Hi Nelson and fellow Nikon users, >lens difficult to work handheld in macro mode? Do I need special exposure >adjustments when in macro? Is the SB26 useful in macrophotography or do I >need a special speedlight? Any trick to focus more easily despites the very >low depth of field? At 1:1, its quite difficult to handhold unless you can imitate a rock pretty well. Even then, with a sturdy tripod, its quite tricky photographing (flowers, bugs, etc) at 1:1 due to subject movements. I seldom use the SB26 when doing 1:1 macro but rather prefer natural (or reflected) lighting. If you're doing copy work, I'd advise you use natural (diffused) sunlight rather than the SB26. Alternatively, put the subject you want to copy in a white styro-foam box and cut a small hole on one of the side to put the head of the flash through. This way, there is no direct flash (eliminating reflection) onto the subject and you get a well balanced/even lighting. I usually use a light/flash meter to get the readings instead of relying on my F90X's metering. If you really must use direct flash, try covering the flash head with a tissue paper to get a less harsh lighting. I'd advise you to use a deeper DOF if you're doing 1:1 unless shallow DOF is what you want. In which case, I'd say rely on the AF (or AF assist on the SB26). >Do the 24mm vignette if i use together L37c and a polariser filter? Do I Yes it does. And also if you use Cokin's P series filter holder and a L37c. You can either buy a super slim Hoya polariser and stop down or you can cut off the outer most slot on the P filter holder (which is a cheaper alternative....whoever uses 3 filters at the same time anyway?). Or you can use the ordinary polariser without the L37c filter. The bluish UV cast is usually not noticeable without the aid of the L37c unless you're shooting at alpine levels. >Cokin and Hoya, the last one being imported by the local Nikon's sole Hoya has a super slim polariser, you might be interested in that. But it's about twice as much as a ordinary Hoya polariser. Tiffen has a warm polariser but I've only heard about it. Hope that helped. Regards, Deric Soh.
