Canon 100mm 2.8 macro advice
Discussion
Hello ph'ers,
I am thinking about purchasing this lens^ and would like a few questions answered please!
1. How good a photos would i achieve with the built in flash (canon eos 450d), and would i need a tri-pod or could i get good results handheld?
2.Looked at reviews and photos on flickr taken with the lens, and they are superb. Are they only getting them that good because they have thousands of pounds worth of equiptment?.
3. And last of all could anyone show me a few pics taken with the lens and whether they where handheld or using a separate flash?
Thank-you.
I am thinking about purchasing this lens^ and would like a few questions answered please!
1. How good a photos would i achieve with the built in flash (canon eos 450d), and would i need a tri-pod or could i get good results handheld?
2.Looked at reviews and photos on flickr taken with the lens, and they are superb. Are they only getting them that good because they have thousands of pounds worth of equiptment?.
3. And last of all could anyone show me a few pics taken with the lens and whether they where handheld or using a separate flash?
Thank-you.
No, a flash and a tripod aren't always necessary, but one or both of them can be useful in certain circumstances; the same as with any sort of photography.
The main issue you'll come up against is that you get a very narrow depth of field when you are focussed very close (with any lens). Often, you don't want this and so to counter it, you'll have to stop down to a small aperture, say f16. You then get less light and can end with too slow a shutter speed. If you're photographing, say, a pair of earrings, a tripod would be useful in that circumstance. If you're photographing a live insect, then you're probably not going to have the time to set up a tripod, so a flash would be better.
Re. what sort of flash, I think you can use the on-board flash, but you'd probably have to fit some kind of light modifier to direct the light to the subject. Otherwise the lens would probably shadow it. The other options are a normal flashgun or a dedicated macro flash.
The main issue you'll come up against is that you get a very narrow depth of field when you are focussed very close (with any lens). Often, you don't want this and so to counter it, you'll have to stop down to a small aperture, say f16. You then get less light and can end with too slow a shutter speed. If you're photographing, say, a pair of earrings, a tripod would be useful in that circumstance. If you're photographing a live insect, then you're probably not going to have the time to set up a tripod, so a flash would be better.
Re. what sort of flash, I think you can use the on-board flash, but you'd probably have to fit some kind of light modifier to direct the light to the subject. Otherwise the lens would probably shadow it. The other options are a normal flashgun or a dedicated macro flash.
Hello,
It's a great lens, and you don't need ££££'s of equipment (started of with just a 350D and 100mm). All shot hand-held.
Some example shots.
No flash:
No flash:
On board flash:
On board flash:
No flash:
ETA: I have a feeling one or two of these shots were with the Kenko Extension Tubes, can't honestly remember though. There are lots of home made contraptions that hook onto your on board flash, just have a look around google. I would suggest getting a ring flash (or MT-24EX).
It's a great lens, and you don't need ££££'s of equipment (started of with just a 350D and 100mm). All shot hand-held.
Some example shots.
No flash:
No flash:
On board flash:
On board flash:
No flash:
ETA: I have a feeling one or two of these shots were with the Kenko Extension Tubes, can't honestly remember though. There are lots of home made contraptions that hook onto your on board flash, just have a look around google. I would suggest getting a ring flash (or MT-24EX).
Edited by 4hero on Wednesday 16th September 11:35
A great lens.
These were taken handheld with a 400D
At the other end of the scale - with Kenko extension tubes the following can be shot (using a small tripod and a ring flash)
Tip of a pair of nail scissors
A small needle
Tip of the needle
Tiny little bugs on a small rose bud
It's not a lens that I carry about but it's one I won't now get rid of!
These were taken handheld with a 400D
At the other end of the scale - with Kenko extension tubes the following can be shot (using a small tripod and a ring flash)
Tip of a pair of nail scissors
A small needle
Tip of the needle
Tiny little bugs on a small rose bud
It's not a lens that I carry about but it's one I won't now get rid of!
Have a look in the macro thread to get an idea. I think there are one or two in their using a 100mm Canon.
I bought a 60mm a few weeks ago and although I do love the lense wish I'd gone for the 100mm instead. Just at the time wasn't sure if I'd get in to it and the extra £100 saved swayed me to go for the 60mm rather than the 100mm.
As for flash I'm getting some pretty interesting results from the inbuilt flash on my 400d. I think it's just down to experimentation really. I'm doing things like using A4 white paper sat in front of it, using my hand cupped over it at different angles and distance to achieve different results etc. But I do want a ringlash or MT24 eventually. Also be aware that using the on board flash absolute kills the battery.
As for the tripod I'm fairly new to macro and struggle to hold the camera steady when trying to focus on objects (epecially that are moving). Hopefully it will come with time but at this stage I always use a tripod. Only a cheap one at the moment but want a better one of them as well!
I bought a 60mm a few weeks ago and although I do love the lense wish I'd gone for the 100mm instead. Just at the time wasn't sure if I'd get in to it and the extra £100 saved swayed me to go for the 60mm rather than the 100mm.
As for flash I'm getting some pretty interesting results from the inbuilt flash on my 400d. I think it's just down to experimentation really. I'm doing things like using A4 white paper sat in front of it, using my hand cupped over it at different angles and distance to achieve different results etc. But I do want a ringlash or MT24 eventually. Also be aware that using the on board flash absolute kills the battery.
As for the tripod I'm fairly new to macro and struggle to hold the camera steady when trying to focus on objects (epecially that are moving). Hopefully it will come with time but at this stage I always use a tripod. Only a cheap one at the moment but want a better one of them as well!
