Good Macro Lens

[iConquer]

So I was playing around with my 50mm that came in yesterday. Getting pretty use to this whole shooting thing hehehhe. Its actually fun.

I have 2 questions.

I was in front shooting just normal things to play with the lens... noticed a lot of bees hovering over the garden so started snapping them. I want to get a bit more sharp and closer shots of things like this but the 50mm and the 28-135 (the only two lens I have right now) didn't give me the shots i wanted and I was up close and personal with them bees. I guess I need a macro. What would be a good intermediate one to have in my bag?

2nd
When I'm looking thru my LCD or the viewfinder and I'm toying with the depth of field, it looks awesome after I've adjusted to the shot I would like. Snap the picture and it's not the way i saw it thru the lens. It's usually not as blurred as I adjusted it to be. Am I doing something wrong or are one of my settings off?

[rab3rd]

either the 100mm macro classic or the new 100mm L 2.8 macro is a good entry into the macro world. once you get good at shooting 1:1 you will then want to go bigger 2:1 etc. You can get tubes and use your 50mm as well. I went straight into it with the 100mm L and quickly figured out I wanted to go beyond 1:1 so I bought the MPE-65 dedicated macro lens, its not for everyone and I would not suggest starting with it unless you really want to do bigger than 1:1 macro shooting and you have LOTS of patients to learn how to use it. Its a bear to get control over...

[Tom]

The Sigma 150mm 2.8 Macro is a fantastic lens. It will give you a much shallower DOF than the 100mm 2.8.

[rab3rd]

Here are a couple of shots:

this taken with the 100mm macro, not a great shot as it was very windy that day. 1:1



Taken with the MPE-65 macro at 3X (3:1) IIRC

[rab3rd]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

The Sigma 150mm 2.8 Macro is a fantastic lens. It will give you a much shallower DOF than the 100mm 2.8.

I find that I am trying to get MORE DOF when shooting macro, not less.

[iConquer]

thomas
looking into that lens right now. Reading up on the reviews. Thanks for the suggestion.

rab3rd
DAMN!! i really like that shot with the MPE... I don't think i would be content with a 1:1...

[rab3rd]

Originally Posted by iConquer

thomas
looking into that lens right now. Reading up on the reviews. Thanks for the suggestion.

rab3rd
DAMN!! i really like that shot with the MPE... I don't think i would be content with a 1:1...

Thanks, I wasnt either and I had been looking at that lens for over a year and reading all the do the 1:1 stuff first so I bought that 100mm 2.8 when it came out and really liked the lens but I found myself wishing I could get closer so after a month or so of using it and getting a bonus at work, I pulled the trigger on the MPE and a 24EX ring flash. Once I figured out how to use it I feel in love with it. Be aware, the macro world is a slipper slope my friend, a slippery slope indeed....

In addition to macro work that 100mm is a great lens for other shooting too, is a real sharp peice of glass....

[Tom]

Originally Posted by rab3rd

I find that I am trying to get MORE DOF when shooting macro, not less.

All depends on the shot you are trying to make. You can always get deeper, but you can't always get shallower.

[iConquer]

rab3rd
I'm thinking since the 100mm is already half the price of the MPE, i might just wait a month or so and go ahead and get it instead of trying out the 100mm.

Anyone have any suggestions/pointers for my second question? I was pretty annoyed yesterday with that problem.

[rab3rd]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

All depends on the shot you are trying to make. You can always get deeper, but you can't always get shallower.

True, very true. But the DOF on that 2.8 is pretty thin... and on the MPE its just stupid thin opened all the way...

[rab3rd]

Have you tried using the DOF preview button? It will temporarly stop the lens down to the F you have set and show you what it will look like. That or over time you will learn the DOF of that lens for a given f stop. There are charts too but who wants to read those? Its like reading the instructions, we only do that when it DOESNT work, right?

[rab3rd]

Originally Posted by iConquer

rab3rd
I'm thinking since the 100mm is already half the price of the MPE, i might just wait a month or so and go ahead and get it instead of trying out the 100mm.

Anyone have any suggestions/pointers for my second question? I was pretty annoyed yesterday with that problem.

Well just be aware, opened up all the way the DOF on that lens is like the thickness of a business card, no kidding. Stopped down to f16 isnt very deep either. You have to learn some techniques to maximize the DOF, stacking is one way or composing the subject in the right orientation to get the most of it in the field is another. Its a challenging lens but I find the challenge to be fun. Some dont and just end up selling the lens after getting very frustrated with it...

[iConquer]

You mentioned that the 100mm macro is good for shooting too, how about the MPE? Would it be a strictly macro lens only? Being versatile might be the deciding factor for me.

[rab3rd]

The MPE is good for macro ONLY. It cant do anything else at all. Once the subject is about 4 inches for the lens, its gone. You could always add extension tubes to your bag to get beyond the 1:1 of the 100mm and have a very versatile setup. An off camera flash is gonna be something you want too.

[Biff]

I was considering picking up some extension tubes for the 50mm 1.8.

Any thoughts on going the cheaper route?