? for macro shooters...what lens?

KimballPhotography

I'm in love with some of the macro photography shown on DG. If I were interesting in trying my hand at some macro, what lens should I be looking for? Is it possible to get similar outcomes with attachments? I want to shoot some bugs...help I apologize if there is already a thread bouncing around here with this info already given :uhoh .

Thanks in advance!

pathfinder

KimballPhotography wrote:

I'm in love with some of the macro photography shown on DG. If I were interesting in trying my hand at some macro, what lens should I be looking for? Is it possible to get similar outcomes with attachments? I want to shoot some bugs...help I apologize if there is already a thread bouncing around here with this info already given :uhoh .

Thanks in advance!

Hi Natalie. Macro shooting is a favorite of mine too and has been discussed here extensively on dgrin.
Here are a few links to get you started
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=3131&page=1&pp=10

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=3131&page=1&pp=10

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=3131&page=1&pp=10


What you decide depends on yor budget and your interests. Extension tubes are probably the cheapest way to start. Filter lens that your screw into the filter threads on the front of your lens are next. Then come the real macro lenses. Don't look at the 50 macros too long - they are cheaper for a reason. The 100mm or longer macros are generally preferred by almost all macro shooters except those who shoot coins and stamps - eg: flat, stationary objects. But for bugs and butterflies 100mm + is much better. More expensive, but much better.

When you have perused the threads above, come back and ask some more questions and we will try to answer you then. And you can join us in shooting macros too

Khaos

Does anyone here use the Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens?

I've been really tempted, but with that one I'll definately need the specialty macro ring flash.

pathfinder

Khaos wrote:

Does anyone here use the Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens?

I've been really tempted, but with that one I'll definately need the specialty macro ring flash.

Most of the macro posted here has been 1:1 or less. The 2-5X type macrophotography has not been posted here very frequently, but that may be changing. I have a 49-58mm reversing ring ordered to allow me to attach and Olympus 50mmf1.4 reversed to the front of my Cannon Macro. That should get me close to 2x right there.

I agree that the MT-14EX may be very helpful with the lens you are discussing. The MP-E 65 does not AF as I understand it: you will probably need a focusing rail of some sort. Ad artificial light may be quite helpful.

I own a MT-14EX and am toying with selling it and replacing it - I'll keep you in mind if I decide to offer it for sale:):

These toys may be more expensive than Natalie is desiring in her question about macro. Extension tubes and 250D and 500D add on lenses may be more of interest to her right now. Maybe not, though

Khaos

pathfinder wrote:

The MP-E 65 does not AF as I understand it: you will probably need a focusing rail of some sort. Ad artificial light may be quite helpful.

I own a MT-14EX and am toying with selling it and replacing it - I'll keep you in mind if I decide to offer it for sale:):

It's manual focus only, but not even really that, you really are only focusing by changing the maginification level and getting closer or farther from the object. At 5x, the camera tends to be shadowing the object from light. The learning curve on using it is supposed to be large, but once you get the hang of it, the results can be phenomanal. That's why i was looking for people with experience with it and some stories.

The thing holding me back is that this is truly a specialty lens that I may not get enough use out of to justify the price.

Stan

Crop factor again I'm afraid http://www.ephotozineshop.com/PHOTO/lenstech/canon/60f28.html This is the ef-s 60

Which they say is equivalent to the 100 mm macro on the 35mm format.

At less than 1/2 the price of the 65mm I thought this looks good. Available in the UK from April, so you've probably got it already. I will wait for some
reviews

pathfinder

Stan wrote:

Crop factor again I'm afraid http://www.ephotozineshop.com/PHOTO/lenstech/canon/60f28.html This is the ef-s 60

Which they say is equivalent to the 100 mm macro on the 35mm format.

At less than 1/2 the price of the 65mm I thought this looks good. Available in the UK from April, so you've probably got it already. I will wait for some
reviews

This was just announced at the recent Photo show wasn't it? I am sure it is more inexpensive than the longer lenses. It may be fine optically. But I maintain my earlier statement that longer 100mm+ macro lenses are a lot easier to use with living, moving subjects. Shorter macros originally were normal 50mm lenses with longer barrrels for focusing closer that gradually got better correction for close focusing. Short macros work best with flat, sationary subjects.

