7iv has the same processor as the A1, so it is a bit overpowered, which probably makes it so very quick :)
If you don't need macro videos, then you would probably like A7R4 (iv), or the (rumored) coming A7R5. We have joke "buy A7R4 get A6600 for free", because when cropped, it delivers exactly the same amount of pixels as an apsc camera.
Most macro lenses deliver more resolution than camera sensors, for instance, Sony 90G macro hard-caps resolution tests at 61mp because lens was superior than the sensor. As a result, A7R4 extracts more of the lens's potentials.
I would like to try a a7riv but I don’t think it is for me, for the reasons I stated in the video. In macro photography diffraction increases fast as you increase magnification. At 2x there is a lot of diffraction. I shoot mostly at 2x.
@@MicaelWidell I agree
Do you ever worry about ticks? I know its a random question, but as a wildlife photographer I am constantly concerned about catching Lyme. Have you ever had any issues with insects that can cause serious damage?
I don't worry too much about ticks. I had like 20 ticks throughout my life but never got sick. I am vaccinated against TBE. I check myself after being outdoors though to catch any ticks that might be on me. You don't need to worry too much about Lyme disease, just check your body after being out, and if you DO get bitten by a tick, keep an eye on the place where it bit you for a week, to make sure you don't see a big red circular rash around it - then you might need to go to a doctor and get some antibiotics. As long as you do this I think the risk of Lyme disease is pretty small.
@@MicaelWidell Thanks for the response! I am going to get vaccinated against TBE. That should ease some concern. To be honest, I didn't know there was a vaccine for it. Take care. :D PS.. Your photos are amazing, keep it up.
Hi Micael, thanks for your video. I want to start macro photography and I just bought the Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS lens. Which settings would you recommend for the Sony a7IV to do macro photography? Thanks. Antonio Caiado
Hi! Search my name and “macro settings” and you will find my video with recommended settings
What settings / setup , and are the any menu changes that you use with the Laowa lenses please as waiting for my 90 mm Laowa to arrive please
Search CZcams for “Micael widell macro settings” and watch my video about it
Sorry Micael,
I was referring to the menus set up regarding Release w/o lens , should I turn this on and off if I switch between manual and auto focus lenses?
Do I have to also change the focal length of the lens to suit the manual lens, and does this have to be reset for auto lenses?
Apart from Focus peaking and zebra settings is there any thing else I should change SONY camera menu, Loawa lens on way,
never used a purely manual lens before hence my maybe obvious / questions, I do shoot in manual but with Af lens many thanks
love your CZcams vids
You are beginning to make me feel that I should have opted for the iv, not the iii - In fairness to you I've not found it to be such a great step up from the a6000, other than for capturing in bad light.
Hello, dear friend! thanks a lot for the video! what do you think of the nikon z 6ii camera? is it good for macro photography with a lens laowa 90mm?
I don't know much about this camera, but I'm sure it is good enough for macro photography :) The Laowa 90mm lens is excellent.
@@MicaelWidell thanks a lot! so I will definitely buy this lens!
I am guessing you don't like insect repellent on you? LOL. Thanks for the video!
Hi Micael, I have the same flash and was winding what settings you use?
Thanks 🙏
Check my video about macro photography settings, all details in there
May I ask why all of your sample pictures show the aperture as being f8 - f11 whilst the specific shutter speed is quoted? Am I misunderstanding something?
I’m using a manual lens which does not give me the exif data about aperture. So I would have to memorize it for every shot. Other info such as shutter speed and iso is stored by the camera. But I remember the range f/8 - f/11 was used for all shots.
@@MicaelWidell Ah, of course, Micael, I was forgetting you're using a Laowa lens. Thanks for the clarification
I sold my Sony 90 mm because I wasn’t using it much. Then as the flowers are ready to bloom, I missed it. The person I sold it to didn’t like a scuff on the body, so I gladly let them return it.
Are you using your Pope Shield without a ring attachment? What's the story there?
