Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro Ring Flash

2009-08-18
Voltage is found safe at
5.8 volts as shown
lester a dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 macro ring flash


lester a dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 macro ring flash

lester a dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 macro ring flash
When I look over some old product shots of my Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 with a Macro Ring Flash, I realize the bad mistakes in me selling it too soon to cover the expenses and guilt in owning this well sought after macro gear. I shared my negative opinion on the Macro lens with others noting that it is still the best macro lens that I have used for up to magnification ratio of 1:2. Anything closer to 1:1 magnification, I had a hard time dealing with the ridiculously long focus throw in manual focusing. In hindsight, it was me who was the problem in not knowing how to use the gear properly. I need tripod and flash to make it a better suited setup for macro.

When I recently attempted similar magnification ratio in shooting a spider in the process of paralyzing a big prey with a wasp, I felt the same constraint with my Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG 1:1 Macro in manual focusing mode. The problem is not in the gear but rather the need to use tripod and the great necessity in using the right fill flash to counter the narrowest DOF in reaching 1:1 focusing distance. It is paper thin as it approaches 1:1 ratio. When I shot with an external flash triggered wirelessly by the internal flash, the picture are not what I expected, there is a lot of tuning needed in terms of distance and strength to dial in for the proper fill flash. I am not even close in getting a proper shot of the spider.

lester a dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 macro ring flash

I surely missed my chance in testing out the macro ring flash that come with the Lester A Dine in a complete package. When a forum friend from Canada asked me about the gear, I sold him the whole package under cost of what I paid. While I don't miss it much as I have my Sigma 105mm f/2.8 which I found very capable and I have no reason to doubt its capability, I find the Lester A Dine or the equivalent are better in color and contrast. I do find its faults in CA showing in normal shooting as well as the absence of focus limiter, which my Sigma is good at.

There were two other similar mistakes in me in selling good old gear too soon and replaced them with new one. The worst mistake is selling the Pentax A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro and that is followed by Pentax K 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro. Both have oustanding colors and superb manual focus throw. I like the manual focusing in both the Pentax old macro lens.


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1 comments:

mannydeguzmanartist said...

That's why I don't sell old equipments. I just modify them to make them usable to fit modern technology...

MANNY DE GUZMAN, JR.

Click here to see my recent lens modification for Nikon D90

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Welcome to Hin's Photo Corner, this is my learning blog on photography, blogging and advertising. And I hope you enjoy your visit. For contact, please comment in blog post or email me directly hintheman at gmail.com.

 

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