cannon rebel t3i advice needed

[sweedish15]

just got a cannon rebel t3i with two lenses an 18-55 and a 55-250. Im just looking for some basic settings and advice to get some nice close up polyp shots of my various corals. I played around a little bit with the two lenses, the 18-55 gets fairly close and focuses nicely, but the larger lense is not really able to focus, but can zoom much closer.

Im new to photography and this camera and was just looking for some basic setting advice for what I have.

 

[Reef Bass]

You're probably too close with the longer lens to focus. All lenses have a minimum distance between the lens and the subject before they can focus. The amount of that minimum distance depends on the type and size of lens. Try stepping back a foot or two.

I also suggest manual focus. Autofocus can sometimes be confused by the glass and the lens will spend time hunting and seeking.

The right tool for the job of "nice close up polyp shots" is a macro lens.

macro lens sticky

 

[sweedish15]

Cool thx Ill try stepping back a little with the bigger lens until I can swing a macro