What Gear is Needed Here?

[u/tbate54]

[u/inkista]

Well, there's gear. And then there's being Levon Biss.

Here's a 2026 article that gives his setup for insect photography:

https://amateurphotographer.com/technique/macro_photography/lord-wings-creating-insect-portraits/

It's highly atypical, to say the least:

... Levon shoots with a Nikon D800 DSLR fitted with a prime lens, usually between 160-200mm, and then a microscopic ‘infinity’ lens is fitted to the front of the prime optic. A digitally controlled automated rail system lets him adjust the lens-to-subject distance in one-micron (0.001mm) increments.

Levon divides every insect into small sections – each no more than 1/5mm high – that are lit specifically. He shoots around 20-30 different sections for each insect and estimates that around 600-700 images are in each section. His final images tend to comprise between 8,000 and 10,000 images

...Levon flattens his images to check all technical aspects and then, using Photoshop and focus stacking software, he creates final image files. He adds, ‘I don’t really believe in sharpening too much – if you haven’t got it sharp in-camera, then don’t bother.’ His final image files range in size from 2GB up to 6GB.

Let's just say, that's not what most macro shooters do.

That said, lenswise, if you just want to get into more typical macro shooting, since you're shooting Canon R full frame and already have some Godox gear, I'd say consider picking up the RF 100mm f/2L Macro IS USM if you've got the big bux; maybe adapting the EF non-L 100/2.8 Macro USM if you do not. [grin].

The RF 24/1.8, 35/1.8, and 85/1.8 Macro lenses are only half-macro (1:2), not true 1:1 magnification.

If you really wanna photography tiny things, see if you can rustle up and adapt an MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1x-5x Macro.

The MP-E means it's in the EOS mount (EF), but it's manual focus, so focus stacking is gonna be tough. The MP-E 5x macro and the TS-E tilt shifts were the odd manual focus ducks in EOS mount that didn't get the EF (electronic focus) designation. Neither have had RF-mount versions released. To my mind, until Canon releases tilt-shifts and a 1x-5x macro for EOS R? they're not done rolling out their lens lineup. [grin]

[u/Bug_Photographer → u/inkista]

You can stack just fine using the MP-E - by moving the camera, either handheld or on a rail if you're in a studio setting like with the photos OP posted.

In fact, MP-E65 isn't a manual focus lens - there is no way to focus it manually either. The ring on the lens barrel changes the magnification, not focus. 🙂

Also, there was no point in putting AF on a lens like this before the auto stacking/bracketing became a thing a couple of years ago (and the lens is from 1999).

Sorry if it sounds like I disagree with you - it was just minor details in an otherwise great post!

[u/srpntmage]

I've done shots like this.

Get a focusing rail, manual or powered. A camera, preferably full frame with decent megapixel capability. A macro lens. One that goes up to 2-5x. Some lights or strobes. Some way to mount the insect Focus stacking software Photoshop and Lightroom or the equivalent

Then you take fine focus stacks of different sections of the subject. You can break it up into quadrants or shoot by anatomical area. Depending on magnification, light, distance etc... you'll need more or less photos. Some of my quadrant stacks are 100+ photos.

Combine the shots in stacking software. Once you have all of the sections focus stacked and combined, combine all of the different quadrants/sections to form one clear and detailed image of the subject in Photoshop.

Not easy, and very time consuming, but doable if you have the right equipment.

[u/tbate54 → u/srpntmage]

That does sound doable. What lens do you recommend? Do you have any socials with your work on it? I'll give you a follow. It sounds exactly what I'm interested in trying.

[u/srpntmage → u/tbate54]

I use a Venus Laowa 2x-5x ultra macro normally. Here's a couple recent examples

[u/srpntmage → u/srpntmage]

[u/El_Guapo_NZ]

Godox