Macro help?

[mjs1973]

I really want to take some nice close up, highly detailed shots of insects, flowers and anything else that looks good, but I don't know how. I have been taking pictures for a long time, but I have never really studdied up like I should. I'm using a DRebel and I would like a decent macro lens when the budget lets me. Can I get buy with the lenses that I have now to accomplish some of these types of photos? The lenses I have are: Canon EF-S 18-55mm1:3.5-5.6; Canon EF 35-80mm 1:4-5.6; Canon EF 80-200mm 1:4.5-5.6; Zenitar Fisheye, and a Sigma 170-500mm 1:5-6.3. I do have a close up filter kit that came with my AE-1 that will fit the 2 Canon EF lenses but I have never tried to use it. Is that all that I need to get started or am I missing something?

[another view]

Close-up filter (or lens) is an easy way to get started. Put it on the longest focal length lens that it will fit and give it a shot ! Macro can be as complicated as you want it to be, but put the camera on a tripod and stop down to get as much depth of field as you can.

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the advice. I'll give it a try tonight. I played around a little bit with them last night but I had them on my shortest lens. This is something that kind of confused me. I always figured that if I wanted to get close to something, a shorter lens would be best, but when I look at macro lenses, there are a lot offered in the 100mm and up focal lengths... just goes to show me how little I really do know. Thanks again for the advice!!!

[paulnj]

I used to put 62 mm of extension tubes on my 170-500(with a 1.4tc) and get VERY close to macro.

with the crop factor of the Dreb, you may just be at 1:1 with above mentioned setup

A 500D close up lens on my 100-400IS also gets me quite near to true macro maybe 1:2 ?