need macro lens advice...

macawmagic

macawmagic

In Memoriam
we'll I've been borrowing my uncles canon eos D20 camera. I've got a normal efs 17-85mm lens on there now. I can't get any close up shots with this lens, so I'm looking at getting a macro lens.

My problem is...I have no clue what numbers or lens's to be looking at. I've been searching ebay and just looking around, but it's like spanish to me! (I understand very little). could someone please point me in the direction of a good lens! I want to take super nice macro shots!!!

I am a college kid, so I don't need anything thats like $900 for the lens. just something that will take awesome pictures of the corals in the tank.

thanks!
 
The 100mm EF macro is generally accepted to be the lens of choice around here. It'll run you about $500.
 
The problem: "awesome pictures" = good quality lens = pricey.

Cheap = not so good quality lens = not so awesome pictures.

So, I think people don't really know what advice to give you.
 
well by cheap i was meaning 300-500. someone recommended a lens to me once but it was like 980 or something. don't need that "good" of a lens.

and thanks spline...i've got someone coming over this weekend to let me borrow his lens to see if I like it. he's got the one you mentioned.
 
Don't even think of using a macro lens without a good tripod. Defeats the purpose and you will never see the true performance of the lens.
 
that's the other thing i've been looking at. theres this one i saw at ritz where the top foot pivots 90 degrees so I could take top down shots using the tripod. seemed pretty cool
 
well by cheap i was meaning 300-500. someone recommended a lens to me once but it was like 980 or something. don't need that "good" of a lens.
Click to expand...

Gotcha! Then I'd certainly go with the 100mm. It's a fantastic lens that I use for all kinds of stuff. Try to find a better flash than what comes with the camera, too. (I'm shooting with the 20D, too, BTW.) If you have a good flash and can up the shutter speed then it's _possible_ to get by without a tripod--most insect macro is done without a tripod, after all--but you'll want one eventually.

Good luck!
 
You could try a close up lens on the lens you are using. I think it's a 67mm filter size on that lens? Go to your local camera store or try searching the internet.
Mark
 
If you use a flash, try to find a solution where you can mount it above the water. Flashes on the same side of the glass lends to severe glare issues (and in my opinion, is much more obvious that you've used a flash). Flashes help reduce the need for a tripod unless youre shooting scenes when slower exposure shots are necessary. But yeah, tripods are handy too. I went looking at some today. :(
 
well i was looking...canon has the 50mm, 60mm, and 100mm. and the guy explained it to me as the higher the mm the farther I had to be in order to have it focused correctly as the lens didn't focus itself. aka...the 50mm i would have to be 12" away, but the 100mm I would have to be 20" away. I'm guessing the 100 would be better because you could always get a little further away, but not always get closer. aka coral in the back of the tank is 18 inches away so the 50mm lens wouldn't work. am I getting this correct?
 
Yes thats partially correct. It wont 'work' as in you wont achieve maximum magnification (1:1 on the 50mm?) if you cant be at the minimum focussing distance, but you will still be able to take reasonably close-up pictures.

I use the 100mm because its a more useful focal length for me for non-macro stuff, I take lots of insect macros and the further away you can be and still achieve 1:1 the better, and because it cost only a little more than the 60mm (I must admit I wasnt aware of the 50mm until now).


Jeff.
 
Canon also has the 65mm, but don't get that for your first macro lens.

The working distances that the person told you are wrong. The 100mm's closest working distance is around 5". If you are interested in that information for each of the lenses, you can find it on Canon's website. For the macro lenses, at the closest working distance you'll get 1:1. (I think that's true of all Canon's macros, but check the website to be sure.) But, that doesn't mean that you have to shoot at the closest working distance. The 100mm certainly focuses out to infinity. I've taken shots of the moon with the 100mm and although the moon was small it was in focus.

I also think all of the Canon macros have autofocus. (But, again, check their website.) Autofocus isn't a whole lot of use once you start taking pictures of really small things, though. For really small things, I set the 100mm at the closest focus distance (to get maximum magnification) and move the camera around until what I want is in-focus.

Good luck and let us know if you have more questions!
 
Tokina 100mm, Sigma 105mm, Tamron 90mm are all around $330 at Sigma4less.com they are all GREAT lenses and you are never going to see much different in IQ between ANY macro lens. they are all pretty much equal in that area. just pic the one you like and the price range you want to spend.
 
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