Canon Macro Lenses. What are you using?

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

Yes the IS model has better optics and is sharper.

But why would you ever need IS on this lens? When will you be taking macro shots below 1/100 or 1/160 (on crop body)?

I can't hold the camera steady enough to use my macro lens without a tripod. 90% of my freehand photos come out blurry. I do sometimes take the camera with me while fishing, and I don't want to drag a tripod along: in addition to all of my fly gear and the camera.

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by Enigma

I can't hold the camera steady enough to use my macro lens without a tripod. 90% of my freehand photos come out blurry. I do sometimes take the camera with me while fishing, and I don't want to drag a tripod along: in addition to all of my fly gear and the camera.

But when you're shooting outside your shutter should be higher than 1/100s meaning camera shake wouldn't cause any blur.

[duncangweller]

Get the Tamron 2.8 90mm macro. It's a fantastic lens, great optics and a smidgen cheaper than the 100mm Canon.

It came highly recommended to me and I would recommend it to anyone!

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

[Coleus]

Sometimes i think lense helps but capture a good photos also requires skill. For example, me, I have the Canon 100mm macro f/2.8 but my photos still come out looks like crap. Kien showed me couple tricks but again I can't produce a great pictures with tripod and all tools. So unless you think you already max out the best shot that your camera can do then any macro lenses will help. Else the macro lenses will just be another piece collecting dust in the draw like mine.

Needs a lot of practice to get a good photo.

[Reef_Geek]

Originally Posted by Coleus

Sometimes i think lense helps but capture a good photos also requires skill. For example, me, I have the Canon 100mm macro f/2.8 but my photos still come out looks like crap. Kien showed me couple tricks but again I can't produce a great pictures with tripod and all tools. So unless you think you already max out the best shot that your camera can do then any macro lenses will help. Else the macro lenses will just be another piece collecting dust in the draw like mine.

Needs a lot of practice to get a good photo.

Try these settings...
copied from my post at the thread HOW TO SHOOT PICS
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...t=88871&page=2

"To take these photos, I used Tv mode on the SLR, which means I forced it to use a certain shutter speed and the computer calculates the rest (aperture, auto ISO). Specifically, I used a tripod and forced the shutter to stay open for 1.6 seconds. This meant that the computer would have used the smallest aperture so that the photo wasn't over exposed. Another effect of a small aperture is that the field of depth is wide so most of the subject is in focus.

Exact specs are: Shutter 1.6s, aperture f/16, ISO 100, manual focus
Equipment: Canon 5D mkII, lens EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM, tripod, 20mm Kinko tube to shorten focal length
Editing: shot in RAW, used Canon Digital Professional, increased brightness/contrast/saturation/sharpness, cropped, and exported to 1200 pixel (long side) size

Don't fuss the details too much, most important things were the $30 tripod, shutting off the powerhead, and using Tv mode at 1.6 seconds (lots of light from my 250w metal halide in a 20" deep tank, if your light is dimmer, use a longer shutter speed)"

[Cymaster007]

Originally Posted by duncangweller

Get the Tamron 2.8 90mm macro. It's a fantastic lens, great optics and a smidgen cheaper than the 100mm Canon.

It came highly recommended to me and I would recommend it to anyone!

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

I have this lens on my Canon T2i works great!

[msjboy]

I have a Canon 40D ( bought new several years ago) but have not used it much because it is simply too big so invested in a poormans macro tube for just a $10 (http://dx.com/p/macro-extension-tube...-cameras-12456) .. not sure how to use it but it requires me to get very close to the object first ... will post in the future some picts once I get it going.
Anyone else use this before on their SLRs???

regs
msjboy

[slakker]

I have a Nikon, but use a Sigma 105 Macro. There was still 2 Canon mount ones at Maynards on Main and 2nd in Vancouver for $400... new out of box, good deal!

[Madmak]

Originally Posted by noy

just wondering if anyone has experience with the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Lens.

I've used one and they are tough to control at the best of times, would be really hard for tank shots. The unique thing about them is their minimum focus distance but lack of being able to focus to infinity. That means you can get extremely close to the subject but also means you NEED to be extremely close.

[noy]

Originally Posted by Madmak

I've used one and they are tough to control at the best of times, would be really hard for tank shots. The unique thing about them is their minimum focus distance but lack of being able to focus to infinity. That means you can get extremely close to the subject but also means you NEED to be extremely close.

i know the lack of focus at infinity will be a problem. What is your recollection about the maximum distance you can work at at 1x?