I’ve had a Canon EOS400D SLR for a couple of years now, and barely used it. With the arrival of a Niwalker NWK500N3 yesterday, I figure it’s about time I started posting photos, and I fancy having a go at a mini review.
Some of the photographs here - by Foy, *the*and others, are sensational. I assume macro lenses are being used (my first attempts have been less than good), and wonder if anyone can recommend one for my Canon.
Any other photo tips would be welcome - I used to be keen on black & white photography, but haven’t really kept up in years (hence Canon gathering dust).
Thanks.
Edit>> Just remembered, think this camera was called Digital Rebel in the US when it was released.
If you want to do marcro work you just need a lens that supports close up focusing. Many will state this on it and you can attain good results. Indeed I use my cheapy Sigma 18-50 for such a use and it does ok.
If you want to get really close you will need a dedicated lens capable of this and/or use extension tubes. You can also get magnified filters too, so as to appear even closer.
SLR lenses range from quite cheap to horrendous in cost. Do you have a budget?
If you are going the extension route you’ll either need ones that fully support your SLR autofocus and metering or you’ll end up having to do more manually. It’s been a few years since I looked at these, so I’m not sure what’s available.
If you want to try out before you buy, why not pop to somewhere like Jessops, they’ll likely have some lenses in stock that you can try on your camera and see how it works.
Last thing, light. Getting up close and getting good detail will need good light. You can do this externally with a lamp (or torch ). Or you’ll want something like a lens mounted ring flash. The built in flash or even a flash mounted on the hot shoe won’t really work as the camera body and lens will be in the way of the flash beam.
Thanks for this. I’ve already discovered that lighting is crucial, and that the on camera flash is useless. I used to have a pair of photoflood bulbs, so might try to use something like that. I could use the Niwalker. Oh no, I’m taking photos of that
Having had a quick look at some prices (£500 isn’t uncommon), I might go the extension tube route to start off. Losing autofocus & metering isn’t a problem - I’ll be using a tripod.
Having dug the camera out (shameful that I haven’t used it at all for a couple of years), I was reminded how crappy the cheap lenses are - I have a 18-55mm zoom, which is plastic and feels awful. Far cry from my Pentax MX days, when the lenses were really solid.
1. Close-up filters (for example the Canon 250D or 500D, or the older ones, Sigma Nikon etc also have good ones)
2. old FD Canon macro lens with cheap EF-FD adapter
3. macro extension tubes
a must: tripod
4. if you dont have one yet, get the 50mm 1:1.8 for about $60 to add to your setup. (you`ll won`t regret it).
this is not for macros, but can be used with any adapter/tube/filter and get really sharp images. Besides using it for macros, you can use it for portraits etc as well…
What HKJ said, a tripod and long exposure will do a lot to your pictures!
A tripod could be really cheap, and if you just want to have it only for taking pictures of your flahslights, a $10 will do.
I use a Sigma 150mm f2,8 macrolens (old model without OS) for the smaller objects.
For larger objects you don’t need a macrolens.
A real macrolens has a maximum 1:1 magnification.
With such lens you can make a photo of a subject with the same size as the sensor in the camera, so that it just fits in the photo.
The Canon MP-E65 is the only macrolens that gets to 5:1 magnification, but it is a lens for the specialists.
It is not easy to use, you can only use it for macro, and there is no AF.
Cheaper options are the Canon EF-S 60mm, and the non-IS 100mm Macro if you want a Canon.
Sigma and Tamron also have some macrolenses in the lower price-range.
But be carefull, Sigma and Tamron have zoomlenses with “Macro” on it, these are never real macrolenses because they don’t get 1:1 magnification.
Hello Hobbyfotograaf… you`re right… but he has a budget! so those lenses wont work out for him!
Tamron 90mm is a very good macro lens, and sigma has the 150mm for example… (these are out of question, because of his budget)
Get the vivitar 100mm 1:3.5 which is an old lens, but works on EOS camera`s without any converter, and is really sharp!
its also sold under different brandings, like Cosina. They are the cheapest sharpest macro lenses available,but hard to find nowadays.
Extension tubes will give the best results for a small budget.
But you will need extension tubes with all the electrical connections for lenses with electronic controlled diaphragm, without these connections there is no way to get it closed to get more depth of field.
Most cheap close-up filters give very much CA (blue/purple edges).
I have tried the Canon 500D close-up filter (it has the same name as the 500D Camera), it was not too bad optically, but not as practical as a real macrolens.
That is why i sold it after a few days, and ordered the Sigma 150mm.
The Canon 250D/500D close-up filters are also pretty expensive…
Yes, the 250D and 500D close up lenses are expensive… I almost forgot, sorry!
Another option would be the older Canon close up lenses,
the”Canon 52mm Close-up lens 240”,
which I found for a few bucks, but has about the same quality as the 250D
or the Nikon 5t, 6t etc. which are also pretty good, for less.
You could try reversing a telephoto lens to get macro on the cheap. There are multiple ways of doing it, you could get a reversing ring or just place the lens backwards against another one. Sounds crazy, but it works!
Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I’d totally forgotten about the reversing ring approach- I probably still have one of these that I used with my old MX camera (which won’t obviously, fit the Canon.
I could sit here forever working out what to do, so I think I’ll just get on with taking photos with my so-called “macro” 18-55mm lens for the meantime, and investigate extension tubes, and maybe a screw-in close up lens, or a proper lens.
At least I have a decent tripod - a Manfrotto I got for a spotting scope, which is pretty robust.
I think you can do just fine with your 18-55 which is a very good lens btw. Learn the camera settings, take pictures and go from there. I've learned a lot from trial and error plus digital cameras makes everything a lot easier. If you don't like what you shot -- delete it and start all over. Good luck.
The cheapest way, for posting close up pictures on the Web, is;
Crop.
Just use your current setup, try to get as close as possible, and crop the pic on your pc.
On the Internet you don’t need 10mega pixel pictures.
The ones that are actually posted here on BLF are even less than 1mp.
First try that, and see how that goes!
The cheapest!
). Or you’ll want something like a lens mounted ring flash. The built in flash or even a flash mounted on the hot shoe won’t really work as the camera body and lens will be in the way of the flash beam.
