macro lenses

[Groucho]

BUT does anyone know anything about macro lenses and how they actually work. ie why you can use them for normal distance shot and macro shot?

Most of your other questions were answered, but the macro can focus over such a range because it tends to change length so much - at normal distances, it's a similar length to non-macro lenses, then gets longer as you get closer. (Though some may focus internally, but are still moving a lot.) My 55mm 1:1 and 105mm 1:1 almost double in length at the closest focus setting! The extra length is why you can use extension tubes and bellows to turn any lens into a macro.

The issue with focal lengths is distortion - with a very short macro (like a 35mm), getting to 1:1 has you extremely close to the item - almost touching it. Obviously this gives a somewhat distorted view of the item! A longer focal length will give somewhat less distortion. One is not necessarily better than the other, they are just different tools for different jobs.

 

[Suburbanmom]

I didn't even know I wanted a macro lens until Quicklabs and I went shooting together this weekend. Since we both use Nikon cameras, we swapped our lenses. I had the thrill to borrow her Sigma 150mm macro. I had no idea how much fun it would be. I can tell Laura is going to be a very expensive friend. :

Some macro shots from Saturday:

1/1600; f/4; ISO 200

1/500; f/5.6; ISO 200

1/500; f/10; ISO 200

1/2500; f/8; ISO 800

1/1250; f/8; ISO 800


Not with the 150mm

70mm; 1/4000; f/2.8; ISO 200

 

[dmccarty]

A macro lens really opens up alot of photo opportunities. I have a Nikon 105mm/F2.8. This weekend I took photos of kids playing soccer as well blue/violet Irises in the yard. One can take LOTS of very good photos with a macro lens. But it often requires a tripod, remote shutter release and a very good ball head for the tripod.

Its amazing how many photos one can take without walking/moving very far with a macro lens. Then to play around with how DOF affects a giving photo. Does the photo of the flower look "better" at F8, F2.8 or at F30? A quick guess is that I took 30+ photos of the Irises over 30-60 minutes without moving more than 10 feet.

Later,
Dan

 

[jann1033]

nice, love the magnolia macros in particular.

 

[YEKCIM]

The Sigma 150 is probably the sharpest lens I own. It is a superb macro lens, but also does quite well as a medium tele. AF is not quick enough for "action" shots, but on stationary or slow-moving subjects, it does quite well.

~Ed

 

[MICKEY88]

I can tell Laura is going to be a very expensive friend. :

as if just hanging out with all the great photogs on this site isn't expensive enough..LOL

 

[annnewjerz]

Since we both use Nikon cameras, we swapped our lenses. I had the thrill to borrow her Sigma 150mm macro.

Love the second to last shot. I'm going to have to take my macro/micro/whatever lens out for a spin this weekend now that the weather is warming up and the flowers are blooming.

Does this mean that Laura got to try out your 70-200 f/2.8 as well?? If so---Laura, how much did you love it?? (I would say like, but who are we kidding, I'm sure it was much more fantastic than like!!)

 

[Ju Ju Bean]

Beautiful pictures and so very sharp! My favorite is the mushroom. I just ordered a Tamron 90mm and it arrives Thursday.

 

[Quicklabs]

Great shots, Amy. I like the Magnolia as well.
Oh, look who's talking about potentially expensive friends! LMBO! I am drooling over what I got with your 70-200! I've been checking it online every day to see if the price will drop a little. Honestly, the IQ of the pictures with the "baby" is so good that they look almost 3-D. That 18-55 2.8 is awfully sweet as well. And that's with my little old D80. Had a great time shooting with you on Saturday, and that would have been the case even if you didn't have such smokin' hot lenses. Hope we can do it again soon.

All pics with the 70-200 2.8 VR
It's really hard to see here, but the detail on the statue is amazing.

The flowers on the butterfly magnolia look to be "in flight" Wish I'd have used that 2.8 aperture on this one, though

I'm really loving the way that lens picked up the texture of the bark on the tree stump.

