Reef photography

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Redseadragon12

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Hey guys I am looking to take some microscopic pictures with my cannon 40D. I am going to purchase a new lens. I really do not know where to start. The current lens I have is 35mm-125mm and is not nearly close enough. I want to basically be able to take a shot of a copepod and be able to count its toe nails. I want the hightest power zoom possible I guess. So, my question is what do I need and any suggestions would be great. I see some 100-300mm lens but do I also need a microscopic lens or something. and what is the reproduction ratio? Do I need a fish eye or anything like that?
 
you want a macro lens.

a true macro would give you a 1:1 ratio.

then you can add extension tubes, to increase magnification.

in order to get the most, you should go for a macro lens with longer focal point. ... 200 or something.
 
Canon MPE-65: It has a 5:1 ratio and is amazing. You would also need the special dedicated flash as well.
 
yea I forgot those ... but besides the high price they are prety hard to use ...

I also dont like the fact that the front of the lens comes out ... usually I set the front on something and focus ... with these it would make it harder ... like putting the front on the glass to take macro pics.


know if Canon has converters for reversing lens ? I get the best shots with reversed lens still.
 
Woogiekids said:
Canon MPE-65: It has a 5:1 ratio and is amazing. You would also need the special dedicated flash as well.
Click to expand...

That. You need some other things to help, but there's nothing else like it. Most use rails on a tripod to fine tune the focus. You can also use a microscope that connects to a puter.

Extension tubes allow you to have a closer focusing distance than normal, but it also decreases the DOF.
 
You should probably read more about lenses. The zoom is for bringing far away items. A macro is for close up, in your face shots. I'm guessing you haven't looked at prices yet either. Good macros ain't cheap.
 
Misled said:
You should probably read more about lenses. The zoom is for bringing far away items. A macro is for close up, in your face shots. I'm guessing you haven't looked at prices yet either. Good macros ain't cheap.
Click to expand...

SO all I really need is like a 300mm focal point with a 1:1 ratio? I see some cheap used ones on ebay I could probably go for. Other option is they have macro lens for Iphone 5s which go up to 30x that could work well.
 
Don't know what you're looking at, but I've never seen a 300mm that shoots 1:1. Just because it says macro, doesn't mean it shoots 1:1. I know nothing about the iphone stuff.
 
I dont think you are talking about the same thing ... Id buy 2 and keep one in the fridge in case first one breaks if they were 100 bucks.
 
Allmost said:
" for it is capable of macro photography with a 1: 2 maximum close-up"

it is not a macro lens.

you can take a pic of your fish from far away with this. but you wont be able to take a pic of the fish's teeth with it.
Click to expand...


Oh ok, so really the magnification is the only thing that matters
 
it is alot different than point and shoot. thats why I said goto a photography store and try different lenses to see what they each do.

the focal point will just take you closer to the object. like the 35 to 125 you have. a 70-300 would just take you closer, or allow you to stand farther away from object, like taking pics of birds or wild life.

when you say macro, then you go into magnification. and true macro starts at 1:1

try this, take out the lens you have, and set it to 35. then place it in front of the camera other way around .... your DOF [dept of field] will be very small and you will have to be REALLY close to object, but with that you can get a high magnification ... not easy, but for now thats the best magnification u can get ... look up lens reversing on google
 
Allmost said:
it is alot different than point and shoot. thats why I said goto a photography store and try different lenses to see what they each do.

the focal point will just take you closer to the object. like the 35 to 125 you have. a 70-300 would just take you closer, or allow you to stand farther away from object, like taking pics of birds or wild life.

when you say macro, then you go into magnification. and true macro starts at 1:1

try this, take out the lens you have, and set it to 35. then place it in front of the camera other way around .... your DOF [dept of field] will be very small and you will have to be REALLY close to object, but with that you can get a high magnification ... not easy, but for now thats the best magnification u can get ... look up lens reversing on google
Click to expand...


Neat Idea I guess another issue is I dont really want the maximum focus of like 1/2 inch. I would like to be able to shoot crazy macros of coral that are say 6 inches from the glass or a fish swimming in the back of the tank 12 inches away. is that possible?
 
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