Lens for my 400D - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/07/2006 08:48:50 AM · #1

Hi!!!

So, if I wanted a starter macro lens for as cheap as possible...would either these work for my XTi???

Any advice or help? :)

Tamron Lens

Sigma

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

12/07/2006 08:56:45 AM · #2

Neither of those are true macro lenses.
They just have a macro capability, which would probably be able to replicate 3:1? or something.
You'd be better of spending alittle more and getting a proper 100mm Macro lens.

12/07/2006 08:59:09 AM · #3

Originally posted by Kerm:

Thanks Kerm.
I'll look for a 100mm macro lens....

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/07/2006 09:06:47 AM · #4

Hmmmm....from what I just looked at...the 100mm macro lenses seem to be around the $500 mark. *yikes*

Any other lenses out there that you would recommend for a starter that aren't that expensive? Or would an extension tube set work just as well for an amateur like me?

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

12/07/2006 09:09:23 AM · #5

100mm is just a suggestion.
It's the macro capability that's important, 1:1 is kick ass obviously.

Two quick examples here;
Sigma 90mm MACRO 1:1
Tamron 70mm MACRO 1:1

They are expensive, hence why i haven't bought one yet.

Message edited by author 2006-12-07 09:10:19.

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

12/07/2006 09:14:12 AM · #6

Originally posted by Kerm:

AAAHHHH.... the 1:1 is what's important! You taught me something! Thanks KERM! :)

Good info to know.

I love dpc. :)

xantangummi

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

12/07/2006 09:23:36 AM · #7

I recently bought the canon 100/2.8 macro usm, and it was worth the money.

Altough I have mainly used it for candids and portraits yet, it's great. Really sharp, silent and fast af, full-time-manual focus.

Here are some examples //viktor.weaksauce.se/hongkou/ of shots with that lens, every shot except three or four was taken with the 100/2.8 macro usm.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/07/2006 09:26:48 AM · #8

If you want cheap, get a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens and a Kenko extension tube. You'll have good macro capability and a sharp, fast lens for portraits, too. About $160 total.

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro Super for Canon

12/07/2006 09:33:28 AM · #9

Originally posted by scalvert:

If you want cheap, get a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens and a Kenko extension tube. You'll have good macro capability and a sharp, fast lens for portraits, too. About $160 total.

that is EXACTLY the price range I was looking for!!! I just found the canon 50mm f/1.8 on Amazon new for $70!!! Question though...what is the difference between my canon 28-55mm lens that I have?? Maybe a stupid question, but I have no idea of the difference. ;)

THANKS!!!!!!!

nemesise1977

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

12/07/2006 09:34:20 AM · #10

Originally posted by magenmarie:

Hi!!!

So, if I wanted a starter macro lens for as cheap as possible...would either these work for my XTi???

Any advice or help? :)

Tamron Lens

Sigma

To clarify a bit you can take macro chots with both those lenses, but the way it works is basicaly zooming all the way out then allowing the lense to have extra room for focusing, the end result is a mucch reduced DOF in the macro mode and a greater chance of distorton, and another problem/benifit is you wont be close to your subject, you will have to be 6feet or more away to focus which is good if you have a skittish subject. So depends on what you want to do if you want to focus on still life macro with better DOF control get the 50 mm prime suggested by Scalvert, if you want a all round lense that can do macroesq shots get the sigma.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/07/2006 09:35:54 AM · #11

Originally posted by nemesise1977:

Originally posted by magenmarie:
Hi!!!

So, if I wanted a starter macro lens for as cheap as possible...would either these work for my XTi???

Any advice or help? :)

Tamron Lens

Sigma

To clarify a bit you can take macro chots with both those lenses, but the way it works is basicaly zooming all the way out then allowing the lense to have extra room for focusing, the end result is a mucch reduced DOF in the macro mode and a greater chance of distorton, and another problem/benifit is you wont be close to your subject, you will have to be 6feet or more away to focus which is good if you have a skittish subject. So depends on what you want to do if you want to focus on still life macro with better DOF control get the 50 mm prime suggested by Scalvert, if you want a all round lense that can do macroesq shots get the sigma.

