Andy Loves His Canon 50mm F1.4

Skippy

Some time ago I asked Andy for some advice on a lens, and the suggestion was a Canon 50mm F1.4

Thank you Mr Williams :thumb I love my 50mm too :lust

This is one sweet peiece of glass, sharp as a tack and today I combined it with a full set, yes all three KENKO Tubes.

Now combining all KENKO Tubes is the same as adding a combined length of
68mm.

The tubes used were a 36mm + 20mm + 12mm ....... which reduced my DOF significantly, this is where Brian's advice comes in about hand holding Macro Shots.

Using my Canon 580 Flash and that very simple FOAM Flash Diffuser, I used an extention cable so I could literally hold the flash in one hand and the camera in the other, the camera is set to MANUAL, the ISO is 100, the SPEED is 200, and the F Stop is between F14-F16.

I tell you I need, and want one of those Flexible Flash Brackets

Trust me folks if I can do hand held Macro Shots with my slight hand shake you can do it to.

You can achieve great MACROS without using a MACRO Lens, the 50mm that I used is NOT a Macro Lens, but gosh it does a great job impersonating one :clap .... enjoy..... Skippy (Australia)

Only ONE image has been slightly cropped from the left to remove a blemish but the other TWO are not Cropped in any way.

The little Yellow flowers are called DWARF YELLOW BROOM and no it's not a weed though there is one in Australia with a smiliar name.

These three flower heads measure just 3/4 of an inch in total, and the hight is just over 1/2 an inch so they are not very big at all.




These next 2 shots are Tips of the Flowers from a GREVILLEA PLANT

I love they way they curl up, they attract Honey Eaters.

Lord Vetinari

Great shots Skippy- esp like #3 (best composition). You are right about using a 50mm with ext tubes- makes a great macro lens- even the elcheapo Canon 50mm F1.8 is good used like this.

Re the flash bracket- you can make one fairly simply from a generic vidcam light bracket (with two light attachment fittings) and a small tripod miniball (and a genuine 1/4" bolt and a drill)- that's what I use
Brian V.

Skippy

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Great shots Skippy- esp like #3 (best composition). You are right about using a 50mm with ext tubes- makes a great macro lens- even the elcheapo Canon 50mm F1.8 is good used like this.

Re the flash bracket- you can make one fairly simply from a generic vidcam light bracket (with two light attachment fittings) and a small tripod miniball (and a genuine 1/4" bolt and a drill)- that's what I use
Brian V.

Thanks for looking Brian........ but your talking over my head
Besides I aint go no handyman to make something like that up for me... Skip

wally5656

Really great shots, the colors pop!

Skippy

wally5656 wrote:

Really great shots, the colors pop!

Thank you Wally......... I'm trying to learn editing
I think I have improved a lot since Devbobo talked me through RUTTS tutorial on LAB ... thanks for looking......... Skippy (Australia)

Richard

Wow! Those are great, Skippy, especially the last one. clap

Cheers,

Awais Yaqub

great wotk skippy !
Without macro lens wow

Dee

Thanks Skippy
for posting this! I'm dying to try this. Now to get extension tubes...

Oh, and great photos too.

Where were the flowers? Growing outside? If so, that explains holding the camera in one hand and the flash in another... How did you focus or frame the shot? Eye to camera in one hand and flash in the other? Oh my... you are brave indeed.

Exactly how practical is this?

Do you have to be very close to the flowers, or are you able to be some distance (like a foot or more) away from them?

Can you tell I have no idea how this is done?

Skippy

rsinmadrid wrote:

Wow! Those are great, Skippy, especially the last one. clap

Cheers,

Thank you my friend, I like the last one too ... Skippy (Australia)

Skippy

Awais Yaqub wrote:

great wotk skippy !
Without macro lens wow

Awais the Kenko's are worth every cent, they can be used on I guess any lens, even on the 400mm and the 200mm.

When using it on those larger one's it increases the closeness of where you can focus, so lemme just pull numbers out of the air here, so the minimum focusing distance on the 400mm is 14 feet ? if you put a Kenko off 22mm the minimum focusing distance is now close to just One Foot, I don't know the exact figures but someone smart could work it out.

Using the full set on the 50mm is extremely close, so if you don't own a Macro Lens get yourself a set of Kenko's and have a heap of fun

Thanks for looking......... Skippy (Australia)

Skippy

Dee wrote:

for posting this! I'm dying to try this. Now to get extension tubes...

Oh, and great photos too.

Where were the flowers? Growing outside? If so, that explains holding the camera in one hand and the flash in another... How did you focus or frame the shot? Eye to camera in one hand and flash in the other? Oh my... you are brave indeed.

Exactly how practical is this?

Do you have to be very close to the flowers, or are you able to be some distance (like a foot or more) away from them?

Can you tell I have no idea how this is done?

Dee honey it's like playing Twister my friend, I get myself all caught up and I still say one of those Flexible Flash Brackets is the way to go, then there would be no need to hold it in the other hand.

The problem for me and the flash is that if I take the flash off the Camera, I have nothing to put it on, so I have to hold it with the other hand, I know it looks awkward, but it works.

