A few pics with new macro lens.

[Blazer88]

I finally got a real macro lens, Canon EF 100mm F/2.8. I'm still getting to know the lens but so far I really like it. I'm debating wheter or not to get extension tubes for my camera to give me even better macro abilities. I see some people getting amazing results with that combo. Let me know what you think.

A face only a mother could love:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/rparchen/Fish%20Tank/Fish/IMG_1823.jpg

Hungry brain:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/rparchen/Fish%20Tank/Other%20Corals/IMG_1812.jpg

SPS:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/rparchen/Fish%20Tank/Other%20Corals/IMG_1805.jpg

Green Slimer:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/rparchen/Fish%20Tank/Other%20Corals/IMG_1796.jpg

[BlueCorn]

Nice pictures. You're going to love that lens.


What extension tubes do for you is they allow you to move closer to your subject; giving you more magnification. You can pick up a set of Kenko tubes for less than $100. It's a great addition that can give some flexibility to your other lenses as well.

[Blazer88]

Yep, those Kenko tubes are the ones that I'm considering. I like how I can still take decent macro's with this lens even with the subject a good distance away. Those SPS shots were about 18" away from the lens (towards the back of my tank).

[Reefer421]

What Canon camera are you using?

[Blazer88]

It's the Rebel XT.

[30galreefkeepr]

oh by the way, is that a tailspot blenny at the top? if so...i'm no mother but i love mine very much. haha

[Blazer88]

It's a bi-color Blenny. It's not the best picture as the DOF is very narrow but I thought it was cool how you can see his teeth.

[Blazer88]

I now see a downside to a good macro lens.....you notice things that you don't want in your tank :(

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/rparchen/RedBugs.jpg

[gregr]

Sooo sorry to hear about the red bugs :(
You're already getting great shots with that lens- congrats on the new toy.
Greg

[louist]

I'm debating wheter or not to get extension tubes for my camera
Extension tubes are actually not all *that* useful with a dedicated macro lens. The amount of extension needed to gain x amount of magnification is in relation to the focal length of your lens.

total magnification = total length of extension / focal length of lens

So, your 100mm macro already focuses to 1:1 without any added accesories. if you wish to increase that magnification to say 1.5:1 you will need 50mm worth of extension according to the equation above. 25mm of extension translates to about 2-stop decrease in light, 50mm of extension will be more than 2-stop decrease since light falls off at 1/d^2. Therefore, even with unrealisitic optimism, you will still end up with 8 times slower shutter speed. Not very practical!

I have the 25mm extension tube, and I find I rarely used it on my macro lens, I use it mostly on the 70-200 for large insects that need good working distance such as butterflies.

Congrats on the new addition though, I look foward to seeing more super macros from you.

[Chappy]

With you 100mm macro, what settings do you have your camera at. I have the rebel also and just started trying to get some pics. The aren't very good, but I haven't really tried a lot and was not using a tripod. Are you using the flash on the camera? I have a ring flash, but I don't know if it would help or not.

[BlueCorn]

For macro photography, unless you're REALLY good, a tripod is a necessity if you want consistently good pictures. At macro distances, with that lens wide open, your depth of field (DOF) is about the the width of 3 hairs. It's virtually impossible to hand hold the camera and get good focus.

[Chappy]

Thats what I'm finding out. Is there way to increase the depth of field with the settings?

[BlueCorn]

Stopping down the lens (using a higher f-stop) will increase DOF but will require a slower shutter speed. It's all a matter of balance.

[astrogazer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7991291#post7991291 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chappy
Thats what I'm finding out. Is there way to increase the depth of field with the settings?

You could bump up you're ISO, play with it a bit, you should be able to get away with an ISO rating of about 400 to 800 without hurting your image too bad, especially if you're shooting for the web, that'll give you a couple of extra stops to play with. I tend to use a remote flash quite a bit, I like the flexibility of hand holding to get right where I want to be.

[Chappy]

I'll have to find the tripod and start playing. I'm tired of taking pics of teeth anyway, lol. I've got some nice once of some disgusting teeth and some pretty onces. It's all about balancing, lol.

[Blazer88]

Yep, I use a tripod and remote to prevent camera shake. The picture of the green slimer was taken by hand though. I just took like five or six and picked the best one. Let me know if you have any questions.

[perpetual98]

Whenever possible, I try to put my 100mm lens right up against the glass. It helps stabilize the camera, and I'm ensuring that I'm perpendicular to the glass.

http://www.ericfeige.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/gsp.jpg

[thor32766]

wow sweetpics