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Macro lenses: |
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djp_phillips Senior Member Joined: 09 Jan 2006 No. of posts: 180  View other posts by djp_phillips |
Posted: 10 May 2006 Hello, I may be as close as ever to getting my dream camera the Canon 350D for my 18th on the 30th of may and I am looking at macro lenses to take insect pictures as well as of corse photos of herptiles in particular small amphibians and portraits, in general photos up close, but I found a lense and another one both macro, and they need at least a 20 cm gap to focus, what use is that?! On my current camera (Canon powershot A95) I can shoot at about 10 cm on macro, and my mums camera at around 1 to 2 cm, so are the SLR's not really designed to do macro? In which case this verifies my theory of the equipment by a herp photographer of 3 cameras, one SLR to take many quick succesion photos (action photos, like snake bitting, frog jumping, croaking); one like my current camera (for body photos, although this is also can be done with the slr); and one like my mum (macro monster!) and goes underwater! So does anyone know of any better macro lenses to go on a 350d please? Thank you for your answers Reptiles & Amphibians of France: www.herpfrance.com European Field Herping Community: www.euroherp.com |
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az_2 Member Joined: 10 May 2006 No. of posts: 1 View other posts by az_2 |
Posted: 10 May 2006 I use a 105mm sigma macro with my 350d. As it's semi-telephoto you can take a full frame macro shot from further away. There is a 150mm macro on the market too but it's more expensive. I got some shots of a common lizard as the weekend and quite surprised myself! The only tricky thing is getting the right depth of field. |
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Wolfgang Wuster Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 326 View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster |
Posted: 10 May 2006 The usefulness of a macro is determined by the relationship between subject size and final image size, which in turn depends on the focal length and the distance from between camera and subject. If you have a longer focal length lens, then you can achieve the same degree of magnification from a longer distance as you would with a shorter focal length lens from a shorter distance. Most serious 100 mm macro lenses are 1:1, that is to say, used with a 35 mm film SLR, the image on the film will be the same size as the actual subject. In digi-SLRs, it will be larger. As an example, here is a photo of a fly taken with a Canon 300D and a Canon 100 mm macro lens: 
The image was not cropped, the distance between the front of the lens and the fly would have been ~ 20 cm. You are a lot better off with an SLR and a 100 mm macro, that allow you to keep some distance between your animal and yourself - few animals will tolerate an approach to within a few cm, and photos like this. 
might be a little uncomfortable for you as well without some distance between yourself and the animal. Cheers, WW Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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-LAF Senior Member Joined: 03 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 317 View other posts by -LAF |
Posted: 10 May 2006 with a 35 mm film SLR, the image on the film will be the same size as the actual subject. In digi-SLRs, it will be larger To be fair, 1:1 is always going to be 1:1. Most DSLRs do indeed have sensors smaller than 35mm film, but the distance from the lens to the film/sensor plane is identical, so the subject reproduction is still 1:1, just you'll only get 21mm of life-size repro on a 300D, while you'll get 35mm of life-size repro on Velvia. The 300D isn't magnifying more, it's just seeing less of what the lens sees than the film would so the final image looks more "zoomed in". Lee. NB: the reason compact digicams can get so close for macro work is that they use tiny sensors that are then mounted physically very close to the lens. As a result, a near focus of 2cm is often many times the distance of the lens to the sensor, so not a big task for the lens. The downside is that almost everything beyond a couple of feet from a compact digi will be at the lenses 'infinity' focal point which, while good for ensuring vaguely sharp pictures while drunk in the nightclub, makes selective depth of field nigh-on impossible. They're very functional but very constraining. Lee Fairclough |
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Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 11 May 2006 Daniel, Just to add my tuppence....with a 350D and a macro lens of the order of 90mm-105mm, you won't go wrong. Make sure its a macro lens, it should have '1:1' as part of the model name, or specification. To be fair you'll get good results from a macro from 60mm upto 180mm, I just feel the 100mm focal length is about right for reptiles. Obvious makes would be: Canon, Tamron, Sigma, probably in that order for quality. (I can't vouch for other manufacturers, as I've not tried them). Steve Langham - Chairman 
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
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djp_phillips Senior Member Joined: 09 Jan 2006 No. of posts: 180 View other posts by djp_phillips |
Posted: 11 May 2006 ok thanks, with the 350d, the available lenses are: 50 mm 60 mm 65 mm 100 mm 180 mm the first being th echeapest, and last being at ú 1020 ! more then the 350d! Reptiles & Amphibians of France: www.herpfrance.com European Field Herping Community: www.euroherp.com |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146  View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 14 May 2006 I use the Sigma 105mm Macro to and am very pleased with it. I have posted a few shots on here showing some close ups of adders including a very close up shot of an eye.. I have also used it from a little distance but still achieve some good results. This is one I took yesterday (13th May).. I highly reccommend the 105mm from sigma, affordable, 2.8 and great functionality. Brett.
Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
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djp_phillips Senior Member Joined: 09 Jan 2006 No. of posts: 180 View other posts by djp_phillips |
Posted: 14 Jun 2006 ok thanks, so how far away from the snake were you when you took this photo? have you cropped it to get this view or is this the raw image no work done? Reptiles & Amphibians of France: www.herpfrance.com European Field Herping Community: www.euroherp.com |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146 View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 14 Jun 2006 Hi there, The image is it's full size, the cropping that I did was to remove excess 'space' not to zoom in on the picture itself, I was only about 2' away from the animals nose...! This is with the extra space left in and shows it in full frame straight from the camera. Brett.
Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 14 Jun 2006 That is a lovely piccy Brett, I must have missed the original post, I was just thinking today that there has been a bit of a lack of adder piccies on RAUK recently. Alas no luck in the Kent murk today with adder for me  Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 14 Jun 2006 Gorgeous pics Brett and wolfgang  O-> O+> |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146 View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 15 Jun 2006 Hi Gemma & Alan, Thank you for your kind comments, the light wasn't so great today but I did manage to find two more candidates for the Brett Adder Archive... Both taken using the 105mm Macro @ 1/200 sec, F6.3, ISO 100.
Also been out practising with my Sigma 170-500mm on the birdies.. Thought you both might like a glimpse at this as I know Alan is into a bit of birding. (I know I shouldn't on a herp forum but what the heck) :o) Kind regards, Brett.
Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 15 Jun 2006 Wonderful shots Brett! Thanks for sharing mate
I've not found a kingfisher that I can get close enough to yet with my sigma 50-500 and bird hide. I know of a pair at Frensham but brambles and the like prevent access to the perching area. Had a very quiet time in Turkey with regards to photography , I just sort of lost interest for a week and spent mopst of my time in the pool with the kids. However, each late afternoon I would climb high into the silent pine clad mountain and sit and watch a pair of eagles soaring around. Their cries in the mountain silence will stay with me for a long time. Keep them coming Brett, All the best, Alan O-> O+> |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146 View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 15 Jun 2006 Hi Alan, Turkey, Great place. I've been a couple of times and enjoyed it a lot. Never really thought about going away to do photography as I find it challenging enough here. I do take the holiday snaps and recently was up in Mull where I got some great Puffin shots (sorry but had to post at least one of the many on here). Anyway, sounds like you had a nice time by the pool nonetheless. Maybe, if your up for it, we should arrange a meet-up at some point to do a photography forray with the odd beer or two thrown in for good measure. Kind regards Brett.
Sorry, I will not post anymore birds as I know this will irritate some members. B Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
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yellowhammer Member Joined: 13 Jun 2006 No. of posts: 22  View other posts by yellowhammer |
Posted: 17 Jun 2006 Hi guys, got this this morning with a rubbish little FinePix 1400 granny cam. one handed too! whaddya mean it shows?! I think that if you take your time you can get a good shot with almost anything - field craft will always be more important than equipment.
Cheers, Ian |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146 View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 17 Jun 2006 Hi Ian, Really nice record and thanks for sharing, your right about the camera set-up, it really is field craft.. Although I guess it's best to have a little more glass in front if you want to get closer to some of the more unsociable herps..! I like your image and with the age of modern programmes you can tweak them a little anyway. I would crop what you have and maybe adjust levels a little. At the risk of annoying you, and very sorry if I do, but I had a little go with this image and would like to know what you/others think. Brett.
Image by Ian Cardy (c) Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 18 Jun 2006 And incidentally, witout sexing this is definitely an adult female - no question! Ps, the crops a good idea brett, but dont know if I like th colouring or not! R RobV |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146 View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 18 Jun 2006 Thanks Rob, Just trying to illustrate that you can adjust/improve your shots taken in the field at a later date using modern photographic packages.. Anyway, hard to work without the originals. Brett. Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
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yellowhammer Member Joined: 13 Jun 2006 No. of posts: 22 View other posts by yellowhammer |
Posted: 21 Jun 2006 That really is an improvement Brett, nice one. what program did you use? I'm not really a computer person so all advice much appreciated! Robert - why do you say the grassie is definitely female? Going by relative tail length/sub-caudal scale counts I thought it was male. I'm not being funny, just genuinely interested Ian Cheers, Ian |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 21 Jun 2006 Ian, you must have miscounted mate, don't worry, easily done with a live animal. Best go back and re check again. Cheers Rob RobV |
- Macro lenses |
