Hi guys, here's a little thought on UV setup that some may find useful ...
To begin with, credits have to go where credits are deserved; my knowledge of UV photography was acquired from the Internet community and I have to thank them, especially people I had the pleasure to correspond with; like Bjorn (Naturfotograf - Most excellent!!!), Vivek (photo.net), Klaus (macro lens database), etc. If you have read the information from- or talk to the abovementioned people, you would have realised that UV photography is possible and feasible in the realm of digital photography.
Technique
Technique-wise, taking an UV shot is no different from taking an IR shot. Simply focus; put on the filter (compensate focal-shift if necessary) and shoot away Now, this is the simple part; the hard part is getting the correct equipment to do this!!!
Equipment
Bjorn and Vivek have done a lot of leg-work in this regard and it is worth to check out what they recommend. But in essence, their recommendations normally revolve around lenses that are quite difficult to get (even you have the money).
In an ideal situation, you would use lens like a Zeiss UV-Sonnar for medium format, Asahi Pentax Ultra-Achromatic-Takumar for Pentax, Zeiss UV-planar for Visoflex you get the picture They range from US$4000-US$20,000 ea. if you can find them and that is a BIG if!!!
Since I only do DSLR, I would just like to touch on this format. The ideal setup for DSLR currently belongs to Nikon users. Not all imaging sensor are built the same and it so happen that the sensor on the Nikon D70 is most suitable for UV, in terms of transmission and colour response. Coupled with a UV-Nikkor 105/4.5 and a SB-140, you are all set
Now what is wrong with this picture is that the lens is difficult to find and expensive to buy, even more so for the flash!!! A UV-Nikkor 105/4.5 can cost you US$4000 and upward for a used one. The flash can cost you US$1500 and upward IF you can find a used one.
Bjorn recommend using the SB-14 as an alternative, since it can accept the UV and IR filters from the SB-140 this is great if only the filters are as common as SB-14!!! They are difficult to find and the SW-5UV actually cost a bomb; e.g. one British seller list them for about 250+ British pounds!!!
But all is not lost
To begin with, credits have to go where credits are deserved; my knowledge of UV photography was acquired from the Internet community and I have to thank them, especially people I had the pleasure to correspond with; like Bjorn (Naturfotograf - Most excellent!!!), Vivek (photo.net), Klaus (macro lens database), etc. If you have read the information from- or talk to the abovementioned people, you would have realised that UV photography is possible and feasible in the realm of digital photography.
Technique
Technique-wise, taking an UV shot is no different from taking an IR shot. Simply focus; put on the filter (compensate focal-shift if necessary) and shoot away Now, this is the simple part; the hard part is getting the correct equipment to do this!!!
Equipment
Bjorn and Vivek have done a lot of leg-work in this regard and it is worth to check out what they recommend. But in essence, their recommendations normally revolve around lenses that are quite difficult to get (even you have the money).
In an ideal situation, you would use lens like a Zeiss UV-Sonnar for medium format, Asahi Pentax Ultra-Achromatic-Takumar for Pentax, Zeiss UV-planar for Visoflex you get the picture They range from US$4000-US$20,000 ea. if you can find them and that is a BIG if!!!
Since I only do DSLR, I would just like to touch on this format. The ideal setup for DSLR currently belongs to Nikon users. Not all imaging sensor are built the same and it so happen that the sensor on the Nikon D70 is most suitable for UV, in terms of transmission and colour response. Coupled with a UV-Nikkor 105/4.5 and a SB-140, you are all set
Now what is wrong with this picture is that the lens is difficult to find and expensive to buy, even more so for the flash!!! A UV-Nikkor 105/4.5 can cost you US$4000 and upward for a used one. The flash can cost you US$1500 and upward IF you can find a used one.
Bjorn recommend using the SB-14 as an alternative, since it can accept the UV and IR filters from the SB-140 this is great if only the filters are as common as SB-14!!! They are difficult to find and the SW-5UV actually cost a bomb; e.g. one British seller list them for about 250+ British pounds!!!
But all is not lost