The 50mm is not that heavy, and the Kenko Tubes are super light because they have no glass in them, they still allow the camera to AUTO Focus, however many times I choose to MANUALLY Focus.

The Diffuser does make a huge difference in directing the light to where you want it, so if you haven't made one from GUS's Link they are so easy and cheap to make you should give it a try.

Now listen up Dee, when you have the camera in your right hand and your flash in your left hand, with the cord hanging where you don't want it to be, your on your knees in the bushes, trying to get about an inch away from the subject, it's very import that you stick your tongue out and look like a DORK, just incase you draw attention to yourself dear okay you got all that ???

You can hand hold it but you need the extention cable in order to do it.
Hope you too can look as DORKY as me as you try this technique Dee

Good Luck .......... Skippy (Australia)

Dee

An inch away

Skippy wrote:

Dee honey it's like playing Twister my friend, I get myself all caught up and I still say one of those Flexible Flash Brackets is the way to go, then there would be no need to hold it in the other hand.

The problem for me and the flash is that if I take the flash off the Camera, I have nothing to put it on, so I have to hold it with the other hand, I know it looks awkward, but it works.

The 50mm is not that heavy, and the Kenko Tubes are super light because they have no glass in them, they still allow the camera to AUTO Focus, however many times I choose to MANUALLY Focus.

The Diffuser does make a huge difference in directing the light to where you want it, so if you haven't made one from GUS's Link they are so easy and cheap to make you should give it a try.

Now listen up Dee, when you have the camera in your right hand and your flash in your left hand, with the cord hanging where you don't want it to be, your on your knees in the bushes, trying to get about an inch away from the subject, it's very import that you stick your tongue out and look like a DORK, just incase you draw attention to yourself dear okay you got all that ???

You can hand hold it but you need the extention cable in order to do it.
Hope you too can look as DORKY as me as you try this technique Dee

Good Luck .......... Skippy (Australia)

Oh my, that is NOT going to work for me.... isn't there a better way to get macros without being right on top of them?

I thought if you were that close you got in your own light -- oh wait, you mentioned the flash, that's what that's for, d'uh! (dummy me).

My twisting days are long gone... nowadays (if that's a word) I need a sitting stool (of for being young, skinny and flexible again).

The "in your face with a flash" might work for my "studio" shots... but not in the wide open outdoors. Never mind people find me weird enough as it is, from the looks I get sometimes! (nah, most people see a fat old lady bent near the ground and want to come over and help me up!)

Diffusers? Oh my, I got a collection of DIY ones, a big bottom half of a plastic bottle, the bottom part of a Tums container (think stofen), etc. I haven't made "Gus's" yet because I can't find where I put that foam... and my flash won't fit my camera yet. But a good buddy is taking care of that for me.

I have no idea how you can manually focus -- and keep the focus in the twister position!

I'm amazed you got what you did, and impressed!

Skippy

Dee wrote:

Oh my, that is NOT going to work for me.... isn't there a better way to get macros without being right on top of them?

I thought if you were that close you got in your own light -- oh wait, you mentioned the flash, that's what that's for, d'uh! (dummy me).

My twisting days are long gone... nowadays (if that's a word) I need a sitting stool (of for being young, skinny and flexible again).

The "in your face with a flash" might work for my "studio" shots... but not in the wide open outdoors. Never mind people find me weird enough as it is, from the looks I get sometimes! (nah, most people see a fat old lady bent near the ground and want to come over and help me up!)

Diffusers? Oh my, I got a collection of DIY ones, a big bottom half of a plastic bottle, the bottom part of a Tums container (think stofen), etc. I haven't made "Gus's" yet because I can't find where I put that foam... and my flash won't fit my camera yet. But a good buddy is taking care of that for me.

I have no idea how you can manually focus -- and keep the focus in the twister position!

I'm amazed you got what you did, and impressed!

Dee.......... It was only because I used all 3 Kenko's together if I had of used just ONE I wouldnt have to be in that close, the 22mm is one that I used the most on it's own that will give quite a few inches space

........ Skippy

Dee

Can you tell

Skippy wrote:

Dee.......... It was only because I used all 3 Kenko's together if I had of used just ONE I wouldnt have to be in that close, the 22mm is one that I used the most on it's own that will give quite a few inches space

........ Skippy

I don't know from tubes! I don't even know what they look like. Another google project!

Thanks for the explanations...

Tom K.

Beautiful and inspiring work Skippy.

Phyxius

Skippy, awesome shots! Glad you like your new lens

Dee wrote:

I don't know from tubes! I don't even know what they look like. Another google project!

Thanks for the explanations...

Kenko Tubes

Dee

Thanks...

Phyxius wrote:

Kenko Tubes

They look kind of neat!

Skippy

Tom K. wrote:

Beautiful and inspiring work Skippy.

Thanks Tom...... I gotta get me a Flexible Flash Bracket, then it wouldnt matter what lens I was using ......... Skippy (Australia)

Nikolai

Skippy,
Great shots! That kenko set rocks! All you need is that one o' dem brackets you've mentioned...