Apologies in advance for throwing a spanner slightly in the works but have you considered the Tamron SP AF90mm f2.8 Macro lens?
I was looking for a macro lens and I picked up a Digital SLR magazine (I can't remember which one, sorry) and the Tamron came out as best in a test of (I think) 6 lenses. I'm sure the 100mm Canon was included in the test.
I bought the Tamron, although I haven't really had the chance to use it much yet.
I was looking for a macro lens and I picked up a Digital SLR magazine (I can't remember which one, sorry) and the Tamron came out as best in a test of (I think) 6 lenses. I'm sure the 100mm Canon was included in the test.
I bought the Tamron, although I haven't really had the chance to use it much yet.
oobster said:
Apologies in advance for throwing a spanner slightly in the works but have you considered the Tamron SP AF90mm f2.8 Macro lens?
I was looking for a macro lens and I picked up a Digital SLR magazine (I can't remember which one, sorry) and the Tamron came out as best in a test of (I think) 6 lenses. I'm sure the 100mm Canon was included in the test.
I bought the Tamron, although I haven't really had the chance to use it much yet.
Cheers mate i'll have a look I was looking for a macro lens and I picked up a Digital SLR magazine (I can't remember which one, sorry) and the Tamron came out as best in a test of (I think) 6 lenses. I'm sure the 100mm Canon was included in the test.
I bought the Tamron, although I haven't really had the chance to use it much yet.
Yes, the Tamron is a very good lens.
To the OP, your results will depend on your photography skills, rather than your equipment. With macro work (ie close-up) it's crucial that the camera is steady and it's vital that you obtain critical focus. Hand-holding is OK with this lens, but you'll need a fast enough shutter speed to avoid camera-blur (as a general rule, this equates to 1/focal length). Leaning on something like a bean-bag can be very helpful. For macro work manual focus is usually best. On-camera flash is pretty hideous at the best of times, and is not really appropriate for macro photography (although one enterprising poster has the right idea in using cards and bits of paper to bounce the light around). If you're really serious about macro work, a ring flash is best, otherwise try to get the most from using a natural well lit location.
Despite being a 'macro' lens, it does of course have other, normal uses, although its autofocus mechanism is more geared to close distances.
To the photographer who did the wasps - love the shots!
To the OP, your results will depend on your photography skills, rather than your equipment. With macro work (ie close-up) it's crucial that the camera is steady and it's vital that you obtain critical focus. Hand-holding is OK with this lens, but you'll need a fast enough shutter speed to avoid camera-blur (as a general rule, this equates to 1/focal length). Leaning on something like a bean-bag can be very helpful. For macro work manual focus is usually best. On-camera flash is pretty hideous at the best of times, and is not really appropriate for macro photography (although one enterprising poster has the right idea in using cards and bits of paper to bounce the light around). If you're really serious about macro work, a ring flash is best, otherwise try to get the most from using a natural well lit location.
Despite being a 'macro' lens, it does of course have other, normal uses, although its autofocus mechanism is more geared to close distances.
To the photographer who did the wasps - love the shots!
I'll be lazy and not repost them into here, but all the shots of mine in the Macro thread on here were taken with the 100mm Canon lens on a 450D. I also use a Canon MR-14EX ring light, which is great.
In terms of ease of use, it is very simple, but can also be very frustrating. I don't know about anyone else, but for every close up insect shot I'm willing to put on here or Flickr, there's probably 2-300 that I'm not happy with.
As a general rule, I have the lens on manual focus at closest focusing distance, and then physically move the whole camera in and out to get focus. I'll only change from that if the object I'm shooting is too big to fit in the frame, such as butterflies or dragonflies.
In terms of the camera settings, I also shoot in manual, with a shutter speed of 1/200th, an aperture of F14, and an ISO of 100. The flash I generally leave in ETTL mode, and get results I'm fairly pleased with. My next step is to start experimenting more with flash settings in manual mode whilst keeping everything else the same.
When I got the lens, it was a bit of an indulgence, really. At least I thought it was. Now I'm completely hooked on it, and it's usually the first lens to go in the bag when I'm getting ready to go out!
I'd certainly recommend saving up for a ring flash to go with it though. To give you an idea how shallow the DOF is at f2/8, take a look at the shot below.
In terms of ease of use, it is very simple, but can also be very frustrating. I don't know about anyone else, but for every close up insect shot I'm willing to put on here or Flickr, there's probably 2-300 that I'm not happy with.
As a general rule, I have the lens on manual focus at closest focusing distance, and then physically move the whole camera in and out to get focus. I'll only change from that if the object I'm shooting is too big to fit in the frame, such as butterflies or dragonflies.
In terms of the camera settings, I also shoot in manual, with a shutter speed of 1/200th, an aperture of F14, and an ISO of 100. The flash I generally leave in ETTL mode, and get results I'm fairly pleased with. My next step is to start experimenting more with flash settings in manual mode whilst keeping everything else the same.
When I got the lens, it was a bit of an indulgence, really. At least I thought it was. Now I'm completely hooked on it, and it's usually the first lens to go in the bag when I'm getting ready to go out!
I'd certainly recommend saving up for a ring flash to go with it though. To give you an idea how shallow the DOF is at f2/8, take a look at the shot below.
Photogirl said:
Eeek! Great shot Kermit, is it a wasp or a bee?
It's a wasp, and from the size of it, I'd guess it was possibly a queen. It's the only insect I've ever photographed dead, but I didn't kill it, so I decided it was OK! If, when I die, I discover that there actually is a God after all, I'm going to ask him why he made wasps out of lemon peel!
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