Beginner Minimum gear for macro setup?

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LumixNoob

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James
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I want to have a go at some macro/close up photography. I have a 600D/15-85mm and a Panasonic fz200. The fz200 can get pretty close, but not close enough without any adaptations. I was thinking about getting the Raynox DCR-250 adaptor for the fz200. Are there any similar options for the 600D/15-85? Would the Raynox work with stepdown rings?
 
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Did you consider working at the other end?
…like extension tubes?
 
Ah, no I didn't think of that...I don't really know where to start to be honest.
 
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Extension tubes are great in my studio because they have no optical cost!
More, they last for ever and are relatively cheap.

Another solution —that I don't use but is the cheapest— is the reverse mount
ring that permits great macro by mounting your lens on the camera the reverse
way.

I would not recommend any other optical solution but a dedicated macro lens.

I hope this helps you. ;-)
 
Raynox DCR-250 is a cheap and easy route to macro. It will work fine on your 15-85, best at 85mm. You'll need a stepping ring though.
 
Hi, I have the shoe on the same foot with this topic.
Want to try something away from the landscape scene.
Also have the 600D.
Bought a used Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di 1:1 Macro SP Lens as I din't want to go mad until I get the hang of it.
Also a Yongnuo YN-14EX ring light. Three reason for this one (1) I wanted to try:)) (2) Cost compared to a Canon (3) I thought that with the Tamron not having any image stabalisation the flash ring would allow faster shutter speeds in conditions where camera metering would mean high ISO, slow shutter speeds etc.
Also found some good tutorials on youtube one here very good IMO
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf1woH6JOxY

Some free ebooks at http://dharmagrooves.com/e-Books.aspx
about half way down the page 25 books.
Russ
 
I'd suggest a nifty 50 and a set of extension tubes. Nice simple set up to get you started.
 
I was in the same boat. I went for a cheap set of extension tubes and my nifty fifty, then added a Raynox. Once I'd decided Macro was for me, only then did I buy a decent macro lens. You could also try a reversing ring, but I never took that route as it didn't look to safe, exposing the lens contacts.
 
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LumixNoob said:
not convinced about reversing the lens, at least not my current zoom
Click to expand...
Of course not as this is meant for normal primes.

The set? Yes, that kind of thing…
Make sure the set will complement your combo with the contacts
that allow AF, aperture etc to run normally.

As I was looking at your link, they suggest a circular LED ring light.
I got one and did some cool take with it!
 
Thanks Kodiak, I noticed the light ring and I think I could stretch to all three - the 50mm STM, tubes and LED ring. How close would I be able to get with that set up? Would it be OK for bugs and spiders for example?
 
LumixNoob said:
Thanks Kodiak, I noticed the light ring and I think I could stretch to all three - the 50mm STM, tubes and LED ring. How close would I be able to get with that set up? Would it be OK for bugs and spiders for example?
Click to expand...

Yes the "Nifty Fifty" and a set of extension tubes can give great results, indoors and out.

This set was taken using the 50mm f1.8 ("Nifty Fifty") and extension tubes which I got on here for about £75.00:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/20926615@N05/sets/72157625975281497/

Amazon do a set of new Polaroid extension tubes for £60.00 which get good reviews, although I haven't used them:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Polaroid-Fo...r=1-2&keywords=polaroid+canon+extension+tubes

I'm not sure about the use of LED ring lights as I have never used them so can't comment on the light output for moving subjects but for outdoor use I sometimes use a high flash unit (similar to the Canon EX units) and the extension tubes coupled with my 70-300mm L lens which gives great results from a distance great enough so you don't disturb bees, wasps etc - or get stung.

But I consider extension tubes the best investment since they can be used with almost any lens - but get the Auto models since then all the functions of your lenses will still work.

A lot of good shots can be taken indoors but you do need a good tripod - and I always use the 10 sec delay on my camera to minimise shake on longer exposures, even when using a flash.

Indoors on a tripod you don't even really need a flash - a longish exposure and "painting" the subject with almost any light source (e.g a torch etc) can give very good results.

