Lester A. Dine f/2.8 1:1 Macro 105mm Lens for Nikon

I just bought a Lester A. Dine f/2.8 1:1 Macro 105mm Lens for Nikon off of Ebay.

 

Would anyone be willing to share with me their favorite ideas for photography

subjects using this particular lens - having the experience having done so

already? Also, I would love to hear any recommendations on handling/set-up/etc.

for this type of photography.

 

I am so excited! My first macro lens and it is the one so many of you have

commented on/praised in the past. This is wonderful forum and I am so thankful

it exists! Thank you~

Congratulations on being proud owner of one of the finest macro lenses ever made.

 

Photographic ideas ... well, depends on what your favorite subjects are. This lens will do justice for any macro subject. Since this lens can resolve such incredible detail, centers of flowers with stamens would be a great start.

 

And since this lens produces extremely pleasing background rendition (bokeh), play with background highlights/textures all you like.<div></div>

<p><em>"Do you find you like it more, less, or just in a

different way than your 105mm F4 Nikkor?"</em> - Peter P.</p>

 

<p>I love it as much as the 200/4 AF Micro and more than anything

else :)</p>

 

<p>Also - truly flat filed and amazing corner sharpness, so shoot

anything that requires corner-to-corner sharpness.</p>

 

<p align="center"><img

src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4881301-lg.jpg" width="754"

height="507"></p>

 

<p align="center"><em>Go ahead and shoot subjects

corner-to-corner!</em></p>

 

<p align="center"><em><strong>Damsel at an angle</strong></em><em>

- no cropping</em></p>

I don't do much flowers, but this lens will shine there too.<div></div>

No creature is ugly enough for the Kiron 105/2.8 ..<div></div>

And as magnification gets higher, completely blurred backgrounds are very pleasing.<div></div>

Environmental bug portraits work very well too, so you don't always need to get so close.<div></div>

Thank you so much everyone for the great examples! And tips for set-up - i.e. tripod, lighting, etc.? I love nature photography, so perhaps Mother Nature will have more say over most of the conditions than I will!

<p><em>"tripod, lighting, etc"</em></p>

 

<p>Use the heaviest tripod you can (I recommend Gitzo Explorer

2220) and use a remote (wired/wiress) release. I do not use

flash, so I shoot using available light. Needs a lot of patience,

but its worth it.</p>

 

<p> </p>

Congrats, Jeannie, on the new lens! I look forward to seeing some great pics....soon.

 

Arnab...what remote release are you using on your D200? I was perfectly happy with the cable release I had with my D100....but, no such beast is available for the D200 :-(

 

As always, great pics, Arnab! I find your spiders to be beautiful...not ugly...

<p><em>"Arnab...what remote release are you using on your

D200? I was perfectly happy with the cable release I had with my

D100....but, no such beast is available for the D200 :-("</em>

- Dee W.</p>

 

<p>I got a Chinese knockoff of MC-30 from eBay for $14 (including

shipping). Works like a charm :) <a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00EsdH">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00EsdH</a></p>

 

<p>I realize I am obsessing over this thread :) monitoring

responses in real-time, but then my passion for Kiron 105 is

well-known. </p>

Arnab,

 

Your gallery is both beautiful and inspiring!

 

And if we were not suffering from Ernesto's wrath this weekend, my patience would most certainly be tried waiting for this lens to arrive in the mail.

 

Thank you for all of your contributions to macro photography on this forum!

 

Jeannie

Arnab, Kiron should hire you as their Marketing VP!

Thanks everyone. Jeannie, I still learn new things everyday, and I'm yet to learn how to get consistently get completely natural-looking results using flash :)

 

Speaking of gear - if you have a focusing rail, you can get 1:1 closeups with Kiron 105.<div></div>

And even closer with extension tubes ...<div></div>

<p><em>"Arnab, Kiron should hire you as their Marketing

VP!" </em>- Yaron</p>

 

<p>Yaron, I wish Kino Precision Optics were to exist today -- at

least to put Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Vivitar and the OEMs to

shame.</p>

What is a focusing rail? What does it do and where can I get one?

And for extension tubes, what size/brand/etc. would you recommend?

<p><em>"What is a focusing rail? What does it do and where

can I get one? And for extension tubes, what size/brand/etc.

would you recommend?" - </em>Jeannie K</p>

 

<p>Jeannie:</p>

 

<p>A focusing rail is a camera support that attaches to the

bottom of camera and sits on top of the tripod. Using a focusing

rail you can fine-tune focus by moving the camera back-and-forth

using the geared movement built into focusing rails. for more

info see here</p>

 

<p><a

href="http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/closeup-focusing-rail.html"

target="_blank">http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/closeup-focusing-rail.html</a></p>

 

<p><a href="http://www.hoothollow.com/Tip-September%202004.html"

target="_blank">http://www.hoothollow.com/Tip-September%202004.html</a></p>

 

<p>I use the Kirk FR-1 and Nikon PG-2 Focusing rails.</p>

 

<p>My most favorite extension is Nikon PN-11 but it is

discontinued and hard to find used. You may consider Kenko

Uniplus DG tubes (I recommend the 25mm version). Since these

tubes have AF contacts, you will get AF and metering with AF

lenses on bodies like D50, D70, D80 etc.</p>

with many uses..........<div></div>

possibility<div></div>

not everyone is crazy about bugs.....<div></div>

Valor<div></div>

"And since this lens produces extremely pleasing background rendition (bokeh), play with background highlights/textures all you like."

 

I like my manual Nikkor 105mm/f2.8 lens a lot, and I'm not familiar with this Lester A Dine lens. There is a magnification difference, but what are some other comparisons? And what does the above quote mean? Other background info will also help, such as manufacturer, vintage, versions, etc. Thanks.

"And tips for set-up - i.e. tripod, lighting, etc.?"

 

Here is a picture that may help you put the rest of the system together.

 

Lester Dine's ring/point light flash combo. It is designed for this Kiron macro. In case patience take longer time to develope then you have patience for :-)

 

Minolta focus rail (from AB1 bellow). Very Good, for the money.

 

Angle Finder with 2X/1X switch. In case you don't have eagle eyes yet. Eagle eye is easier then patience but not by much. One in the picture is Minolta Angle Finder VN (from Minolta Maxxum system). Very good, for the price.<div></div>

Interesting comment Arnab. Please now show some ugly creatures not only beautiful spiders and insects^^.

 

Walter (Biologist)

PS I am still searching but so far without luck to find any really ugly creature. But I admit I am prejudice.