Macro Kit Advice

Robinivich

I'm currently shooting a Rebel XT with 50 f1.8 and Kenko extension tubes, and a 430EX w/off camera shoe cord for lighting, and looking at upgrading to a more serious setup (not that I'm not having fun with this one!)

I'm eyeing the Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro since it's in a sweet spot of usefully long 2.8 telephoto, high quality, and working distance, without paying for Canon 180 which doesn't have any real advantages over the sigma that I can identify, besides an extra 30mm.

My plan is to have the Sigma equipped with a flash bracket for the 430EX, and to have the option of reverse mounting my 50mm on the front of it, with tubes on the back, for massive magnification. (I've seen images of such a setup, and images produced by it, which apparently gave MP-E 65mm levels of magnification)

I've tracked down all the filter attachments I'd need, the only thing I'm really not sure about is a flash bracket, as I'm certain that the XT + Tubes + Sigma 150mm + 50mm will not be a one-handed sort of a deal, and that the camera hot-shoe isn't going to cut it.

I've been digging through threads here and on dpreview trying to find suggestions that will cost me rather less than 200 dollars, and not finding a lot of options. I'm a serious amateur who's trying to get through school, so budget is rather limited.

I've vowed that my purchases of lower quality budget solutions have ended, and if convincing arguments are made, I will wait to be able to afford quality gear, but if there are good alternatives I'm missing, let me at 'em! Thanks in advance to you all!!

Manfr3d

There are many low budget solutions to good macro equipment.
The question is if you want to expand your macro capabilities
with or without "Pro" gear. I found this book to be a great resource
both technicaly (the math, the equipment) and photographicaly
(the ideas) on macro photograpy:

http://www.amazon.com/Closeup-Shooting-Guide-Tabletop-Photography/dp/1933952091/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

It talks about magnification lenses, belows, reversing lenses
and shows you how to calculate the achieved magnifications.
It also talks about how to light for macro photography and
about the gear you can use to do so (Ringflash Twinflash,
Singleflash+Softbox, etc.).

So if you're a bit unshure about what and why to buy. I would
recommend you this 16$ book as a great source of ideas and
a reference!


My macro setup consists of a Tamron 180mm/3.5 SP Macro 1:1
and a 580EX II with a Softbox and an off camera cord. Since my
flashbracket (Really Right Stuff) hasn't arived yet I'm handholding
the Flash while the Camera is on Tripod. Works very well for me.

Robinivich

Thanks for the resource! I've been managing pretty well with lens specs and reviews, cameras, flashes and the like, but tripods and brackets have started to overwhelm me!!