But as with everything practice is essential - and don't expect every shot to be a "keeper" - I consider that I've done well if my outdoor macros give me 30% of good shots - which is why I shoot a lot - DOF can be a real bitch!
.
.
 
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LumixNoob said:
How close would I be able to get with that set up? Would it be OK for bugs and spiders for example?
Click to expand...
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Oooh yes! they will be big enough.

The only advantage of using a longer focal length (105mm)
is that for the same work you may stay away from the subject
and avoiding casting shadows eventually!
 
Thanks for the help everybody, much appreciated.

I just sold my fz200 so might go for the kenko tubes.
 
I hope it's okay for me to butt in here because I am also keen on doing macros some time soon. I'm more of a beginner than the OP since I've never heard of tubes and extensions and adaptations. I've always assumed that to shoot macro, you buy a macro lens, stick it on your camera and start shooting. Will that not work? Quite confused with what you guys are all saying so if someone could briefly explain the setup, that would be great. :P
 
Winter said:
I hope it's okay for me to butt in here because I am also keen on doing macros some time soon. I'm more of a beginner than the OP since I've never heard of tubes and extensions and adaptations. I've always assumed that to shoot macro, you buy a macro lens, stick it on your camera and start shooting. Will that not work? Quite confused with what you guys are all saying so if someone could briefly explain the setup, that would be great. :p
Click to expand...
If you look at my reply to the OP above youy can find some 20+ FREE books on Macro.
Russ
 
Winter said:
Quite confused…
Click to expand...
•
Sheylara,

You have a Nikon and a lens. If you insert extension tubes between
the body and the lens, you get access to the world of macro.

Even better, I have a 105 mm macro that I sometimes use with the
tubes as well.
 
russellsnr said:
If you look at my reply to the OP above youy can find some 20+ FREE books on Macro.
Russ
Click to expand...

Thanks! Some helpful resources there. :)

Kodiak Qc said:
•
Sheylara,

You have a Nikon and a lens. If you insert extension tubes between
the body and the lens, you get access to the world of macro.

Even better, I have a 105 mm macro that I sometimes use with the
tubes as well.
Click to expand...

Thank you, Kodiak. But can you do macro without an extension tube? Just use a DSLR + macro lens?
 
Winter said:
Just use a DSLR + macro lens?
Click to expand...
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Yes, for sure!

And my 105 is a cool portrait lens and great for street photo a well.
The extension tubes are just taking deeper in macro… a very cool
world at this scale!
 
Kodiak Qc said:
•
Yes, for sure!

And my 105 is a cool portrait lens and great for street photo a well.
The extension tubes are just taking deeper in macro… a very cool
world at this scale!
Click to expand...
I see. Okay, I think I get the gist of it. Thank you for explaining!
 
If you just want ease of use for macro, try raynox DCR 250 it just clips on the end of lens, get a pringles tube for onboard flash, sorted,
If you check out the group on flickr you will see results.
 
Winter said:
I hope it's okay for me to butt in here because I am also keen on doing macros some time soon. I'm more of a beginner than the OP since I've never heard of tubes and extensions and adaptations. I've always assumed that to shoot macro, you buy a macro lens, stick it on your camera and start shooting. Will that not work? Quite confused with what you guys are all saying so if someone could briefly explain the setup, that would be great. :p
Click to expand...

Hopefully these two videos will help your understanding. First covers the different options, the second the results you can expect:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiPzTMUAWs8

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J3UQH8TlXo
 
wallyboy said:
If you just want ease of use for macro, try raynox DCR 250 it just clips on the end of lens, get a pringles tube for onboard flash, sorted,
If you check out the group on flickr you will see results.
Click to expand...

But the one thing you have to get to grips with is the extremely small DOF which means that you could have an area only about 1-2mm which will be sharp.

That is the cause of a lot of beginners getting frustrated with macro, especially trying to shoot outdoors handheld.

The best intro to macro is indoors on a tripod until you get used to the small DOF.

And auto focus is pretty useless at the close distances you will be using so set your lens to manual and adjust the focus carefully using a fairly small aperture ( I often use f16 - f32) with or without flash.