Had no ring that fits the Laowa 90mm since it has a different filter thread than my normal lens :)
Great video! The only thing is that there are tons of 3rd party lenses for Canon, from all the major 3rd party manufacturers, like Sigma, Tamron, Rokinon/Samyang, and Laowa. :) I shoot Nikon though.
I’m talking about electronic lenses for the Canon R system
Good video. Thanks.
Better then olympus 90mm?
These days I mostly use the Olympus system for macro photography of insects
I think that you will find that you will be in love with the Sony a7iv - I'm struggling with the Laowa 65mm, lovely and light - must persist, could have been advisible to buy another laowa for the a7iii?
Yes the 65mm does not cover full frame, so I definitely recommend another lens on a full frame Sony
U can try new laowa 85mm/5.6, super small lens for FF, it's even smaller and lighter than laowa 65mm, if I ever go from crop to FF i will get that lens for sure ;)
@@PatrickWithCamera Yes Patrick, saw that - The 65mm has started to earn its way on my Sony a6000 - not ventured to 2x Mag but starting to produce some wonderfully clear images
@@hjones451 Yes, 2x magnification is much more difficult, with 1:1 I could live with simple flash and diffuser, but 2:1 require tons more light to get clear images, so now im trying to build something similiar to cygnustech diffuser to use full potential of this glass, love this 65mm, it's my best pruchase next to sigma 56mm for sony apsc :)
I hear this complaint all the time about macro 4 3rds cameras. Noise. And I have been hearing it for years. Amazingly, this had always been an obvious limitation of smallish sensor cameras, but yet people still keep ignoring it and drawing others into these systems only for them to finally realize the noise issues.
I personally shoot on 1 inch sensor Nikon 1 J5 camera and the noise is not an issue. I found the most annoing in such a small sensor is pixel pitch is so small, so it introduces the difraction limit on aperture 5.6, so even there is no other option like as focus stacking.
FF4EVER! ☺
Funny to watch this video after the one you just posted recently you. 😂
I’m sure I’ll find something I like even better next year 😂
Which lens you used ?
Laowa 90mm in this video. Check description for links to all equipment I used.
It pains me to look at you in shorts. It seems almost masochistic to go by the lake in shorts ... use a repellent spray? 😁
For the rest, I'm happy to follow you.
I’m still too bad at thinking ahead hehe
This is not true. It depends by crop resolution and now the best crop factor is by Canon R7 APSC more thah 30 mpx with an APSC sensor. Let's keep in mind a 90mm macro RF in a APSC is mutch more then in a FF in Sony. More: you have a smaller and lighter tool to take your photos.
Apparently you don’t know about diffraction. Your whole argument would be very sound if it wasn’t for the extreme diffraction present in macro photography.
@@MicaelWidell Diffraction depends by optics. The crop factor is another thing. R7 has more crop factor then R3
@@Tom-Tenerife Diffraction is a physical limit which affects all optics. After a certain point additional pixel density on the sensor won't add more detail to the image (though it does help until you reach this limit). Some quick maths suggests the R7 is in a similar ballpark to the pixel density of my m43 camera. My camera is equivalent to the pixel density of an 80mp full frame camera (the r7 about 76mp) and is definitely limited by diffraction for macro work. The only way around this is to shoot at wider apertures, severely limiting your depth of field, and focus stack a bunch of images together
How much did you pay that 🐝 to model?
Offered exposure in one of my CZcams videos and he said “ok fine, but only if I get to be the thumbnail”
@@MicaelWidell 😂 👍🏼
Nice video, do you have any promo code for Laowa? 🙂
Unfortunately not. Maybe I should ask them 😄
@@MicaelWidell Yeah would have been nice, I have been watching your reviews and a couple of other video, all good talking about Laowa so I am thinking about buying the 90mm, I have the Sony a7 IV today. Or would you recommend the 60mm instead? 😀
@@r4venlord82 no I don’t recommend the 60mm anymore. The 90mm or 85mm is what I would get today.
@@MicaelWidell nice, thanks!
Btw, in your experience when ordering from Laowa directly, is there any customs and border cost for the shipping to Sweden?