Nikon and Canon both subsequently introduced longer macros - the Nikon 200 macro and the Canon 180 macro for very good reasons. They are much easier to use in the field with living, breathing, moving, easily frightened subjects. The 1.6 mag factor of the 20D aside, the longer lenses are the ones I prefer on my 20D. Just my opinion. YMMV :

Sigma recently introduced a new 150mm f2.8macro HSM lens that I think is very interesting. The HSM might be a real help, since the longer macros tend to be slow at AF. I think it is about $600. Not too bad for a longer, faster macro. I would be very interested in anyone's experience with this lens. If this lens is sharp, I think it would be much handier than a 50 or 60mm lens.

Stan

pathfinder wrote:

This was just announced at the recent Photo show wasn't it? I am sure it is more inexpensive than the longer lenses. It may be fine optically. But I maintain my earlier statement that longer 100mm+ macro lenses are a lot easier to use with living, moving subjects. Shorter macros originally were normal 50mm lenses with longer barrrels for focusing closer that gradually got better correction for close focusing. Short macros work best with flat, sationary subjects.

Nikon and Canon both subsequently introduced longer macros - the Nikon 200 macro and the Canon 180 macro for very good reasons. They are much easier to use in the field with living, breathing, moving, easily frightened subjects. The 1.6 mag factor of the 20D aside, the longer lenses are the ones I prefer on my 20D. Just my opinion. YMMV :

Sigma recently introduced a new 150mm f2.8macro HSM lens that I think is very interesting. The HSM might be a real help, since the longer macros tend to be slow at AF. I think it is about $600. Not too bad for a longer, faster macro. I would be very interested in anyone's experience with this lens. If this lens is sharp, I think it would be much handier than a 50 or 60mm lens.

Thanks for that PF, without the feedback from knowledgeable,serious photogs like yourself I would end up like Andy :andy with too many lenses and not enough time. As it is I procrastinate and never buy any

patch29

Khaos wrote:

Does anyone here use the Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens?

I've been really tempted, but with that one I'll definately need the specialty macro ring flash.

I did a test with it at a trade show in Las Vegas, this is the minimum and maximum range you can use this lens in, with a camera with a 1.6x magnification factor.

my old post,


I was able to take a quick test with a 20D, 65mm dedicated Macro and Canon twinlite macro flash. This is a sweet system.

Here are the results with 20D 1.6x crop, full frame for this camera. These were one shot each, quick and hand held so don't go 100% on my focus. Sorry all I had were US coins, I can measure them later if you are not familar with their size.

At 1X.





At 5x





The L and O files are available, the O's are a bit large, just modify the URL, sorry I am on the run.

pathfinder

patch29 wrote:

I did a test with it at a trade show in Las Vegas, this is the minimum and maximum range you can use this lens in, with a camera with a 1.6x magnification factor.

my old post,


I was able to take a quick test with a 20D, 65mm dedicated Macro and Canon twinlite macro flash. This is a sweet system.

Patch, I would bet that the Canon MT-14EX ringlite works VERY WELL with this short focal length system, especially on flat stationary targets. It is not as good for the 180 and 200mm macro lenses due to the proximity of both light tubes to the axix of the lens.

patch29

pathfinder wrote:

Patch, I would bet that the Canon MT-14EX ringlite works VERY WELL with this short focal length system, especially on flat stationary targets. It is not as good for the 180 and 200mm macro lenses due to the proximity of both light tubes to the axix of the lens.

It probably would. I used the Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, even the Canon reps like it more simply because you can reposition the flash heads to get a little more control. It would be fun to have the macro with this set up.

Andy

Stan wrote:

Thanks for that PF, without the feedback from knowledgeable,serious photogs like yourself I would end up like Andy :andy with too many lenses and not enough time. As it is I procrastinate and never buy any

hey, i'm downsizing! i only have five hunks of glass presently (one of them is the canon 100mm macro)

luckyrwe

I'm still bummed that I did not get the 100mm macro when the rebate was still on!