macro advice

[Darkmage]

Hi guys I'd really like to get into macro photography, the up close shots of bugs etc you see are awesome! ;o

So far I have a Canon 350d with the standard kit lens, and a 70-300 mm Tamron.
So i guess I need to fork out on some new equipment?

It's my birthday soon so any advice on equipment would be great! I.e. which macro lens are a good buy, and will I need extension tubes (I've seen them being banded around, not sure what they do) and do I need some kind of extra flash? so far only have the onboard one...

so yeh any advice would be great, or examples of peoples set ups and what kind of photos they can get from it! Ta v.much

DM

 

[huanjia]

I think tamron 70-300 should give you a 1:2 macro? if you are still not satisfied with it you may be looking for 1:1 macro. For Canon gear I would definitely recommand EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro. 1:1 macro, Very very sharp, perfect build quality, and more important: USM very quiet and fast, and the lens does not extend during focus, these are important if you are shooting some small bugs in your graden

 

[J4MIE_P]

There many differenet options depending on your budget. Sigma and Tamron sell some lower priced Macro lenses and a lot of people on here swear by them. (eg. Sigma 105mm)

Other options are the more expensive option
Canon 100mm F2.8 Macro = around £500

Or if your really wanting to do Macro properly you would want the
Canon MPE-65 = around £800

Flashes - there are yet again more options, normal Canon Speedlites would work, but you might want to think about a Macro flash adaptor to get the flash closer to the end of the lens for small macro work
Canon 430EX Speedlite = around £200
Canon 580EX Speedlite, etc = around £400

If you want to go for a full on Macro flash there is two options really
Canon MR14 EX Macro Ring Flash = around £400
Canon MR24 EX Macro Ring Flash = around £700

Just give some options a google or a search on here and find out what's best for you.

Hope that helps
Jamie

 

[Darkmage]

here are a few shots I've done with the 700-300 but I'd like to get closer if pos!

 

[Uneducated_Rick]

If you're not sure you definitely want to get into macro I would suggest tubes.

They are just a ring of plastic that sits between your current lenses and your camera. They allow you to reduce your minimum focus distance, meaning you can get closer and the subject fills the frame more, but they also reduce your maximum focus distance so you won't be able to focus on anything far away.

 

[huanjia]

If you're not sure you definitely want to get into macro I would suggest tubes.

They are just a ring of plastic that sits between your current lenses and your camera. They allow you to reduce your minimum focus distance, meaning you can get closer and the subject fills the frame more, but they also reduce your maximum focus distance so you won't be able to focus on anything far away.

yes, try before you waste the money

 

[Darkmage]

If i got some kenko tubes they'd still allow me to autofocus and change aperture right? how close do you think you could get with tubes and say a nifty 50?

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

You'll need a true macro lens (1:1) and there are various around personally i wouldn't be to bothered about USM as you will soon find you use manual focus when shooting macro because when you change the focus position on a macro lens you also change the magnification. Have a look a the Tamron 90mm & Sigma 105mm as the both get excellent reviews and will save some ££ over the Canon version, adding tubes will increase the magnification available from the lens.

 

[Darkmage]

You'll need a true macro lens (1:1) and there are various around personally i wouldn't be to bothered about USM as you will soon find you use manual focus when shooting macro because when you change the focus position on a macro lens you also change the magnification. Have a look a the Tamron 90mm & Sigma 105mm as the both get excellent reviews and will save some ££ over the Canon version, adding tubes will increase the magnification available from the lens.

thanks Dogfish, would you recommend tubes that you can control aperture on? I have some cheapo 1s off the bay but it locks the aperture down and you get a tiny DOF

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

thanks Dogfish, would you recommend tubes that you can control aperture on? I have some cheapo 1s off the bay but it locks the aperture down and you get a tiny DOF

I tried the cheap ebay ones and there just a frustrating pain in the ass, try and get some kenko or jessops auto tube's they retain body control over aperture this means you'll get a nice bright image for focusing and they will step down when you take the photo so you get a usable DOF.

 

[Uneducated_Rick]

thanks Dogfish, would you recommend tubes that you can control aperture on? I have some cheapo 1s off the bay but it locks the aperture down and you get a tiny DOF

You can normally step the aperture down on these by mounting the lens, altering your aperture to what you want to use, holding the DoF preview button, removing the lens (it should stay stopped down), remounting with the extension tube(s) attached

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

You can normally step the aperture down on these by mounting the lens, altering your aperture to what you want to use, holding the DoF preview button, removing the lens (it should stay stopped down), remounting with the extension tube(s) attached

This makes the image in the viewfinder dark and you will find it difficult to focus.

 

[strobemonkey]

If you really want a macro lens
Tamron 90, Sigma 105, or Canon 100, or Canon EF-S 60

They allow you to focus to infinity, and you can use them for portraits as well.
I highly recommend the Canon 100 as the length doesnt change when focusing. Its also very quiet and fast compared to the Tamron or Sigma. Ive not tried the EF-S 60 so cant comment.

I used the Canon 100 with this shot:

I'm not saying that that shot is not possible with the Tamron or Sigma, but it will be difficult.

With static subjects like this:

You can use a set Tubes with Nifty 50

For more versatility, I would suggest a true macro lens.

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

And with a siggy 105mm

 

[Darkmage]

And with a siggy 105mm

http://www.toddjones.co.uk/tpweb/bee_flight4.jpg[/MG][/QUOTE]

nice shot :) is that with the Sigma and no tubes? how much closer can you get with tubes on? also is that without a flash?

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

nice shot is that with the Sigma and no tubes? how much closer can you get with tubes on? also is that without a flash?

Thanks, yes that was with no tubes and natural light and its probably less than 1:1

this was taken with a full set of tubes and the 105,

basically at 1:1 something the same size as the sensor in your camera will fill the viewfinder and at 2:1 something half the size of the sensor in the camera will fill the viewfinder.

 

[seriousrikk]

Another macro lens to look out for is a Sigma 150mm. I picked mine up used for less money that the Canon 100mm was going new.

With a dedicated macro lens (well any lens actually, just more aparrent on macro) you can add a 1.4x convertor and your minimum focus distance will remain unchanged. You are then running a lens that can reproduce at 1.4x lifesize. Same theory with a 2x convertor as well.

I use a 1.4 on my 150mm to try and avoid scaring the bugs off (Not got much to display yet, still learning!)

 

[Darkmage]

Thanks, yes that was with no tubes and natural light and its probably less than 1:1

this was taken with a full set of tubes and the 105,

basically at 1:1 something the same size as the sensor in your camera will fill the viewfinder and at 2:1 something half the size of the sensor in the camera will fill the viewfinder.

wow if I get something like that how close do you have to be get that kind of shot? also can you hand hold or do you need a tripod?

 

[huanjia]

Thanks, yes that was with no tubes and natural light and its probably less than 1:1

this was taken with a full set of tubes and the 105,

basically at 1:1 something the same size as the sensor in your camera will fill the viewfinder and at 2:1 something half the size of the sensor in the camera will fill the viewfinder.

that was a nice shot

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

wow if I get something like that how close do you have to be get that kind of shot? also can you hand hold or do you need a tripod?

That was hand held at about 2 inch's from the subject to the end of the lens at 1:1 you are bout 4 inch's from the end of the lens.

 

[hometown48]

Thanks, yes that was with no tubes and natural light and its probably less than 1:1

this was taken with a full set of tubes and the 105,

basically at 1:1 something the same size as the sensor in your camera will fill the viewfinder and at 2:1 something half the size of the sensor in the camera will fill the viewfinder.

Wow that is a superb shot .