Lens/camera questions

[Tahlequah]

Hello everyone,

I have had my magic picture box (Rebel XT) for about 4 years now and am trying to descide whether to opt for a second picture box (Rebel t1i) or a good macro lens.

Last time I was out shopping for a macro lens there was a 50-200 macro that I really liked for around $200. But that was probably 2-3 years ago and it seems that none of the stores around here carry adjustable zoom lenses with a macro... did I miss something? What would you all suggest?

I have saved over 13,000 pictures using my Rebel and it is still going strong, but my wife is always grabbing it from me and just about chokes me in the process... and she might be interested in the video capabilities of the Rebel T1 for her dance class that she helps teach.

So, hard decision... new camera so that I may shoot in safety, or a good new lens. OR a new camera body with a new lens!

I will see if I can find a picture or 2 to attach.

 

[BlueCorn]

You'd be better off buying a good macro lens. The T1i is an upgrade but you'd get more bang for your buck from upgrading glass.

There is no such thing as a zoom macro. There are many that say that but they aren't true macros.

The Canon 100 is really nice, and the Tamron 90 is a cheaper alternative.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I vote for the 100mm f/2.8 Canon. As sated before, your 50-200 was not a macro lens.

 

[Tahlequah]

That looks like a very good, solid lens. I am going to try to do the sales pitch to the wife... It might be a hard sell as she has her eyes set on the T1i... But I never know, she may go for it.

 

[areze]

"macro" can describe any lens which produced a life size image in a normal 4x6 print (aprox 3:1 magnification). textbook macro produces a life size image on the sensor 1:1 (and when printed would be more like 3x life size)

so its kinda shady like that...

never seen a true macro with a zoom myself either. though typicly even if it did, your maximum magnification would be at the peak of the zoom, so anything less then that would be a waste. larger telephoto zoom lenses often boast "macro", which is really a fantastic feature, though they are not really macro, being able to focus as close as 12" or so on a 200mm lens aint a bad thing.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

How often are you going to shoot your tank vs. how often are you going to shoot your 300 kids? How many of your 13,000 pictures you have saved are of your tank? I borrowed a friends 100mm macro for a week, and at least for me it got old pretty quickly. I ended upgrading my body. Also you can rent that lens pretty redily, try it for a week.
http://www.cameralensrentals.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=33

edit:
You can browse through here to see what you can get for your XT + lens combo.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=14

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Roy G. Biv? Haha that's my friend's nickname! Obviously he is a photographer...in fact he is the one who got me hooked on this whole photography thing in the 1st place.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I took these of the Bivster just yesterday:

 

[areze]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15258831#post15258831 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Roy G. Biv
How often are you going to shoot your tank vs. how often are you going to shoot your 300 kids? How many of your 13,000 pictures you have saved are of your tank? I borrowed a friends 100mm macro for a week, and at least for me it got old pretty quickly. I ended upgrading my body. Also you can rent that lens pretty redily, try it for a week.
http://www.cameralensrentals.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=33

edit:
You can browse through here to see what you can get for your XT + lens combo.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=14

100mm lens is... limited, but hardly just to macro shots. it is afterall, just a high quality 100mm prime lens. fantastic for portrait shots, though 100mm would have to be a pretty tight portrait shot, If I were on a budget, Id go with a 60mm prime lens, which is great for indoor use, little slower than your standard 50mm prime, but the macro function makes up for it IMO.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15260109#post15260109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer

I think you should post more of this kind of shot before it got taken down.:bum:

 

[Tahlequah]

I have a few of my tank, but I am more of an outdoors photographer. My wife and I enjoy going to the zoo or out to the lakes around Oklahoma to shoot wildlife such as hawks and deer, but I like shooting insects, flowers, and such also so I was looking for a lens that would hopefully allow me to do both without having to change out the lens.

 

[areze]

might want a 200mm or so. sigma makes a nice 180mm if you dont want to destroy the bank. 60mm you have to just about be touching the subject, 100mm is still like 6-8" of working distance at full magnification. 200mm doubles that.

but 100mm would be pretty wide for shots at a zoo or something, you'd be better off with a big zoom for nature telephoto shots of anything not macro. then save the money and get a 100mm macro.