Bug spray is indispensable! 😂
Those 'black flies' act like sand fleas. The Sony menu was so bad with Betamax and video recorders I* swore never to buy another Sony product. Their logic is so bizzarre.
If you lived in Japan you’d understand why the menu system is this way
😱😱😱🥰🥰🥰
11:42 Hey hey! Don't be hating on my Sony A7R3! Just kidding :P I really am in awe (still years later) when I zoom in like 200%+ and still see so much detail in the image. I wish I would've gotten the A7R4 because that menu really is much nicer looking and feeling, but it had just come out when I wanted to buy a "real camera" so I went with the Sony A7R3 and paired it with the Sigma 105mm 1:1 Art Macro lens. The Sigma lens is the sharpest one out there by a significant margin, BUT it does get a lot of chromatic aberrations (at least compared to the Laowa lenses, which have virtually no fringing or multicolors anywhere even when using a flash on reflective surfaces). I've been thinking on which time to get. Kinda wanted to get the 65mm since it was your favorite and you got such amazing pictures with it, but now that they made the 90mm and the 85mm I'm in between those 2 and I'm stumped. The 85mm seems like a no brainer but I'm afraid it might be too short to use with the popeshield and the roof on it. I'll likely end up buying both lenses and seeing which I like best, starting with the 90mm. It's really time I tried 2x macro already, it seems too fun. Edit: Small grammatical error.
Actually I am pretty sure the A7R4 still has the old menu?
@@MicaelWidell it does. It was a pain to find anything. I recently switched to the Panasonic S1R and it is really nice to be able to find settings easily
@@MicaelWidell Really? I thought it had the colorful menu of the Sony A1. Is it maybe the video oriented Sony A7S3 that has the new menu? (Either way, the menu change is very minimal, it's mostly the colors that change, the order is mostly the same, but it is a bit more responsive and you can use touch for more things overall on the new "system")
I find that the sigma 70mm macro art (mirrorless version) is about perfect, and can be purchased new for around $500. I do not notice any problems with CA, and it is also a great general purpose lens as well (if you do not need fast af). Has beautiful rendering, and very sharp. I am pairing it with a Sony a7r ii.
Nisi makes a 58mm screw on magnifier, that brings it to about 1.5x without loosing much (a tad less sharpness), which is nice for like small jumping spiders (with a 49 to 58mm adaptor).
I use a Laowa 100mm CA dreamer on my A7r3 super sharp from f2.8 - f8 any higher and diffraction softens it up. I have a Flickr and a video on my YT page with samples.
Are you being bitten by biting midges?🤣I usually wear cargo pants stuffed in a lightweight army boots (very comfy) with long sleeves t-shirt so you have less exposed skin for them to enjoy and focus on your photography/videography. The boots, while not 100% protective, are good as well against some of the nasty vipers and snakes around here.
Yeah I try to wear better clothing but when it is as hot as it was this day, it simply is not possible.
You need to concentrate on hitting the eyes of these bugs. The DOF is so narrow you need to really make sure you are focused correctly or use a tripod and focus stack the image set. You will get there. Keep trying.
Thanks for explaining this. I had no idea. It’s not like I do macro photography for a living 🤣
@@MicaelWidell if that is the case, I am embarrassed for you. But you keep on trying. One day you might actually randomly take a good image.
Would love to see your photos. You appear to be quite the master. Where can I see them?
@@MicaelWidell someone seems triggered with a critique. I would be happy to set an appointment up for you to view and purchase my work. I do require a 300 dollar showing fee. If you are good with that we can set up a viewing time once the fee is paid. The viewing fee will be applied to any purchase.
😂 my point, which was proven just now, is that people who make comments like yours never have anything to show for themselves. Most of the time they will not even reveal their true name, because they know they don’t have anything of value to show. Their only skill is typically to provoke reactions in comment fields.
Hey man. Send me your address. We have GOT to get this guy some bug spray!!!!
Haha I have bug spray, but too lazy to apply it most days 😆
Hi Dear Micael, how do is it Sony A7IV focus stacking drive mode?