What is a good Macro Lens?

Mark Waldschmidt

I use a Canon EOS Digital Rebel (the first one) and have a Sigma 50mm 1:2.8 DG Macro. I can't come close to the clarity of the ones on this site. What am I doing wrong? I am sure a tripod might help.

Mark Waldschmidt

Mark Waldschmidt wrote:

I use a Canon EOS Digital Rebel (the first one) and have a Sigma 50mm 1:2.8 DG Macro. I can't come close to the clarity of the ones on this site. What am I doing wrong? I am sure a tripod might help.

Check out my web page I started. http://home.comcast.net/~marklori43/

Lord Vetinari

Looks like you have some nice shots in your gallery. I'm assuming they are all natural light and at fairly low aperture ?
Many of the macro shots you will see here will have been taken at smaller apertures (F8-F13) using flash and at magnifications of 1:1 or higher. This gives greater DOF plus higher contrast which helps bring out the detail more.
How do you take your shots?- use MF or AF ? normal EXIF data.
Brian V.

Skippy

Mark Waldschmidt wrote:

I use a Canon EOS Digital Rebel (the first one) and have a Sigma 50mm 1:2.8 DG Macro. I can't come close to the clarity of the ones on this site. What am I doing wrong? I am sure a tripod might help.

Hi there Mark, and welcome to the Dgrin Forum.
I see you have found our new MACRO Forum

People are using all kinds of set-ups for shooting MACRO.
Combining Lens and Extention Tubes, also using Filters such as the Canon 250D or 500D that screws onto the end of the lens.

Some folks are using Reversed Lenses too.

Many of the images you see that are EXTREME Macro were shot using
Canon's MPE-65 it serves no other purpose but to do MACRO ONLY.

The Kenko's come in real handy as they can be used on other lenses,
they are light, have AUTO Focus (you'll find you need to switch to Manual)
come in a set of 3, and can be used in any combination.

Brian hand holds most of his extreme shots, other use tripods.

Hope this information is helpful to you Mark

Need help just ask, and folks are more than willing to try and help you out.
Enjoy the forum ... Skippy
.

Mark Waldschmidt

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Looks like you have some nice shots in your gallery. I'm assuming they are all natural light and at fairly low aperture ?
Many of the macro shots you will see here will have been taken at smaller apertures (F8-F13) using flash and at magnifications of 1:1 or higher. This gives greater DOF plus higher contrast which helps bring out the detail more.
How do you take your shots?- use MF or AF ? normal EXIF data.
Brian V.

I usually us AF, but when the subject is moving, I get frustrated with the AF and go MF.
Mark

Mark Waldschmidt

Skippy wrote:

Hi there Mark, and welcome to the Dgrin Forum.
I see you have found our new MACRO Forum

People are using all kinds of set-ups for shooting MACRO.
Combining Lens and Extention Tubes, also using Filters such as the Canon 250D or 500D that screws onto the end of the lens.

Some folks are using Reversed Lenses too.

Many of the images you see that are EXTREME Macro were shot using
Canon's MPE-65 it serves no other purpose but to do MACRO ONLY.

The Kenko's come in real handy as they can be used on other lenses,
they are light, have AUTO Focus (you'll find you need to switch to Manual)
come in a set of 3, and can be used in any combination.

Brian hand holds most of his extreme shots, other use tripods.

Hope this information is helpful to you Mark

Need help just ask, and folks are more than willing to try and help you out.
Enjoy the forum ... Skippy
.

I am limited on funds unfortunately, whatis my best economic solution using my Sigma 50mm 1:2.8 DG Macro. What is the best affordable attachment for it.
Thanks. I really love this website/forum.
Mark

Mark Waldschmidt

Aperature and speed

Skippy wrote:

Hi there Mark, and welcome to the Dgrin Forum.
I see you have found our new MACRO Forum

People are using all kinds of set-ups for shooting MACRO.
Combining Lens and Extention Tubes, also using Filters such as the Canon 250D or 500D that screws onto the end of the lens.

Some folks are using Reversed Lenses too.

Many of the images you see that are EXTREME Macro were shot using
Canon's MPE-65 it serves no other purpose but to do MACRO ONLY.

The Kenko's come in real handy as they can be used on other lenses,
they are light, have AUTO Focus (you'll find you need to switch to Manual)
come in a set of 3, and can be used in any combination.

Brian hand holds most of his extreme shots, other use tripods.

Hope this information is helpful to you Mark

Need help just ask, and folks are more than willing to try and help you out.
Enjoy the forum ... Skippy
.

I see everyone uses high aperatures, F8-F16. I tried that and my pictures were blurry and the speed drops way down. What ISO does everyone tend to use, Speed and aperature, or does everyone use their camera in manual mode, I know from what I am reading everyone used MF not AF. Dumb and new to trying to do it right.
Mark

Lord Vetinari

Mark Waldschmidt wrote:

I see everyone uses high aperatures, F8-F16. I tried that and my pictures were blurry and the speed drops way down. What ISO does everyone tend to use, Speed and aperature, or does everyone use their camera in manual mode, I know from what I am reading everyone used MF not AF. Dumb and new to trying to do it right.
Mark

Most of my shots use flash- camera in M mode, 1/200th Iso 200 F8-F11. Flash in ETTL mode. For natural light shots I use ISO400/800 Tv mode 1/200th and try to keep the aperture at F6.3-F11.

Brian V.