Topic: Macro Shooting Glass..??

[Cactus]

hey now,

just curious about recomendations as far as macro shots go.. ive come across several wide angle lenses that offer70-300 "macro" shots and also those that are designated 50mm, 105mm, macro.. are the wide angles just a selling ploy that are useless or is this a wiser investment?.. thinking ahead to t he summer when i would love to catch some dragonflies etc.. thanks again

[MattD]

I think most of the 70-300 type of lenses with a "macro" mode don't allow for a true macro (1:1) image. The other lenses you mentioned allow for a true macro (1:1 or larger) image. You'll pay more for a true macro, but get the quality along with it.

[BCostigan]

I have a 105mm 2.8 Macro made by Sigma.  Macro is used for VERY close up shots. (Many photogs shoot insects etc with these lenses).  Most folks going for a macro lens will go prime rather than zoom. 

If getting very close up pics of dragonflies etc is your goal I'd get a 105mm macro or a 180mm macro if you can swing the extra $$ for the 180mm.   I like my sigma but I'm sure the nikon/canon equivilant is worth the extra $$ (again if ya can swing it).  My sigma lens SUCKS in even moderate lighting....I wind up fucusing manually 99% of the time with this lens because it's so slow.  The only things the sigma has on it's side:

good optics...the pictures produced with this lens are great
price - much less than the nikon/canon

[jpschust]

Brian summed it nicely, however to kind of rephrase- a lot of what you are looking for is minimum focusing distance + magnification.  To get a 1:1 magnification without filters on a Canon you have to go with the 180mm L glass.  (The next lens for me).  You CAN use other lenses with closeup filters for magnification, but you lose stops in doing so and you lose sharpness.

[BCostigan]

Brian summed it nicely, however to kind of rephrase- a lot of what you are looking for is minimum focusing distance + magnification.  To get a 1:1 magnification without filters on a Canon you have to go with the 180mm L glass.  (The next lens for me).  You CAN use other lenses with closeup filters for magnification, but you lose stops in doing so and you lose sharpness.

I shoot Nikon so I'm not sure about canon but....my sigma 105mm will do 1:1 with no other filters etc...

I just took this picture to try and give an example of the Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro

This picture was taken at:

105mm
f 2.8/ 1/8sec
1:1.5
on tripod with natural light from a nearby window.

[phanophish]

If you are on a really tight budget Pop Photo magazine reccomended a Sigma 28-80 f3.5-5.6 in their December issue that can be found for around $85.  It will go to 1:2 which is not bad for such an affordable lens.

[phanophish]

I just picked up the Sigma Lens that Pop Photo reccomended off Ebay for $30 + $10 shipping so I think I got quite a bargin.  I also listed my Digitla Rebel on Ebay so if you know someone looking for a good used DSLR send them a link...

I'm selling my Digital Rebel since I upgraded to a Nikon D70.  It's in great shape, takes wonderful photos and still has 2+ years  on the extended warranty.  It was used to take the photo in my Avatar & well as the photos in the auction listing.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:B:LCB:US:1&Item=3869493322

[jpschust]

gotta say, im kind of surprised you went from canon to nikon.

[phanophish]

My brother picked up a D70 and I was impressed.  I like the metal body and lens mounts.  The noise at higher ISO settings is lower than the Canon and since we will both have the same body, we can share lenses and flashes.  I'm planning on picking up a SB-800 and he already has one.  With the remote triggering that the 800 has it should be pretty darn cool.  Nothing wrond with the Rebel.  It actually got me back in to Photography again after about 10 years.  Forgot how much I enjoyed it.....

[jpschust]

yah its just interesting since consensus seems to be that digitally the canon equipment seems to be further ahead (some say by light years) than the nikon equipment.  Don't want to turn this into a dumb nikon v canon debate, however now that you say you will be sharing lenses it makes more sense.

[phanophish]

Yea I don't know.  I certainly had no gripes about my Canon, but the Nikon feels much more sturdily built than the Rebel.  I also like the metal lens mounts on the D70, the canon plastic stuff always scared me a bit.  Nikon glass seems to be a bit higher priced and Nikon has fewer IS/VR lenses, so for sports I can see the Canon being a better choice, but I think for what I am doing the D70 was the way to go.  Both are nice tools though that I would reccomend to anyone.....

[jpschust]

recognize that the build of the rebel and the build of the 20d are different....rebel is a lighter prosumer camera meant to fit in one price range whereas the 20d is a different level of prosumer camera to fit into another price range.

[ditto]

I would point out that the d70 is also plastic but with the metal lens mount.  I'm not familiar with the 300D's mount.  I only bring this up so that you don't bang your camera around thinking it's all metal.. And yes, the D70 does feel alot better than the 300D. I have a friend who has one and when I held it I was thinking how cheap it felt.  A word of caution--if you mount a tele on the D70 don't let it hang free.  Someone posted how their lens ( I believe it was a 80-200 2.8 ) ripped apart from the camera.  I believe the lens and the metal mount broke from the body.  Here is a site I frequented when I had my D70.  Even has it's own forum.

http://www.nikonians.org/

Bill

[MattD]

300D/Digital Rebel has a metal mount as well. The plastic body doesn't faze me any.

[ditto]

300D/Digital Rebel has a metal mount as well. The plastic body doesn't faze me any.

The 300D takes great pics.  It was the pics I saw from the 300D that convinced me to go full digital.  I only chose Nikon because of the glass I had.

I didn't mean to offend you in regard to my "cheap" comment.  Within a year I went from a Nikon F2AS ( built like a tank ) to a F100 to a D70.  From one very heavy camera to a very lightweight one.  My first impressions about the D70 was that it too felt cheap, but I eventually got used to the plastic and the weight.  Now my 20D is smaller and lighter than the D70!  Go figure.

Bill