50mm macro? - DPChallenge Forums

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

09/26/2010 06:27:50 AM · #1

Can the 50mm be used for a little bit of macro of flowers etc? Would it be good to go around the garden and get some good shots rather than buy a macro lens?

Thanks

JuliBoc

Apple iPhone 6s+

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

09/26/2010 08:42:51 AM · #2

I use mine that way.

Message edited by author 2010-09-26 08:44:54.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

09/26/2010 08:49:12 AM · #3

If you want to do macro, I'd recommend that macro lens. I've used the 50mm for some shots, but during those times, I really wished I had my 100mm macro. It's a lot of fun, and I use the lens for anything that I can -- not just macro, because it's my clearest, sharpest lens.

Can you tell that my 100mm macro is my favorite lens? If you look through my portfolio, I don't do a lot of macro work, yet the lens goes with me wherever I go.

Message edited by author 2010-09-26 08:49:54.

love

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

09/26/2010 09:04:23 AM · #4

I love my 50mm and use for wonderful portraits as well as macro!

Ja-9

Nikon D750

09/26/2010 09:48:31 AM · #5

I use my 50mm all the time...but to get really nice and close I use extension tubes, they really let you get super close

obviously no extension tube

snaffles

Nikon D7100

09/26/2010 09:58:45 AM · #6

Originally posted by love:

I love my 50mm and use for wonderful portraits as well as macro!

And if you use a flash, and get a step-up ring and magnifying filters - I have a 1x, 2x, 4 and 10x which was what i used in this case:

This beetle is only a few mm long but was able to get lots of detail! Lots of my studio and stock shots are shot with the 50mm too.

Message edited by author 2010-09-26 10:00:54.

09/26/2010 10:16:17 AM · #7

Does the macro lens have a much close focusing distance compared to the 50mm?

09/26/2010 10:19:43 AM · #8

Originally posted by adamelliott111:

Does the macro lens have a much close focusing distance compared to the 50mm?

Much closer, yes.

snaffles

Nikon D7100

09/26/2010 10:20:10 AM · #9

Originally posted by adamelliott111:

Does the macro lens have a much close focusing distance compared to the 50mm?

Check out

Magnumphotography's portfolio, he probably has some stuff in there and details about how close he was.

And keep in mind, for magnifying filters...the higher the magnification, the closer you have to physically get, so don't bother with a tripod unless shooting stationary subjects. I was probably 3 inches away from the red beetle.

09/26/2010 10:51:12 AM · #10

Here's a chart that shows all the details on all of Canon's lenses. Note that "magnification" is a much more useful datum than focusing distance; the 50mm f/1.8 focuses to 1.5 feet and magnifies 0.15, whilst the 400mm f/4 focuses to roughly 12 feet and magnifies 0.12 â�� comparable reproduction ratios at closest focusing distance; if you stand 12 feet away with the 400mm you'll be framing pretty much exactly what you would if a foot-and-a-half away with the 50mm.

Canon's 60mm macro, on the other hand, focuses to .65 feet and magnifies 1.0 â�� at closest focusing distance, objects are reproduced on the sensor at their actual size with this lens; with the 50mm you get them at a little better than a tenth of their actual size.

//www.usa.canon.com/app/pdf/lens/EFLensChart.pdf

R.

fotomann_forever

09/26/2010 11:06:17 AM · #11

If you don't want to buy a dedicated macro, invest a little money in extension tubes... they'll give you macro ability.

FocusPoint

XIAOMI Redmi Note 8 Pro

09/26/2010 11:27:59 AM · #12

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

If you don't want to buy a dedicated macro, invest a little money in extension tubes... they'll give you macro ability.

I ordered one set for $10 from Amazon. I think I can live with manual focusing for floral macros. I am planning to use them with my 50mm 1.8 and with 28-105 which already giving me nice results :)

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

09/26/2010 11:33:53 AM · #13

Are you getting a DSLR? I see you use a Fuji S2000. With a DSLR, you can use a normal 50mm reversed to get some nice macro too, but it's a little more effort than the extension tube route. If you go Nikon or Fuji when you get the DSLR, you can get the older manual Micro Nikkor 55mm Ai f3.5 for very little cash on eBay, and the f2.8 model is not all that much more expensive. The 3.5's usually sell for less than a set of the current automatic extension tubes.
The 105mm f4 or f2.8 is a great lens too, with even shallower DOF if you need it, and, it allows you to be a little further from the subject, which is nice with bugs ect.
The drawback is that you have to keep the camera very still with the longer lens when shooting little subjects.
They make a set of "close up" lenses that will fit on the front of the lens of your current Fuji. They work pretty well too.

09/26/2010 12:54:48 PM · #14

I'm probably getting Canon 450d with kit lens but not sure whether to get 50mm or 55-250mm.

09/26/2010 01:07:23 PM · #15

These extension tubes then, what exactly do they do, and what can't the cheaper ones do?

09/26/2010 01:24:08 PM · #16

Originally posted by adamelliott111:

These extension tubes then, what exactly do they do, and what can't the cheaper ones do?

They extend the lens further from the camera, by mounting between the lens and the camera. They allow the lens to focus closer, but rob it of the inability to focus to infinity while they are being used. Basically, the expensive ones allow electronic connection for communication with the camera, the cheap ones don't.

R.

Ja-9

Nikon D750

09/26/2010 01:32:46 PM · #17

Waddy

MelonMusketeer helped me find my extension tubes that I have...the majority of my lens are AF, therefore I went with extension tubes that have the ability to do both AF AND Manual....I can't remember now what I paid for them but I think somewhere around $50...

if you have someone that you can borrow their tubes and a lens, that would be the best way to see what an extension tube does..

one key thing in Macro shooting for me is that I want a 1:1 ratio with my subject - this is very, very close...you can have lens' that have macro range in them but you cannot get close enough for a true macro picture

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

09/26/2010 02:44:08 PM · #18

To quote Robert,

Bear_Music, "rob it of the inability to focus to infinity" . It should be , rob it of the ability to focus to infinity. You can focus close with the tubes, but not to the horizon while using them. I'm sure that was a typo. You would probably be happiest with the 55-250, and autofocusing ext tubes. You can then pick up the inexpensive kit lens for shooting wider angles when you get a little more cash. I started with a 24-135mm and found it to be a good all around lens for general purpose shooting. Lens choice is a personal thing, and depends a lot on what sort of shooting you like and want to do, as well as your budget.

09/26/2010 02:48:46 PM · #19

I hardly shoot landscapes ,so macro and things to zoom in on would be the best so do you recommend 50mm with extension tubes and 55-250?

Also which extension tubes do you recommend?

09/26/2010 03:07:49 PM · #20

LOL yeah, that was a typo.

R.