My main camera is a Canon 5D but I have a Rebel xti as back-up as well. For field work I use Canon's 50mm, 100mm and 65mm MP-E lenses, all of which work in combination with Canon's dual head macro flash MT-24EX. I often find the light a bit harsh so I diffuse it with a bit of sailcloth taped loosely to one or both of the heads. I also use a macro rail and focusing rack made by Really Right Stuff for critical focusing and shooting 'slices' in the field.
		For studio photomacroscopy and low-power photomicroscopy (1X - 50X) I use two basic set-ups, the one being a bellows system and the other a low-power microscope, the Leica M420. The bellows system is a hybrid concoction linking my Canon 5D to a Nikon PB-4 bellows, to which I have adapted via T-mount and an old Orthoplan microscope a number of older macro lenses. These include: a Photar II 130mm, a Zeiss S-Planar 74mm, an Apo-Componon 60mm, a Photar II 50mm, a Luminar 40mm, a Macro-Nikkor 35mm and a Photar II 25mm. Each of these lenses works best at a certain magnification. The sub-stage focusing mount of the Leitz microscope allows me to shoot a number of incremental 'slices' which I wed together in the computer using Helicon Focus software. Occasionally I also use Photoshop CS3's stacking features to optimize depth of field as well. To shoot tethered to my computer I use Capture One Pro software which also doubles as a Raw File Converter.
		For live specimens or fugitive subjects (such as snowflakes) I prefer to use the M420 because of its ease and speed, even though its optics are not quite as sharp as the primes. As can be seen from the photo I have adapted my Canon MT-24EX flash system so that vibration and movement are minimized. I also use the Orthoplan microscope on occasion as a compound microscope (not pictured) and have a set of Plan Fluotar Leitz lenses for such purposes.
All images on this website are © Laurence Acland