Canon 100mm F2.8

[julie32]

I'm looking into purchasing this lens. I want to be able to take very detailed images of bugs and the like. Can anyone post a shot that they have taken with a macro lens such as this? If you have one, could you also please let me know the settings you used to achieve that (for that particular photo). Is it necessary to get extension tubes?

thanks for the help.

 

[Big Mike]

If you get a 'Macro' lens, then you don't need extension tubes. If you have extension tubes, you can use just about any lens as a macro lens.

I've heard great things about the Canon 100mm F2.8 Macro, you might also consider the EF-S 60mm macro.

 

[Mav]

Extension tubes + 1:1 macro lens = beyond life size magnification as in crazy close. That's pretty special purpose and most people are probably happy with 1:1.

 

[julie32]

Mike, I can't use the S lens on the 5D, right?

 

[Mav]

EF-S, no.

 

[icassell]

How about these?

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll249/icassell/seeds.jpg

I absolutely love this lens!

 

[icassell]

I hope this convinces you -- you will not regret the purchase. Focuses quietly, fast, and accurately too. I don't use extension tubes -- just a little occasional on-camera fill flash.

I wrestled between buying the 100mm and the 60mm (I use a 30D crop-sensor camera). I think I might have been happier with the 60mm if I did more portrait photography (this lens is great as a 100mm NON-MACRO too), but I have other lenses to cover that range, so I chose the 100mm. This one keeps me safely away from stinging and biting things

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll249/icassell/butter2.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll249/icassell/buzz.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll249/icassell/longwing.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll249/icassell/torch.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll249/icassell/thorns.jpg

 

[julie32]

icassell-- thanks for posting all of this information! Your shots are great. Generally speaking how far away are you from your subject??

 

[icassell]

Well, the single butterfly was taken from about a foot or so away from the subject. The purple flower, the seed pod, and the yellow flower as well as the pair of butterflies were a couple of feet from the lens. The cactus close-up was probably about 6 inches or so from the lens. The bee was several feet away.

These were all hand-held images. Remember that in macro-photography the closer you get and increase magnification, the harder it gets to hand hold. A good solid tripod becomes essential.

Here's a nice link from another site: http://workbench.cjmovie.net/phproxy/index.php?q=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5waG90by5uZXQvbGVhcm4vbWFjcm8=

There are other ways of approaching macro-photography -- using closeup lenses, bellows, extension tubes, reversing rings (although I've never seen those on dSLRs) etc., but none have the convenience of a dedicated macro lens.

 

[TCimages]

Awsome lens! The 60mm requires you to be pretty close to the subject. This isn't ideal for insects. The 100 mm gives you 1:1 at about 6 inches from the front of the lens.

As others have mentioned, you don't need the extension tubes unless you want closer than 1:1. They can be tricky to use.

Also consider an external flash. The settings required for adequate DOF most of the time require flash.

Almost ALL my shots are set at:
shutter=200
aperture =13
ISO=100
Focus mode= AI servo
mode=Manual

Check out my macro shots (InsectsII is probably best to view):
http://www.tcproimages.com/Macro

 

[icassell]

After seeing TCimages images, I think I'll just shut-up. Those are awesome!

I agree about the flash. I was using the built-in flash for fill on the 30D, but got a 430EX this week. Some use a ring-light or the more expensive (hideously) twin-light, but ring-light imaging can take alot of the warm feeling out of an image making it more like a scientific illustration for a textbook. You need to try and see what you like.

 

[TCimages]

I appreciate the comment icassell, but your images are great.

All my recent shots are taken with the MR-14EX Ring flash. Earlier shots are all taken with a 430 EX and a lumiquest soft box. Flash mounted directly to the camera hotshoe. I tried all kinds of brackets and found its best mounted to the camera. If you use a lens like the 60mm or MPE65, the minimum focus distance may be too close for it to be mounted directly to the camera. Not sure

 

[|)\/8]

I cannot say enough good things about this lens. It is not only a great macro lens, it is just a great lens period (many people use this lens for portraits also), you cannot beat it for the money. Here are some samples since I bought mine this past April.

 

[johngpt]

This link is to the Canon, Photography On The Net forum, to a thread about the 100mm.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=158427&highlight=EF+100mm

Good comments. Awesome photos.

Hope it helps.

 

[icassell]

Ah well, I guess no one likes the lens ... LOL

Actually, I don't think I have EVER seen a bad review of it. I'm not sure I can say that about any other lens I've owned.