My Current Macro Gear
This is all the macro photography gear I am currently shooting with.
OM System OM-1 Mark II
I shoot all my macro images on the OM System OM-1 Mark II. My favourite things about this camera is the fact it is small, lightweight, can shoot at high fps, and has an automatic focus bracketing feature which has allowed me to get deep focus brackets in fleeting moments.
M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 2x Macro Lens
Just like the body, this lens is very light and easy to use out in the field. It is incredibly sharp, has image stabilisation, and can go to 2x magnification. This lens is also compatible with the automatic focus bracketing I previously mentioned.
Godox V860III
This flash has a powerful lithium ion battery, which allows me to fire multiple shots without the flash buffering. It also has a modeling light which is great for when I am trying to find my subject when shooting in the dark.
Cygnustech Diffuser
I have always used the Cygnustech diffuser for my macro work. The one thing I like about it is how easy it is to setup, and how it can pack flat in your camera bag, making it easy to take on trips. You can order a diffuser for pretty much any type of camera/lens/flash combination via his website.
Adaptalux Pod Minis
I typically use these out in the field to photograph small subjects like fungi and mould. My favourite thing about them is the flexible lighting arms that allow me to easily position the lights how I want them. The Pod Minis are lightweight, portable, have easy controls, powerful lighting, great battery life, and the ability to mount to accessories like tripods using the 1/4 inch thread on the base of each Pod Mini.
Cube Light
There are lots of cube lights on the market. I have the Litra Torch 2.0, but most cube lights do the exact same thing. The good thing about cube lights is that they are quite affordable, very modular, and portable. You can use these for many different scenarios, but I mostly use my cube light as an extra light for photographing small fungi and mould.
SD Cards
My primary SD card for macro photography is the Lexar Professional 2000x. However, I would say this is overkill, even for the large focus brackets I do. I still use this SD card though, and I sometimes use it in my other camera to record video. My secondary SD card is the SanDisk Extreme PRO. These are more than enough for macro photography, and are much cheaper.
Other Macro Gear
This is all the other bits and bobs I use when doing macro photography.
Mini Tripod
I shoot all my bug macro photography handheld, but for subjects like fungi I prefer to use a tripod. This tripod is great for photographing subjects in the woodlands because I can easily flip the centre column to get my camera low to the ground.
Raynox DCR-250
This lens attachment is a cost effective way to achieve more magnification. I originally bought it for my OM System 60mm to achieve more than 1x magnification. But now I have the OM System 90mm, I use the Raynox to go from 2x magnification to nearly 4x magnification!
L Bracket
When using my camera on a tripod, I like to use this L bracket. It makes switching from portrait to landscape a lot easier. This one is designed for the E-M1 Mark II but fits my OM-1 perfectly. The one drawback is that I can’t open the battery door while the bracket is attached to my camera.
KOTTO Helping Hands
I use these helping hands to be able to easily change the position of my subject and background. This makes it a lot easier to get the exact shot I want. For example, I will take a leaf that a bug is on, use the crocodile clips on one of the arms to attach the leaf, and then use the other arm to attach a small background card.
Charmast Portable Charger
I use this to charge equipment such as my OM-1, Adaptalux Pod Minis, cube light, DJI Pocket 3, and much more when I am out and about. It is has a lot of power (26800mAh) and is very thin, making it easy to slip into a bag or even a pocket.
My Spare Macro Setup
This is the equipment that I often take with me on long trips or holidays as a backup in case anything happens to my main gear.
OM System OM-1
This camera is extremely similar to my main body (OM-1 Mark II). For my style of macro photography it’s hard to notice a difference between the mark one and mark two version of this camera. If you do other types of photography like sports or wildlife then you might notice a difference. I’ve got hundreds of amazing shots with this body and it now serves as a backup when travelling.
M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 1x Macro Lens
Every now and then I find myself coming back to this lens. It’s really fun to shoot with because it’s so small and lightweight. I’ve taken hundreds of shots using this lens and every single one of them is tack sharp. For the price, this lens is one of the best value for money options on the market.
Godox v480
This flash is super powerful for its size, and can keep up with intensive high image focus brackets. The form factor makes this a perfect pairing for the M.Zuiko 60mm 1x macro lens, and I sometimes even pair it with my bigger 90mm 2x macro lens.
Godox v350
My style of macro photography can put a lot of strain on these flashes, which is why I have a couple spare units in the event that one of them breaks while out taking photos. The v350 is a bit older than the v860iii and v480, but it still holds up extremely well for intensive high image focus brackets. Because it’s so small, this is also another great option to pair with the M.Zuiko 60mm 1x macro lens.
