Which Macro Lens?

[-Spirit-]

Yes I am here again And I know there are other threads on this which I have read, but didn't want to jump in on someone else's thread with all my own questions.

Last thread for lens help for equipment for now though. My other thread was about the camera that we wanted to get, we decided on the Canon 550d, we already have a 500d. A month ago we bought a 100-400L which will go on the 500d. And are now looking for a macro lens to go on our 500d.

I have been reading around here and other places most of today, there's just so much information I don't know what's best. We want to get it soon though so here I am again.

- We really want to take really close up true macro pictures of bugs/insects/spiders/moths etc...... This video has some really close up shots we would love to be taking pictures like: High-Magnification Macro Photography But we would like just a lens that would do this without having to do all the things you have to do with a not true macro lens if you know what I mean.

I have heard that the Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x is the best one or one of the best but this is out of our price range at the moment with the lens and camera we have just bought.

I presume that we would need a external flash as well? Anything else you need? One this thread all the DIY things people do to their lenses what is the reason for this? And any good tutorials on doing the same?

So if you wanted to buy a true macro lens and didn't have endless money to spend but wanted really great, really close up macro picture so you can see everything on the bug or whatever, which would you suggest? And is 5:1 (1X5) the best macro lens you can get?

Any ideas on lenses and the flash etc would be gratefully received.

 

[squishy]

If you've never done serious macro before then I wouldn't recommend the MPE-65
It's unique and brilliant, but from what I hear from other photographers and from my own experience dealing with magnification that high is EXTREMELY difficult. It's not the MPE-65 in particular, just that at magnification that high the DoF is so thin and light loss so great that it becomes very difficult to work with such high magnifications, especially since it involves getting very close to insects which are often skittish and very rarely like to sit still.

For this reason, I would recommend first trying reversing lenses and extension tubes for high mag before investing in an MPE. The MPE really needs to be combined with the MT-24ex twin flashes for best use, and that pushes it up to around £1k, which is an awful lot to spend and then find out it's so frustrating you can't get into it.

Reversing lenses onto extension tubes is a much cheaper way of getting to high magnification. A 50mm reversed onto a full set of tubes (68mm) seems to give between 2:1 and 3:1, and a 28mm* reversed onto tubes seems to give about 4:1. It's a lot less flexible than the MPE-65 but much cheaper, since you can pick up some really good old primes (with an aperture ring that allows you to set the aperture, which no EF lens has) very cheap, and these are perfect for reversing.
Then think about light. A diffused flash on a bracket is best (short of special macro flashes like the MT-24ex) for this sort of thing, other people should be able to point you in a good direction for which bracket (the one I've got is awful, but I make do). Some people like ring flashes for macro, but they're not suited for really high mag as the lens need to be so close the subject can actually be inside the ring so not lit. For diffusion, everyone has their own style. Look though the "show us your macro set ups" thread, there are some ingenious solutions.

My high mag set up looks like this:

That's a cheap old pentax 50mm f/1.7 reversed onto a sigma 150mm macro (my lens for normal macro) via a cheap thread to thread reversing ring (rather than the thread to bayonet ring you need for reversing onto tubes).

I've got a lumiquest softbox on the flash gun (I like it cos it folds up flat), and a bit of foam paper attached to the lens, which really softens the light.
And a DIY set up like that can get shots like these:

Which are at about 3:1.

So basically, I'd try a DIY set up first, experiment with light and so on and basically find out if you have the patience for extreme mag photography before investing serious money in an MPE-65. Or you may decide to just carry on using the DIY set up.
Whatever set up you use, high magnification will always be a lot of work


*though most lenses shorter than 50mm with vignette heavily when reversed on tubes, so lenses can work well. The vivitar 28mm (komine manufactured ones with a serial number starting 28------) has been highly recommended to me by a couple of people.



Hope some of that helps.

 

[Snapsh0t]

Some good advice there from Adam. Remember that you don't need a Canon 50mm if you're going to reverse it; in fact a different brand that has an aperture ring will be easier to use. There are some bargains to be found in pre-digital lenses.

A dedicated macro lens like the Tamron 90mm is also a good place to start. It'll take you to 1:1 without needing anything extra and you should find a used one at a reasonable price. Once you're confident with that, a 50mm reversed on the front will give you almost 2:1.

Jonathan

 

[petersmart]

A good purchase is a set of Kenko DG AF extension tubes.

These can be used with any lens you have and are cheaper than a dedicated macro lens.

They can also be used with macro lenses like the Canon 100mm f2.8 macro.

They can aslo be used with telephoto lenses to allow you to get very good close ups of larger things like butterflies etc which are fairly difficut to get if you try to get close.

And with a lens like the "Nifty Fifty" you can get true macro shots of small insects.

.

 

[Johnnybugs]

I can wholey recomend the Tamron 90mm macro ... its very sharp and on the 550d it will beef it up another 1.6 times so you can get close enough to insects without annoying them

That said, it wasnt long before I had to get a flash, becuase trying to get the whole insect in focus and not just its eye requires a depth of field in the the f/22 range .... so price up for the lens AND lighting

 

[Emington]

I've got the Sigma 105mm and am really happy with it. I've never used the MPE-65 but trying to focus with 105mm without a tripod (I should really use one but bugs seem to move quicker then me with a tripod) is really tricky at the full 1:1. So I'd suggest starting with a macro lens and see how that goes before buying the MPE-65.

 

[dergit]

IQ wise I'm very happy with the Tamron 90mm Snapsh0t and Johnnybugs recommended, just note that the autofocus (at least on mine on the 40D) is next to useless.. if the noise doesn't scare away everything in front of it, it'll probably die before you have a chance at a sharp image.

 

[winterlight]

I have the Canon 100mm non IS which is very good. Also have used some enlarger lens eg EL Nikkor reversed. The IQ is comparable to the Canon 100mm

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

I have the Canon 100mm non IS which is very good. Also have used some enlarger lens eg EL Nikkor reversed. The IQ is comparable to the Canon 100mm

This is the one i'd go for as a starter lens, ideal to get a feel for macro, second hand for £270-£300. Once you've mastered 1:1 you can add some tubes for 2:1 ish.

This lens gives excellent IQ, internal focussing (end of the lens doesn't move in and out as you focus), USM focus motor (not needed for macro but good for when you you use the lens for other things) and a bigger MWD (distance from the end of the lens and subject) than all the other lens around 100mm, 50% more that the Tamron 90mm. To get the most from 1:1 macro your going to need a diffused hot shoe flash as well, then its just down to practice and patience

 

[digital85]

i've had both the 60mm and the 100mm...preferred the length of the 100mm, but depends what you'll be mostly shooting. Shame I have;t got either now, but that's what choosing a specialised subject does!