Macro Lenses?

Someone asked me about macro lenses for a Canon DSLR recently. I don't do a ton of nature closeups but I do have the Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 macro lens. Mostly I use it for closeup details of cameras for our pro reviews. But since this photographer is interested in flower photos, I thought I'd take it out in the yard for some photos of our spring blossoms - the yard is going nuts with flowers right now. I also thought it would be cool to do things right. I'm sort of a lazy photographer - usually I just handhold my closeups and hope for the best. This time I took the Canon EOS 5D Mark II (review camera from Canon) out with the 50mm macro and a tripod. And since it's been raining every day, I got sweet water droplets and really nice, flat light.

So these are my sample photos to show what can be done with the Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro lens and a full frame camera body. With an APS-C sensor body you could get more depth-of-field and you wouldn't have to be so close to get these compositions. Both of these are actually cropped a bit to fine-tune the compositions, too.

What are the rest of you using for closeup nature photography? If you've got samples, post them? I'm gonna send the photographer in question a link to this thread. He's not a member, so let's show him our best and see if we can get him to stick around!

I uploaded larger versions of these two photos to the gallery. To see them, visit my gallery.

Although it is an older model, I have no doubt that the 50mm f/2.5 is a stellar performer (I used to use an FD 200mm macro in the 90's which was superb).

I currently only have the Canon 180mm macro - good for chasing bugs around but a bit too long for large flowers like these. I'll check out files to see what examples I have though.

John, btw, if you need someone else to test out that 5DmkII for you, I have someone in mind :p

Tamron 90mm. I like it as I don't have to get too close and it seems plenty sharp.

Zeiss 100 f2 macro:

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...Azalea_bud.jpg

Nikon 105 f2.8 VR Macro

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/...6e1abe22_o.jpg

An older Nikon 55 f2.8 Ai Macro:

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...ans_Colors.jpg

Here are a few that I have in my gallery. All were taken with the EF 100mm f/2.8 macro.

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...0/IMG_5998.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...0/CRW_3667.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...0/IMG_9529.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...0/IMG_6050.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...0/IMG_5716.jpg

OMG Mike.. I just LOVE that moth picture!! Thats awesome!

Great thread!! Very helpful! :thumbsup:

Aging eyes " Zeiss 100 f2 macro:" SWEET!

SMC PENTAX-F 100mm F2.8 MACRO, on PENTAX *ist D.

All are manual-focus. Click any photo to go to a page with more info (i.e camera settings).

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#1. Handheld.
http://gallery.photographyreview.com...-Fly-Leaf1.JPG

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#2.
http://gallery.photographyreview.com...P8263-web2.JPG

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#3. These little flies are on a dandelion flower---just to show the macro capabilities of the lens. It was cropped a bit, though.
http://gallery.photographyreview.com...BuggyXX-_2.jpg

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#4.
http://gallery.photographyreview.com.../Hover-fly.jpg

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#5.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/...a6106573_o.jpg

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More in my PR gallery, just search the lens name. Also in my Flickr site.

Great examples, everyone!

John - in going through my files, I realized that although close-up photography is my #1 or #2 (close tie) most shot type, my only macro lens is my least used N&W lens. I use extension tubes on everything from 500mm to 50mm primes and even zooms a heck of a lot more. In addition, I often use a 2x teleconverter to achieve the desired effect. So I kindly bow out so as not to skew my perceived utilization of a dedicated "macro" lens :)

I'll just link my spring flower thread instead of reposting. All shot with a 100 f/2.8 Macro lens. - TF

http://forums.photographyreview.com/...ad.php?t=54673

Photo-John, I just got the Canon 180mm f3.5L c/w case and hood. I took it out yesterday (Tuesday) to try it out. Haven't had time to do any editing of any of the images, but when I do, I will post a couple here. The IQ is great, very sharp and the bokeh is great. HTH.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

So here are a couple from first outing with the new EF180 (no ducks yet). Not the best, but it is my first try at this type of photography. For some reason, they did not UPLOAD properly, so I will try again. Still doing something wrong, because I still cannot get them uploaded??? Looks like they are too big, so I will have to make them even smaller. Bear with me folks...later.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

So let's try this again - didn't work -- I give up -- I don't seem to be able to get my files small enough to meet the forum's requirement. aaarrrggghhh - frustration :mad2:

WesternGuy

You might be able to post them to the gallery and link the image here?

And how would I do that?? How big an image can I put into the gallery?

WesternGuy

What are you using to resize?

Frog, I am using Photoshop Elements 6 Editor.

WesternGuy

You may need to increase the compression for your jpeg's. I think mine are set to 13% and that seems to keep the file size to always be below the limit.

Unfortunately, I don't know where in elements they allow you to specify that. It should be either a properties or settings for jpeg file format.

There are some great shots here , How do i start trying to take macro shots with my Oly

do i need extension tubes etc, i did buy some close up lenses for the camera but when attached to the camera it would not auto focus

Help i would love to get some shots like above

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Robusto

There are some great shots here , How do i start trying to take macro shots with my Oly

do i need extension tubes etc, i did buy some close up lenses for the camera but when attached to the camera it would not auto focus

Help i would love to get some shots like above

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Since you already have them, I recommend starting with your close-up lenses first.

You shouldn't use auto focus anyway with macros - the DOF is so shallow that you really need pinpoint/selective focus. Often this can be done easier by moving the camera back and forth rather than using the focusing ring.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Loupey

Since you already have them, I recommend starting with your close-up lenses first.

You shouldn't use auto focus anyway with macros - the DOF is so shallow that you really need pinpoint/selective focus. Often this can be done easier by moving the camera back and forth rather than using the focusing ring.

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I agree. Your 70-300 already gives you pretty solid macro ability - screw the close-up lens onto the front, set the focus to just past minimum and see what the working distance is. You should be able to get 1:1 magnification pretty easily from that combination.

As for my contribution to this thread, I really like my Zuiko 50mm f/2. It isn't long enough for everything I want to shoot but it's really sharp, compact and weatherproof so I don't have to worry about being rained on while I'm in the field. That with the Olympus extension tube has been working just fine...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/...6b83c741_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/...a28533aa_o.jpg