Thank you so much nemesis! ;)

Foolish Ice

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

12/07/2006 12:17:26 PM · #12

//www.dpchallenge.com/tutorial.php?TUTORIAL_ID=40

TJinGuy

Nikon Coolpix 2100

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/07/2006 12:38:53 PM · #13

Originally posted by magenmarie:

Originally posted by scalvert:
If you want cheap, get a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens and a Kenko extension tube. You'll have good macro capability and a sharp, fast lens for portraits, too. About $160 total.

that is EXACTLY the price range I was looking for!!! I just found the canon 50mm f/1.8 on Amazon new for $70!!! Question though...what is the difference between my canon 28-55mm lens that I have?? Maybe a stupid question, but I have no idea of the difference. ;)

THANKS!!!!!!!

I am assuming that you are referring to the 18-55mm kit lens instead of a 28-55mm as stated above. The 50mm prime is so much sharper than the kit lens. Plus for $70, it is hard to beat as an all round lens. I have been using mine more and more.

Now it is time for my own question. What do extension tubes do exactly and are there any drawbacks to using them?

And another question I have been meaning to ask. Is Canon ever going to release a 28mm or 30mm fast lens for the 1.6/1 crop SLRs. It would be nice to have a 1-1 lens for everyday shooting like the 35mm cameras have with the 50mm.

Sorry to hijack your thread:)

Message edited by author 2006-12-07 12:39:21.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

12/07/2006 12:46:38 PM · #14

Originally posted by nemesise1977:

An alternate view to that is, it's MUCH easier to sneak up on butterflies at 300mm (450mm equivalent) than at 50mm

SamDoe1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/07/2006 01:01:49 PM · #15

Originally posted by TJinGuy:

Now it is time for my own question. What do extension tubes do exactly and are there any drawbacks to using them?

And another question I have been meaning to ask. Is Canon ever going to release a 28mm or 30mm fast lens for the 1.6/1 crop SLRs. It would be nice to have a 1-1 lens for everyday shooting like the 35mm cameras have with the 50mm.

For the first question:
Extension tubes enable a lens to focus closer to the subject and therefore get a macro shot. The drawbacks are extremely shallow DOF and you lose some stops of light. That and the fact that you have to be much closer to focus.

The second question:
Yes, they are already out:
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM - $1120
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 - $290
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM - $400
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM - $1100
Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 - $230
All prices in USD.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/07/2006 01:48:42 PM · #16

Originally posted by TJinGuy:

Haha! Yes, I meant 18-55, the kit lens. Sounds like it's a better lens all around, and yes, for $70, what's to lose, right? :)

TJinGuy

Nikon Coolpix 2100

12/07/2006 01:52:36 PM · #17

Originally posted by SamDoe1:

The second question:
Yes, they are already out:
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM - $1120
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 - $290
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM - $400
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM - $1100
Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 - $230
All prices in USD.

Ok I kind of knew of some of those but how about a $70 one like the 50mm? I guess I missed the 28 f/1.8 lens. That seems like it would be close but $400 is a lot to pay.

nemesise1977

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro Super for Canon

12/07/2006 02:23:38 PM · #18

Originally posted by SamDoe1:

Originally posted by TJinGuy:
Now it is time for my own question. What do extension tubes do exactly and are there any drawbacks to using them?

And another question I have been meaning to ask. Is Canon ever going to release a 28mm or 30mm fast lens for the 1.6/1 crop SLRs. It would be nice to have a 1-1 lens for everyday shooting like the 35mm cameras have with the 50mm.

For the first question:
Extension tubes enable a lens to focus closer to the subject and therefore get a macro shot. The drawbacks are extremely shallow DOF and you lose some stops of light. That and the fact that you have to be much closer to focus.

The second question:
Yes, they are already out:
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM - $1120
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 - $290
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM - $400
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM - $1100
Canon EF 35mm f/2.0 - $230
All prices in USD.

A better discription on the extension tube, basicaly it just moves the glass further out from the body making the focus point diffrent and the image circle larger there for in effect multiplying the image size by 1.5 or 2.0 (depending on the size of tube) but because of this the fstop ratio is also affected and causes the lense to act as a slower lense

TJinGuy

Nikon Coolpix 2100

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/07/2006 04:00:34 PM · #19

Do a lot of people use extension tubes? Or do they just end up buying macro lenses? I am always just thought that I would end up with a Canon 100mm macro or such.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/07/2006 04:04:53 PM · #20

I took this shot with an extension tube (the lens was set around 250mm if I recall).