macro lenses

[Gdad]

Bored tonight- taking pictures of stuff in my desk drawer.

 

[LMarge]

Bored tonight- taking pictures of stuff in my desk drawer.

I like it!!! Very cool color gradient , and all in all , it's just kinda funky!!!

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

How about the tom thumb of birds the hummingbird. This little guy was tiny, I got luck to get a few photos of him before he darted away!

 

[sk8belle]

Your photos are beautiful!!!! May I ask a question? I am still trying to figure out this macro thing out........for these photos.....how far away were you?
LIke a few feet and then zoom in? Thanks!

Thanks! I used the macro setting, held the camera a foot to a foot and a half away (I was surprised the butterfly let me get that close), and zoomed the rest of the way in.

 

[sk8belle]

Cool photo, We-Luv-Disney!

 

[sk8belle]

 

[jann1033]

evidently this second pic is an exceptionally tasty flower or the butterfly equivalent of dancing on a table with a lampshade on your head

 

[sk8belle]

The nectar must have fermented! Either that or it's good to the last drop.

 

[Philagoofy]

 

[Philagoofy]

 

[jtimmons]

I need help. Can some of you guys give me ideas on a cheap macro photography setup for my D50. Do I need extention tubes, macro lense (50mm, 70 -300mm????). Just try and keep it under $200 if you can. Also, give me photo examples of your macro setups.

Thanks,

 

[jann1033]

just a warning about the extension tubes...don't get the cheapo ones off ebay and don't get the cheapo macro filter type lenses either..learn from my mistakes

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Extension tubes are probably the cheapest solution. You can pick up some Kenko ones off of BHPhoto pretty cheap. They are really simple devices, so I'm surprised that Jann1033 had such a bad experience with them.

My problem with extension tubes is that they are a pain to use. I find close-up filters to be much easier to work with.

A close-up filter screws onto the front of your lens and changes it's focus range. Because it is a lens, quality is much more important than with an extension tube. Don't cheap out on a closeup filter.

The ideal is a real macro lens. With the other solutions, you won't be able to focus at a distance. If you are out and about shooting flowers or something, you'll have to put them on and take them off. With a macro lens, you can shoot near and far. The downside with macro lenses are that good ones aren't cheap.

I recommend that you get an inexpensive set of extension tubes from a reputable merchant. If you really get interested in macro photography, then you can spring the money for a good macro lens (and a ring flash) later.

 

[tinksdad]

The ideal macro lens is one that will give you the true 1:1 ratio. I have the Nikkor AF 105mm 2.8 that I picked up off Ebay for $180. It's a older version but works very nicely. The Nikon 60mm micro is a very popular macro lens as well.

I would definitely recommend the use of a tripod for the macro shots as the DOF gets pretty thin and the tripod does help immensely!!

The close up filters are an easy addon that can get in closer.

 

[jann1033]

my extension tubes were i think $10 , from Singapore or someplace, not auto focus and the instructions were in Chinese...which i don't speak ...ignored the counsel i received here to get the kenko ones....i did get them right after i got my camera so maybe i should pull them out and give them another whirl...the filter-ish macro lenses were also about $10 and work about as well as putting your lens inside a drinking glass and trying to look out the bottom end ... you get what you pay for sometimes i'm sure a canon or even a third party would work better
samples all on a tripod inside with lousy lighting
50mm1.8 canon with chinese extension tubes

28-135 canon with filter type lens thinkthis is +4 or +2 cant'remember which i used( sonia brand)..need we say more..is was turned off by the way

phoenix 100mm macro lens with out 1:1 filter, so 1:2 ratio

as you can see i wasn't exaggerating...and when i went to use them i remembered 2 of the biggest problems with the tubes...1) it got stuck on the camera so a few moments of panic till i could get it lose( remembered that as soon as i tried to remove it hehe) and 2) guessing it's because there are no electronics involved but you can't change anything on the lens ie aperture, shutter so maybe if you had an old manual aperture lens...i guess you could set the lens for a stop. this one is with the 1 ( smallest ring) but once you add rings, it gets overexposed....maybe if i could read the directions it would help

imo the phoenix for around $100 used on ebay, $150 new, isn't that bad but i have a hard time using the 1:1 filter...i might need more light for it cause my autofocus won't focus..i was inside on an overcast day so i didn't even try. manual might work better but i've only used it a few times. if i can't get better results this summer when i can take it outside and mess around with it i'll probably sell it and get the canon for around $400 new...which is why i got the phoenix to start with originally i figured it would do for now till i got a few other things i want then i can sell and get a better one.

 

[handicap18]

If your looking for $200 or so, then your going to have to look into used lenses. ebay or keh.com are places to look. I just picked up a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro 1:1 from keh.com for $300 w/2 day shipping. When new it was about $450. The newest version of this lens which is optomized for digital is around $500.

I've only taken a few pics so far with it, but I love it. It is very nice. Don't have any downloaded yet. Check out flickr.com. They have a search feature to look for photos that were taken with specific lenses. actually try searching this site: http://www.pixel-peeper.com/ to search photo's with specific lenses or camera bodies. Its pretty cool.

Some other inexpensive prime lenes that are macro, Sigma 105mm f/2.8, Sigma also has a 90mm f/2.8, an older version of the Tamron 90mm with the f/2.5 (still very good optically, I believe there were 2 non Di versions of the f/2.8 and now the current Di f/2.8), many of the Sigma wide angle and standard primes have macro (though I don't know if there 1:1 or 1:2) ie: 24mm, 28mm, 30mm, & 50mm f/1.8's.

Many zoom lenses that have a macro feature are 1:3 or 1:4.

Good luck.

 

[handicap18]

Here are a few pics I took with my new to me Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro:

I probably should put these over in the non-Disney Macro thread too.

 

[Gdad]

50mm 1.8 with reversing ring does a nice job- can't remember if this little gut hanging out on a blade of grass was in DW or not.

 

[0bli0]

kenko tubes (about $30 aud in Japan)
24-70 2.8L @ 57mm on a 20mm tube.

85mm + reversed 50mm (you can either get a reversing ring or use tape/cling wrap)

135mm 2.0L on 20mm and 12mm stacked tubes

 

[Furgus]

Ok, 0bli0, did not need to see that last one.......