Skippy

Phyxius wrote:

Skippy, awesome shots! Glad you like your new lens


Kenko Tubes

Hey there Phyxius the lens isn't new I've had almost as long as I've had my Canon 20D, just haven't tried using a full set of Kenko's with it till yesterday figured it was about time I gave it a go.

Those Kenko's work with almost any lens, they are well worth having a set.
Thanks for posting the link for the KENKO's ........ Skippy (Australia)

Skippy

Nikolai wrote:

Great shots! That kenko set rocks! All you need is that one o' dem brackets you've mentioned...

Yup I love my KENKO's, but the only way I will get one of those Flexible Brackets is buying it USA........ alas I have to wait till September 2007
.... did I mention waiting sucks

Thanks for looking Nik ...... Skippy (Australia)

Nikolai

Oh, come on

Skippy wrote:

Yup I love my KENKO's, but the only way I will get one of those Flexible Brackets is buying it USA........ alas I have to wait till September 2007
.... did I mention waiting sucks

Thanks for looking Nik ...... Skippy (Australia)

as if you can't have somebody (wink-wink ) buying it here now and ship it to you.. It's Xmas sales now, you know, they offer discounts and free shippings all over the country...

And if you decided to do it, I'd also suggest to check out the split prism focusing screen that Shay described. I think it could make bug hunting so much easier...:-)

ziggy53

Skippy,

Really great images.

While I know you want that flexible flash bracket, there are other ways to get light where you want it.

One way is to use flexible dryer hose to act as a "light pipe".

(Image not mine, used for example.)


Just cut a chunk long enough to do the trick, with as few wrinkles as you can. You can use any kind of wire cutter, or Dremel type tool with a cutting wheel, to slice the wire, then regular scissors to cut the aluminized plastic.

At the end, near the subject, use a diagonal reflector to put the light where you want it. If you use white paper, or that foam sheeting, it works better than something shiny.

The end over the flash can be secured by any means you have at hand, and the end close to the lens and subject can be secured with velcro.

Just remember, it's not how it looks, it's how it works that matters.

ziggy53

Andy

w00t really nice skippy

Skippy

ziggy53 wrote:

Skippy,

Really great images.

While I know you want that flexible flash bracket, there are other ways to get light where you want it.

One way is to use flexible dryer hose to act as a "light pipe".

(Image not mine, used for example.)
Just cut a chunk long enough to do the trick, with as few wrinkles as you can. You can use any kind of wire cutter, or Dremel type tool with a cutting wheel, to slice the wire, then regular scissors to cut the aluminized plastic.

At the end, near the subject, use a diagonal reflector to put the light where you want it. If you use white paper, or that foam sheeting, it works better than something shiny.

The end over the flash can be secured by any means you have at hand, and the end close to the lens and subject can be secured with velcro.

Just remember, it's not how it looks, it's how it works that matters.

ziggy53

Wow Ziggy you sure do put some thought into these things don't you.
I see what you mean by your image.

Often when your shooting a bug the thing is sitting in a position where your flash is too far above it..... they need to start looking at flexibility for the flash head, even if its an add-on that folds within itself like segments, or retracts within itself so that it can still be flat for storage, or even left on the Flash unit itself, and if you need it to be pulled out and bent in a certain direction it can.

Ummmmmm can I patent that idea .... Skippy (Australia)

Skippy

Andy wrote:

w00t really nice skippy

Hey there Mr Williams thanks for the recommendation on that Lens
I've had it a while now, but I still love it ........ Skippy

Nikolai

Now, Skippy, can you explain me one thing
I know that a better glass can in many cases deliver a better shot compared to a cheaper one.
However, in this case we seem to use the 50mm in f/11..f/16 range.
My question: does it REALLY make a difference having f/1.4 compared to f/1.8 in this scenario?
Did anybody try to use "fantastic plastic" under the similar circumstances?

TIA

Swartzy

Nice shots Skippy
Ah...yes....the lens! Very fun! Great clarity and focus on these. Get the bracket or go down to your local welder and he'll fix you up (just remember to remove the lens).

Skippy

Nikolai wrote:

I know that a better glass can in many cases deliver a better shot compared to a cheaper one.
However, in this case we seem to use the 50mm in f/11..f/16 range.
My question: does it REALLY make a difference having f/1.4 compared to f/1.8 in this scenario?
Did anybody try to use "fantastic plastic" under the similar circumstances?

TIA

I don't know Nik, I don't own a 50mm F1.8
The Kenko's can turn any lens into a Macro except for a couple ...... Skippy

Skippy

Swartzy wrote:

Ah...yes....the lens! Very fun! Great clarity and focus on these. Get the bracket or go down to your local welder and he'll fix you up (just remember to remove the lens).

I'm a very patient woman NOT!!! hahaha...... but I will wait and get the bracket, it will be much easier especially if I use it with my 70-200mm or my 400mm .... see the Kenkos will go on most lenses so if you at the time only have the larger lens with you and a set of Kenkos you can still use them.

Thanks for Welding idea smarty pants ....... Skippy (Australia)