Help with Lenses Please [Archive] - AusPhotography:: Australia's Premier Photography Forum::

Trecky

02-07-2010, 5:27pm

I might be sounding a bit vague but I am relatively new at DSLR photography and am finding lenses even more confusing.
I would love to do Macro Photography. My question is can a Canon 70-200mm f4 lens be used for Macro too, or is it better to go for maybe a Canon ef 100mm f 2.8 lens. The IS version is quite expensive so not sure if I can stretch the budget for that at the moment.

I have the 18-55 kit lens for everyday photography and am not really impressed with that, so any ideas on a walkaround lens would be greatly appreciated. Also, can the Canon macro lens double as a walkaround lens.

Thanks

Lee

etherial

02-07-2010, 5:53pm

Hi Lee, you might be surprised, plenty of people ask the same questions every month. Re a 70-200 for macro, have a look here (http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=59848).

Re walk around lenses this (http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=60659)thread is worth a read.

Just a couple of examples, do a quick search you'll find plenty of discussin on your questions.

etherial

02-07-2010, 5:56pm

Oh, and add this (http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=59642)one to the mix.

Trecky

02-07-2010, 6:55pm

Thanks a lot etherial, yes I did read those threads earlier. I think a lot more research to do before I make the plunge.

Cheers

Lee

joeyvaldezjr

02-07-2010, 7:27pm

Hi Trecky, If you would really like to do macro work, may I suggest using a reverse lens adaptor on your kitlens?

You may check this out, all of these shots were taken using a reverse lens. Very cheap!

http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=60074

Trecky

02-07-2010, 8:13pm

clm738

02-07-2010, 8:54pm

If you really want to get into macro the glass in your kit lens with extension tubes, will not be sharp enough for macro work as the glass in the 100mm macro is nearly on par with an L Series lens. If you can afford it buy the 100mm macro non is lens. A true macro lens (prime) can focus much closer than a telephoto/macro lens which is not really a true macro lens. If you will be doing a lot of insect shots and not using a tripod most of the time it would be better to save a little longer and get the IS lens.
Hope this has helped some.

Xenedis

02-07-2010, 9:39pm

I would love to do Macro Photography. My question is can a Canon 70-200mm f4 lens be used for Macro too, or is it better to go for maybe a Canon ef 100mm f 2.8 lens. The IS version is quite expensive so not sure if I can stretch the budget for that at the moment.

A true macro lens has a magnification of 1:1, meaning that the if the subject occupies 1cm of width in the frame, it also occupies 1cm in real life.

The 70-200/4 has a maximum magnification of 0.21x (at 200mm), so it's definitely not a macro lens.

If you're interested in macro photography specifically, the 100/2.8 Macro is the lens you should choose of these two. The 70-200 is a more general-purpose telephoto lens (and a very good one, albeit slow at f/4), but not good for macro work.

Trecky

03-07-2010, 5:09pm

Thanks Carmen and Xenedis. Ok perhaps I am better waiting and getting the 100 f2.8 is lens. I have been researching so many lenses, my mind is spinning.
A lot of people also like the ef 24-105 f4 L lens as a walkaround lens and some are saying it will also perform well with Macro shots. Any thoughts on this one. If I can do macro shots with it too, perhaps I am better getting that one and replacing my kit lens.

Xenedis

03-07-2010, 5:31pm

Thanks Carmen and Xenedis. Ok perhaps I am better waiting and getting the 100 f2.8 is lens.

If proper macro photography is what you want to do, this is an excellent lens.

A lot of people also like the ef 24-105 f4 L lens as a walkaround lens and some are saying it will also perform well with Macro shots. Any thoughts on this one.

Again, it's not a macro lens. It can produce macro-like images, and I used it for this image:

Cono del Pino

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/89566142_6cb196afba.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/xenedis/89566142/)

It's not going to give you life-size magnification, or even half-life-size magnification.