With the Sig 150
Here's my macro shot of the mushroom.

Who knows what would have happened if we'd have kissed this guy?

 

[annnewjerz]

When you posted this on the other thread, I had wondered if you took it with the 70-200 and after seeing Amy say you guys swapped lenses, I'm not surprised at all that this is the one you used.

Great shot---and please please please, don't say anything else about how great that lens is, otherwise those of us with no self control (not me, of course ) may make a purchase that ends in divorce after DH finds out

 

[Quicklabs]

Admit it, Ann. You are a lens addict! LMBO! We all NEED the 70-200. Check out the ones I added. C'mon, you know you love to suffer like this! LOL LOL LOL

 

[Suburbanmom]

Oh, my gosh...you guys are hilarious! Laura, your statue photo is WAY better than mine. I'm going to blame low blood sugar...but I don't think I used the 70-200 on it...I just can't remember. I'll have to pull them up and look again. I know we kept switching back and forth LOL.

Here's my handsome prince:

 

[princess.chell]

So I've been looking into getting a new lens because none of my lenses focus as close as I want them to for macro. But I'm having trouble going through the lenses on the Canon site. I am looking for a moderately priced lens (but I am willing/know I'm going to have to pay bigger than I would like) that could also work as a good lens for portraits or the like. Any advice on a lens?
Oh! I have a Canon Rebel XTi and a Canon EOS 3.
TIA!

 

[jann1033]

i have a phoenix/cosina/vivitar 100mm f3.5 macro...it's cheap ( now about 150?) and is sharp BUT this is the third time now i have had to send it in for repairs( it stops focusing in 100mm, the macro focuses but not the distance) is cheap plastic, really stiff to manual focus( it feels like you are pushing a truck to turn the focus ring ) and only 1:2, you need to use the supplied filter to get to 1:1 which is a real pain since you also need to be on the exact focusing distance or you can't use it, not real easy with a tripod and a flower in a bed that is more than 12.5 inches away...but what i could afford at the time( 5 yr warranty) and works out to about $20 a yr( mine was cheaper) if you don't count the frustration level.

i probably will replace it with the tamron 90 mm f2.8 macro or canon 60mm macro... i really like the 100mm-ish range for just "normal" shooting. i could easily use it as a walk around lens under most circumstances( ie maybe not wdw but in the real world). I'll probably go with the tamron just cause the warranty is better. most ratings i see are about the same and the price is pretty close as well.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Generally, you pay more for longer macro lenses. The 180mm is more than the 100mm which is more than the 50mm. They all magnify about the same, but the longer lenses let you work farther from your subject

If you are just starting to dabble in macro photography, I would suggest a different approach. Try extension tubes or close-up filters. They are more trouble to use than a macro lens, but they are much cheaper. They should give you a good sense of whether you really want to pursue macro work. I would also factor in a ring or macro flash into your long term purchase plans if you want to get serious about macro work.

 

[jann1033]

Generally, you pay more for longer macro lenses. The 180mm is more than the 100mm which is more than the 50mm. They all magnify about the same, but the longer lenses let you work farther from your subject

If you are just starting to dabble in macro photography, I would suggest a different approach. Try extension tubes or close-up filters. They are more trouble to use than a macro lens, but they are much cheaper. They should give you a good sense of whether you really want to pursue macro work. I would also factor in a ring or macro flash into your long term purchase plans if you want to get serious about macro work.

that's originally why i started with the phoenix..it's around the same price as extension tubes

 

[KarenAylwood]

I got this lens for my birthday (yesterday ) and of course had to run right out and try it out!! I LOVE it. These were a few shots from a garden near me. I forgot my tripod as I was running out the door so they're not as good as they could be, I'll definitely go out again soon.

(This last one is a sprinkler)

 

[Miller1412]

Beautiful shots! I especially love the sprinkler!

 

[Poohbear5]

Very cool!
An Happy Birthday!

 

[DisneyDad64]

Great shots and nice birthday present!