And expect to have an awful lot of wasted shots - we all get them!
.
 
petersmart said:
But the one thing you have to get to grips with is the extremely small DOF which means that you could have an area only about 1-2mm which will be sharp.

That is the cause of a lot of beginners getting frustrated with macro, especially trying to shoot outdoors handheld.

The best intro to macro is indoors on a tripod until you get used to the small DOF.

And auto focus is pretty useless at the close distances you will be using so set your lens to manual and adjust the focus carefully using a fairly small aperture ( I often use f16 - f32) with or without flash.

And expect to have an awful lot of wasted shots - we all get them!
.
Click to expand...
If you are going down the macro route, extension tubes, dedicated lens, clip on raynox, it is all the same DOF wise,
Each one of those is tricky to get focus,
If you are going intdoors stick on a tripod you have to still mess about with focus, which would be great for static subjects no problem,
If you are photographing bugs and the like outdoors is the way to go, free hand, a good start would be manual mode, SS 125, A11, manual focus, using flash, with mention tube
Then get out and practice,
 
wallyboy said:
If you are going down the macro route, extension tubes, dedicated lens, clip on raynox, it is all the same DOF wise,
Each one of those is tricky to get focus,
If you are going intdoors stick on a tripod you have to still mess about with focus, which would be great for static subjects no problem,
If you are photographing bugs and the like outdoors is the way to go, free hand, a good start would be manual mode, SS 125, A11, manual focus, using flash, with mention tube
Then get out and practice,
Click to expand...

...and, achieve focus by moving the camera body rather than twiddling focus ring.
 
I got my extension tubes today and tried them out on the 15 - 85 @ 85mm. I'm quite happy with the results (I couldn't seem to get a focus though when it was set at 50mm and not sure why):





 
One thing I'm not happy about though is all the artifacts in the background of the apple shot. It's cropped but it's still there in the original. The two ISO1600 shots almost look better. I mean you expect some noise at that setting, but I don't get why the ISO100 apple shot looks so crappy. Is there some setting I'm missing in the camera?
 
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Extension tubes? Congratulation, you will never regret that move! ;-)

#2 is cool, great colours!
All take are showing how critical the focus and shallow the DoF are.

This is a good first shoot, keep rocking, man!
LumixNoob said:
Is there some setting I'm missing in the camera?
Click to expand...
Working at that scale means working with a tripod.
Working with a tripod means you may lower your ISO to native values.
Set your aperture to say f11 and let the SS run as it is needed.
 
Have a look here in the close up and macro section.

https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/we-need-you-in-draft-want-to-get-into-macro.551944/

https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/show-us-your-macro-rig.132158/

There are a few ways to have a got at macro for hardly any money but it is not easy whatever route you take.

This shot was taken with an old kit lens that had a minimum focus distance of 1.4 meters with a raynox DCR250 and a standard flash and a homemade diffuser

Hover-fly by Alf Branch, on Flickr
 
LumixNoob said:
I got my extension tubes today and tried them out on the 15 - 85 @ 85mm. I'm quite happy with the results (I couldn't seem to get a focus though when it was set at 50mm and not sure why):





Click to expand...

Were you using all the tubes at 50mm?
It may be that the lens will not focus at that focal length with all the tubes fitted or it may be that it focuses a few mm from the front element.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
Working at that scale means working with a tripod.
Working with a tripod means you may lower your ISO to native values.
Set your aperture to say f11 and let the SS run as it is needed.
Click to expand...

Kodiak
I never use a tripod it just would not work for me here is a shot taken 3X magnification of a quick moving subject. The subject is under 2mm.

Katiannidae Gen1 nov sp nov by Alf Branch, on Flickr
 
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Kodiak Qc said:
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You use a flash which is ok but the OP is not yet there. :)
Click to expand...

Ah but that is as basic as can be using an ordinary on camera flash for the hoverfly above with a home made diffuser here is the set up the tripod is only used to hold the camera to be photographed the card marks the minimum focus distance with the Raynox. This is on a lens that has minumum focus distance of 1.4m

at 150 mm with raynox by Alf Branch, on Flickr
 
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