Fungi with Different Lenses

I spent a nice afternoon on the 30th October taking some fungi shots.  I took with me my Canon 760d, Canon 100mm USM Macro Lens, Venus Laowa 15mm 1:1 Macro Lens and a Canon 17-40mm lens.  In addition I took an Aputure Amaran video led light to provide some lighting.

First up I was keen to try out the Venus Laowa Macro Lens on some fungi.  The reason being with this lens I would be able to get up close and personal with the fungi – but still have a wider sense of view of the subjects surroundings.

I used the video light leds to provide constant lighting on some of the fungi – to 1) light the shadows 2) speed up the shutter speed a little.  The Aputure Amaran has a nice setting that allows you to alter the warmth ( colour ) of the light from a daylight white to a warmer yellow.

Here are a few shots using this setup and effect.  Note in these shots the lens is not at 1:1, but probably – 1:4 in magnification.

Now to demonstrate the difference with the Venus Laowa wide angle macro lens, and a normal wide angle lens and a 100mm macro lens – I took the same subject a few times.

Firstly with the Venus Laowa not at its closest 1:1 focusing of this fungi scene on an old stump.

This scene could almost be similarly achieved on a normal wide angle lens, however it cannot get as close.

This next shot is on my Canon 17-40mm at its closest focusing distance.  I.e this is as close you can get with it on its own.

For comparison the closest the Venus Laowa can go is this.  The next two shots are both on the Venus Lens, but using different light temperatures on the led lights.

Whereas at 1:1 on the Canon 100mm Macro lens is this.

Finally these two puffball shots were taken on the Venus at 1:1

And the Canon 100mm Macro lens a little back from full 1:1 macro.