Close-up Shots with Canon Rebel XT

[flowerfacade]

I just recently purchased a Canon Rebel XT and have the kit lens. My favorite kind of shot to take is a close-up. Kids and animals are my favorites with flowers right there behind them. What lens do you guys recommend for my camera?

Thanks! Laura

 

[Olaf]

Kelly recommended this lens to me and I love it.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-...=pd_bbs_1/102-1431373-5961720?ie=UTF8&s=photo

Here's a recent picture I took with that lens. I have a Canon Rebel XT also.

 

[Furgus]

I have the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 and I love it. Plus if you want to shoot macro with it, I suggest some extension tubes. Cheap solution to expensive macro lenes.
Have not used them yet, but I plan on getting some tubes this holiday season.
Extention Tubes

lots of extension tubes at B&H

 

[flowerfacade]

Stephanie/Olaf
That is a great photo; it is the sort of close-up I like to take. That lens is not as expensive as some others I have looked at that makes even more appealing!
I had been looking at the Canon Rebel for a very long time and the pictures on this board is what finally made me take the leap. So, I appreciate all the feedback and pictures!
Thanks!
L

 

[Olaf]

I had been looking at the Canon Rebel for a very long time and the pictures on this board is what finally made me take the leap.
L

Me too! It's an awesome camera! I'm still trying to figure it all out. It's way smarter than I am.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Kids and animals are my favorites with flowers right there behind them.

These can require very different lenses. A closeup of a kid is typically a portrait style shot (like the one shown above). It can be done with any medium to telephoto lens, usually shot at a pretty wide aperture.

If by animal you mean wild animals, the problem is getting close enough to get a closeup. That is usually done by using a long telephoto lens. That allows you to get a closeup from a long way away.

Flower closeups are another thing entirely. In that case, you need to be able to focus very close to the camera. If you don't need to get too close, you can do this with just about any lens. If you want to get very close, you are entering the world of macro photography. You need either a macro lens, a closeup filter to attach to the front of your existing lens, or extension tubes that allow your lens to focus on objects that are very close.

 

[JR6ooo4]

How does this look?

Shot with an XT and the canon 70-300IS

My preferred lens when hunting for bee shots (no bees this day)

Resized but uncropped

Mikeeee

 

[flowerfacade]

Mikeeee,
Your picture is great. I checked that lens out....How nice! I put that on my wish list!
Thanks for sharing.
Laura

 

[JR6ooo4]

thanks laura, it was the best I coudl do that day. it was windy which kept moving the flowers around.
and of coursr if I printed it I would have to crop it to move the flower out of the center.

Mikeeee

 

[jann1033]

not as good as jr's as it's cropped( not a ton but some none the less).i
t's 28-135 IS ( canon) it's about $200 less than the 70-300 (i think)

i also bought a phoenix 100mm macro for about 150 and i've only used it once but it like it fine( i need a ball head tripod with it and only have a pan head and i drives me nuts) and it seems pretty good( lots of camera sites recommended it for a cheap alternative for macro...i tried the manual tubes and figured for auto focus ones i might as get the lens)

this was one taken while simultaneously ripping my hair out trying to adjust the tripod which you need with the IS-less lens

so far i really like the 28-135 as an all around and the 50mm1.8 for low light, and the macro...i basically take flowers, animals and kids too

 

[JR6ooo4]

this was one taken while simultaneously ripping my hair out trying to adjust the tripod[/quote]

Hehehehe, I thought a pan/tilt head would be sturdier... I had the moderately long 70-300 an a ball head . I had to point well above the subject, then release the lock and hope, by the time it sags, it is where I want it.

I have since compromised by zooming out, slightly, and doing the precise framing later with a crop.

Mikeeee

Oh and I love the color of the rose(?). The big water drops catch my eye, more DOF maybe. It's easy to look at them later and analyze. I just wish I could remember when I am shooting!!!

 

[matthew_hull]

I just recently purchased a Canon Rebel XT and have the kit lens. My favorite kind of shot to take is a close-up. Kids and animals are my favorites with flowers right there behind them. What lens do you guys recommend for my camera?
Thanks! Laura

You are wanting the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens. A terrificly sharp lens, fast, not exorbitantly expensive, and the portrait shots look marvelous. This is my favorite lens for people pictures.

-- Matthew

 

[jann1033]

Hehehehe, I thought a pan/tilt head would be sturdier... I had the moderately long 70-300 an a ball head . I had to point well above the subject, then release the lock and hope, by the time it sags, it is where I want it.

I have since compromised by zooming out, slightly, and doing the precise framing later with a crop.

Mikeeee

Oh and I love the color of the rose(?). The big water drops catch my eye, more DOF maybe. It's easy to look at them later and analyze. I just wish I could remember when I am shooting!!!

hey i developed that same "technique" with my pan head...think i've over-tightened it one to many times...plus it's fixed 100mm & i am so used to using a zoom i keep trying to adjust that way instead of "move the tripod back an forth back an forth" macro might be one of those "what doesn't kill us makes us stonger" type of challenges for me

 

[MarkBarbieri]

There is nothing inherently wrong with ball heads that make them slip. Good ball heads (which tend to be pretty expensive) can hold pretty hefty setups. Just make sure that you get one that can handle the body/lens combinations you intend to use.