Can you recommend a macro lens for the Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 1000D?

Question

I need it urgently really. I want a macro lens so I can take photographs close-up of bugs and flowers for my coursework. I have no idea what spec I need, etc. I know basically nothing about this. Thanks so much to any answerers.

Answer 1

The Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro is a great lens.

Runs about $500 used though. I rented one once and was amazed at some of the shots I got with this lens. There is also a 60mm that is a little cheaper, but in my opinion you really want long focal length for the bugs and flowers you plan on shooting.



Good luck.

Answer 2

Method 1) Close up lenses are better than you might think and are cheap, they screw onto your lens and enable you to get focus closer. Its exactly the same as putting reading glasses on. Get the correct size for your lenses filter thread. Method 2) Increase the distance between the camera and lens either with Extension Tubes or Bellows. This increases quality over Method 1), but has the disadvantage of decoupling your lens from the camera so everything will be manual. Method 3) Reversing ring, which mounts the lens backwards onto the camera. Again your in manual. Big advantage is they magnify more than most any other method, up to 4X life size with a standard lens. Again the reversing rings thread must match your lenses filter thread. Method 4) Use the reversing from Method 3 by mounting a standard lens reversed onto an a mid telephoto lens with a back to back adapter. The advantage here is the telephoto lens is still coupled to the camera so metering and auto focus still work, its really a very high quality version of Method 1. Make sure the reversed lens is a shorter focal length than the lens you screw it onto or you'll get vignetting. Make sure the lens is supported, there'll be a lot of weight hanging on the lens mount. If you use a zoom, say a 70 - 200mm the magnification can be varied. I have taken professional pictures with this rig when I need to get closer than a dedicated Macro lens will allow. All of these will be cheaper than a dedicated Macro lens and have the advantage of being able to focus with more magnification. With all these methods depth of field will be tiny, so its small aperture and long shutter speeds. A flash helps, preferably a ring flash. Focusing is best done by moving the whole contraption backwards and forwards, the focus on the lens will have little effect. Chris

Answer 3

Proper macro lneses are rather expensive. Canon's EF50mm f2.5 macro is £220, and doesn't have USM, and the Sigma's f2.8 lens is around the same.



You have some lenses with macro function, such as the Sigma and Tamron 70-300's which are a little slow and soft but otherwise ok. And there the brilliantly fast Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 Macro. Those two are your options for buying lenses.



However you can do macro on the cheap there are a few solutions:

1) Macro diopters/close up lens, these screw onto the front of your lens. You will need a 58mm lens. For example this one: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-b-w-58mm-nl-10-close-up-sh-filter/p1013547



2) Reversal lens. You can get an adapter that will reverse the lens so the front fits into the mount. The EF50mm f1.8 (or any 52mm thread lens) should fit into the EOS mount backwards. This one for example http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciao_chao/4014610259/



3) Magnifying glass. Just hold a magnifying glass over the front of the lens and you will be able to focus onto much nearer objects. Works like a close-up lens. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciao_chao/3759485546/



There are lots of options with varying price (from practically free to very expensive), and with different quality.

Answer 4

I'll put in a recommendation for the Sigma 50mm macro. Its a true 1:1 macro prime lens and at f2.8 is not bad for portraits too.



Its around £230 new but I picked one up 2nd hand for half that, so bargains can be had. Here's an example of the kind of image possible;



http://www.flickr.com/photos/deepbluephotography/3797607919/sizes/m/in/set-72157607997086637/



Other alternatives are 'close up' lenses. These are basically +dioptre screw in filters you place on another lens that act as magnifying glasses. Much cheaper than a full lens but will not give you the quality you might want.

Or a reversing ring - this screws onto the camera body, then you attach one of your other lenses back to front onto it. The lens then acts as a magnifier. Again, its a cheaper solution than a proper lens. Also, you'll lose lens functions such as autofocus, so you'll have to manually control the lens.

Or extension tubes - these are just plastic tubes that will fit onto the front of the camera body (they have no glass in them, they just extend the lens) and then you fit the lens onto the tubes. With most you'll lose AF so will again have to manually focus, although the Kenko brand do have connectors & can maintain AF between the lens & the camera body.

Answer 5

Canon Macro 100mm f/2.8



There really is no substitute. Glorious lens. Remember only a true macro will give you 1:1 magnification and flat field.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=155&modelid=7400



BTW, zoom lenses marked "Macro" are not macro at all!!! Not at all. It is just marketing hype that means that the zoom lens is designed to focus a little closer than it's competition. It has nothing to do with true macro photography.



Even if you have to stash away £40 per month for a year to get the 100mm f/2.8 it is worth the wait.



(Buying cheap photography equipment is wasted money. Plain and simple.)

Answer 6

Hello,

I have a dslr camera and I was looking for a good online photography course. This is the best one I found http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=557



It really helped me a lot. I'm sure it will help you to become a better photographer as well

Good Bye

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Someone else asked exactly the same question and wanted it for exactly the same reason, nearly word for word.



How much are you willing to spend?

I ask that as you do not seem very educated in photography, and to save you money, get these instead and save yourself a lot of money.



http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=52mm+close+up+lenses&_sacat=See-All-Categories