{"id":1853,"date":"2025-12-10T05:36:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T05:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web33.secure-secure.co.uk\/marklucock.com\/blog\/?page_id=1853"},"modified":"2025-12-10T05:36:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T05:36:35","slug":"macro-nature-photography-a-lifetimes-journey-to-fujifilm-via-pentax-and-canon-gear","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web33.secure-secure.co.uk\/marklucock.com\/blog\/macro-nature-photography-a-lifetimes-journey-to-fujifilm-via-pentax-and-canon-gear\/","title":{"rendered":"Macro Nature Photography: A Lifetime\u2019s Journey to Fujifilm via Pentax and Canon Gear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re interested in mastering macro, and perusing a comparative review of techniques and equipment, particularly in relation to Fujifilm gear, then you may well enjoy this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An unusual picture of my leg. Aedes<\/em> mosquito in my garden feeding on my blood. Fuji 80mm macro lens set to f\/11 and 1\/180 sec with light supplied by a Godox V860 III flash and a Cygnustech diffuser. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The journey<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I began my journey into close-up nature photography using Pentax film cameras and extension tubes. Typically, I\u2019d use 50mm of extension on a 50mm standard lens to achieve life size magnification. I\u2019d employ a small manual flash that I\u2019d calibrated for correct exposure at f\/11. Mostly I\u2019d use this set up with either ISO 50 Velvia or ISO 64 (and 25) Kodachrome slide film. Generally, I\u2019d use a Pentax LX (one of the best film cameras ever made). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii<\/em>) feeding on a shasta daisy in my Leeds garden was shot on a Pentax system around 35 years ago. I used a 50mm lens with 75mm of extension tubing to yield a 1.5x lifesize image. The film emulsion was ISO 50 Fujifilm Velvia and I used a small calibrated manual flash (Hanimex) to light the subject.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The pictures I captured (or at least their scans) are still more than good enough to use and be competitive in 2026. However, the reality is that there is no going back \u2013 digital capture is easier and more cost effective than film. Still, I produced some of my best macro images with my Pentax LX, Pentax 100mm macro f\/2.8 lens and Pentax AF280T TTL flash gun. This TTL set up worked so well and seldom failed to deliver great slides. Although I still think of this as my all-time favourite macro set up, I\u2019ve now moved on to using a Fuji macro system that is altogether a different beast. Enroute, I had a long phase shooting macro with Canon EF equipment. I have little to complain about, but there were a couple of issues. I had three Canon macro lenses; EF 50mm f\/2.8 macro (0.5x life-size only), EF 100mm f\/2.8L macro USM, and the EF 180mm f3.5L macro USM. The 50mm macro got little use for close-up nature and I used it mostly for landscape. I wasn\u2019t much of a fan of this slow lens. The 180mm macro is a beautiful optic, but is simply too big and way to heavy to be considered as a convenient lens. It is a challenge to use, but takes truly magnificent images. The winner in my book is the Canon 100mm macro \u2013 I used this in exactly the same way I used my Pentax 100mm macro with film, but obviously using a digital sensor. I used TTL flash on a bracket for exposure and this worked very well with APS-C or FF sensors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Close-up of a huntsman spider using the Canon 180mm f3.5L macro USM lens on a Canon 5D MkII. I used an off-axis Canon flash for illumination (f\/7.1, 1\/50sec, ISO 100, bean bag for support). This lens is big and heavy and very challenging to use effectively.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This hoverfly (Melangyna viridiceps) was taken on a Canon 100mm f\/2.8 macro lens with an off-axis Canon flash (f7.1, 1\/160 sec, ISO 100, handheld)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Canon DSLRs were bulky and as I got older, I saw the obvious benefits of using the smaller and lighter Fujifilm system. The Fuji glass is optimised for the smaller APS-C sensor and is super sharp with Fuji JPEG colours reflecting my early use of Velvia and Provia film, and in my opinion, the colours are second to none in the industry. What follows are my thoughts, specifically on Fuji close-up photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slide show below shows butterflies taken on Pentax film equipment with the Pentax 100mm f\/2.8 macro lens (or Tamron 90mm) and the AF280T TTL flash<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n