The 24-105/4L IS is a good, general-purpose lens. It's sharp, has a very useful range and IS, but lacks light-gathering capability. If you don't need to shoot in lower light (especially movement), an f/4 lens could work well for you.

Trecky

03-07-2010, 6:18pm

Once again thanks a lot Xenedis. I think I am trying to work out what would be the better lens to buy. Macro photography interests me but then so does landscapes and really anything I see that takes my interest. The 70-200 lens is too long for run of the mill photography, for example we were taking photo's of some unusual cows and the closer they got to me, the further away I had to move. I would really like a sharp lens something much better than my kit lens, that I can keep on the camera most of the time. Perhaps a macro lens will have to be something further down the track.

DJT

03-07-2010, 8:52pm

You could always get a set of extention tubes to use with your walk araound lens to get you started with macros.
I'm not a Canon user but 24-105 sounds like a nice walk around

Trecky

03-07-2010, 9:15pm

Thanks David. I have just read and seen photo's that the ef 100mm f2.8 Macro lens has produced. There have been some amazing macro's as well as landscapes. If I go down that road, I have to consider if I wait and save up for the is version, which will save me carting around a tripod most of the time. The price difference is quite a lot though.

Cheers

DJT

04-07-2010, 9:06pm

Have you considered the Tamron 90mm macro at all

mickyj

04-07-2010, 9:59pm

I am doing the same macro exploration myself. Trying to work out what works best.

I might not be the best at this but here are some of my attempts to work out lenses and macro results.

http://members.dodo.com.au/~michaeljenkin/photomacro.htm

mickyj

04-07-2010, 10:02pm

Here are some example shots I have created in my Macro tests with various methods (not the best shots in the world but they serve a purpose)

http://members.dodo.com.au/~michaeljenkin/photomacroexamples.htm

RRRoger

04-07-2010, 11:54pm

How about the f/2.8 Sigma 70-200mm 1:2 II Macro HSM?

I have one I use with a 5D2 and really like it. I sometimes shoot flowers with it on our hikes.

Sheila Smart

05-07-2010, 9:39am

An excellent "walkabout" is the Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L (also has macro ability) but its not cheap! Its rarely off my 5DII. Here's a pic taken with this lens.

http://ic2.pbase.com/o6/94/17294/1/109622549.ye94Btpz.Waterlily1web.jpg

You can get even closer with a 500D close up lens which will fit this lens.

Sheila

RRRoger

05-07-2010, 10:44am

Another cheaper option might be the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 DG Macro.
Weird thing (to me) is that the barrel extends at 24 and is shortest at 70mm.
I had misgivings about this not being HSM. However, it focuses almost as fast.
So, after trying both versions in the store with my 5D2, I chose this one for hiking & travel.

Trecky

05-07-2010, 3:54pm

Clubmanmc

05-07-2010, 4:27pm

I have a set of extension tubes, cost me $140, and i carry them every where, can make almost any lens you have magnify more, and give you a "cheap" macro lens, i have taken all of my macro shots with my normal lenses with the tubes on them

just be aware though that some lenses, as they have some built in macro abilty, will only focus with extension tubes when the thing being photographed is INSIDE the lens...

my example is this shot...

taken with a 24-70 F2.8L at 70mm using a 12mm extension tube, i was trying to orginally not crop the dandelion, so i was using my 10-22 F3.5-4.5 but while trying to get focus, i realised i was pressing up against the dandelion...

the dragon fly shot was taken with my 70-200 F2.8L at 140mm also with a 12mm extension tube...

so it is a "cheap" way of trying it before you buy very expensive lenses that have limited uses...

M

Trecky

05-07-2010, 5:51pm

I like those photo's. Yes I can see there are options to try first. There is now plenty to think about.

Thanks everyone.

DJT

06-07-2010, 3:58pm

I have a set of extension tubes, ....
just be aware though that some lenses, as they have some built in macro abilty, will only focus with extension tubes when the thing being photographed is INSIDE the lens...

:lol::lol::lol: I remember focusing on dust on the front of one of my lenses when I had a set of tubes :lol: