macro lenses

[jann1033]

the only hidden mickey i have ever found

 

[donaldduck1967]

the only hidden mickey i have ever found

I didn't even notice it until you said something.

 

[Gdad]

I am diggin' my new 1:1 Ratio Nikkor 105mm f2.8 VR Micro - just messing around with it until I can get out and shoot something interesting. Here is one right out of the camers- Handheld at 1/40th Sec at f3.8 - no pp except convert to jpg.

Full Size

 

[tinksdad]

Here's a little reminder (at least to me.....) that summer is coming!!

 

[tinksdad]

A more recent photo of a "funguy"

 

[allie5]

Fantastic shots everyone! Here a few of mine - all taken with various point n shoot compacts - nothing fancy here Im afraid (although Im working on getting a DSLR very soon!).

 

[0bli0]

a fly landed on a pair of my son's boxers drying on the line. 'help me..........'

 

[handicap18]

I am diggin' my new 1:1 Ratio Nikkor 105mm f2.8 VR Micro - just messing around with it until I can get out and shoot something interesting.

ohhhhh sweeeet lens. I would LOVE to get this lens. Its a bit to much for the wallet to handle so I went with the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro. The VR would be a great addition for a macro lens.

Looking forward to seeing more pics Jeff

 

[tinksdad]

Fantastic shots everyone! Here a few of mine - all taken with various point n shoot compacts - nothing fancy here Im afraid (although Im working on getting a DSLR very soon!).

I love to photograph spiders. It's hard to get a good view of the web and the occupant. Nice job!!

 

[Gdad]

A few macros from my walk in the park this afternoon. All taken handheld with available lighting. No real pp- mild cropping and just adjusted the levels slightly. Still trying to get the hang of my new lens. Hope you like them.

 

[tinksdad]

I like the second one. The wire against the blueish background (is that a fence post?) is very cool!

The macros are hard to get the DOF just right aren't they? Fun stuff though!!!

 

[Gdad]

Yes- it was a fence post that was half burned up by maybe a grass fire. Thanks for looking.

 

[jann1033]

ya know i'm getting really crabby that you can all prance around outside and take flower shots when i'm stuck with (still) 2 ft of snow...although the up side is no spiders hanging around ) )

a begrudging , nice photos

 

[sk8belle]

Gdad, I agree with tinksdad. The second one is by far the best of the lot. The other barbed wire one is neat, too. I like the angle you used to make it look like the barb was flowering.

 

[jann1033]

tinksdad's funguy's big brother Herman ( this one was as big as my "heed")

 

[DVC Jen]

I am thinking about getting a nice macro lens before we head to WDW in June.

Anyone have any ideas? I have a canon xti.

Would a fixed lens be better/sharper than a zoom? But then again would I get more use out of a zoom?

 

[handicap18]

You wouldn't get more macro out of a zoom. Macro ratio's on zoom lenses are at best 1:2, many are 1:3 and 1:4. If you get a macro prime lens it most likely would be 1:1 ratio. I don't know Canon's line up, but I know they have one somewhere around the 105mm range that I believe is f/2.8. This is another advantage of a macro prime, aperture. With the zooms chances are at the macro end of the zoom (usually the 300mm length) the widest aperture is f/5.6.

Tamron makes a great 90mm f/2.8 macro that you can find used at decent prices (under $300). Sigma also makes a great macro at 105mm f/2.8. Check keh.com for used lenses, they are great to buy from, very fair with their pricing and their ratings. Search for Canon Auto Focus in one box and Non-Mfg fixed focal length in the other box to get a list of what they have. Looks like there is also a Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 1:1 macro along with a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 1:1 macro, both at pretty decent prices. I think Jann has the Vivitar 100mm.

Looks like Canon's 100mm f/2.8 macro used price is $350, they also have an older 50mm f/2.5 macro for about the same price as the Vivitar 100mm f/3.5. But I know nothing about the lens.

The 100mm range focal length macro's can also double as a very good indoor sports lens as well as a long portrait lens as it does have a pretty wide aperture if that is something that interests you.

Thats what I know. I really enjoy my Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro. Its fun to use.

 

[jann1033]

mine is actually phoenix but it also goes by cosina and it could be vivitar as well( i know it goes by 3 or 4 names, guessing somebody makes it for a bunch of distributors.) i basically am happy with it. i love the sharpness of the lens just as a 100 mm and use it mostly that way, it's 1:2 macro as is then comes with a 1:1 macro filter that is a little bit of of pain just cause you have to put it on and off but since it was $140 rather than $300-400 i can make due( they had some around $100 on ebay but i didn't get one auction, the one i won the guy sent me a nikon mount and didn't have a canon left and like you i wanted it for vacation so i just bought it new..)the only thing that has been a little hard to get used to is that you really need to be about 18" away or it's not in focus...and i have a tendency to get to close and have to back away.i think that is the fixed focal though, some lenses might focus closer but it just has taken getting used to for me. it's much sharper than the zoom macros i have had but not quite as convenient due to the fixed length. i tried macro filters, manual extension tubes( big mistake) and ended up with this since it costs not a whole lot more than the af extension tubes (on ebay.) it does look cheap though( looks comparable to canon 50mmf1.8 )

and i need a tripod (like any macro ) to get really sharp images and mine is a pain( panning head, i think a ball head would be easier to make fine adjustment)

i googled it an got a number of good reviews even though normally i am more of a lens snob i'm glad i got it. i have had some bad 3rd party lenses and had sworn off them but it has made me rethink the 3rd party aspect

there is also a canon 60 mm macro that is recommended for 1.6 crop cameras but don't know the price of it.

i just took a few photos with mine today so after i process them i'll post them. ( didn't use the filter though so they are 1:2 macro and just as 100mm, in the black and white thread not to long ago i posted 3 of my granddaughter that are pink and sepia that are with that lens)

 

[DVC Jen]

OK I am sitting here with this look on my face that screams - Huh?

I guess before I even think about getting a macro I should ask...

Can anyone explain the ins and outs of a macro lens? What should I be looking for - what does all of it mean?

 

[jann1033]

above just normal old 100mm, the rest 1:2 ratio. all are kind of noisy since I forgot it was on iso1600 none with a tripod either which you should use with macro due to the exaggeration of movement because of the magnification.

if you are confused by the ratio stuff, it just means 1:1 would be like it was life size, 1:2 slightly smaller than life size and 1:4 would be life size on a print( think that is 4x6 print), most of my macro zoom lenses..(ie 28-135 has a "macro" setting) means you can take a photo with a ratio of 1:4....however a macro lens would be 1:2 or 1:1. 1:1 or life size ( life size as it's projected on the film and i guess sensor as well) is naturally preferable. you can even get some that are more than life size but guessing you are thinking along the life size macro( rather than the compound eye segment of a bug type macro)
but you can also use the lens as just a regular ie non macro lens, ie mine at just a normal 100mm but because it is a fixed focal length( rather than a zoom) it's sharper than a zoom at that same focal length would probably be. so if you want a true macro go for the fixed focal length ( there might be a zoom but i don't know of one that is 1:2 or 1:1, like i said all mine zooms with a macro setting are 1:4)
it allows you to take what appear to be life size shots in other words
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1168270&page=16 post 235 top picthis is 1:4 from my 28-135 but the photo is cropped...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1168270&page=17 post 243 is 1:1 ratio with phoeinx