Canon Rebel and macro/micro photography

[jamesiwalker]

Originally, I asked about which camera to get, and which
lenses - in order to do macro/micro/super-macro close-up
photography..

I couldn't find the original thread with the replies on this topic,
so I'm reposting someone's comment:

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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Burb of Cleveland Ohio
Posts: 3,074 For a cheap solution, look at a Canon Digital Rebel,
(not the XT, the previous model). They are selling pretty cheap now,
if you can find one. Don't get the kit lens. Get a 50mm f/1.8, which
is around $75, and get yourself a cheap set of extension tubes, which
you can probably find for around $50-100. You'll get better than 1:1
if you buy a kit of 3 extension tubes totalling 65mm.
__________________
-Matt Perko:
http://mperko.deviantart.com
http://www.mattperko.com
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okay, I looked for the tubes on amazon.com and not sure if I found
the right ones. Do the tubes have to total exactly 65mm, or 65mm or
more, or 65mm or less? I really do not yet know much at all about the technical
aspects of cameras.
If someone could tell me a specific place where the exact tubes that
I would need are, or a specific manufacturer/model, I would greatly
appreciate it.

Also, what happens if you mount these types of extension tubes on,
say a 1:1 macro lens - will I get an even closer macro?

 

[jamesiwalker]

Wondering if the extension tubes I just found online fit what
Matt was talking about:

DescriptionContains three tubes of different length (31mm,21mm & 13mm) which can be combined in seven ways to obtain various magnification. Perfect coupling with TTL metering and AE mechanisms. Full auto focusing with Canon EOS Cameras.

DescriptionContains three tubes of different length (31mm,21mm & 13mm) which can be combined in seven ways to obtain various magnification. Perfect coupling with TTL metering and AE mechanisms. Full auto focusing with Canon EOS Cameras.
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is this what I need to get?

 

[Digital Matt]

Yes, those are what I'm talking about. Here is a cheap set on Adorama.

http://www.adorama.com/MCAETEOS.html

Basically, to find the magnifcation ratio, you would divide the length of extension, by the lens focal length.

65mm extension / 50mm lens = 1.3:1 ratio, better than life size. Of course if you put those extension tubes on a 1:1 macro lens, you will get even more.

50mm of extension / 50mm lens = 1:1
50mm + 65mm extesnion / 50mm lens = 2.3:1

Keep in mind that with extension tubes, you will lose your ability to focus at infinity, and your depth of field will be VERY small. You need lots of light, and to get practical depth of field, you'll need to stop down your aperture to f/8 and beyond.

 

[Digital Matt]

Btw, here is the link to the original thread. You can use the search function to find old threads, and you can also "subscribe" to any threads you post in, and view them in your user CP.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57980&highlight=macro

 

[jamesiwalker]

Is the Rebel 300D the model right before the Rebel XT?
I'm wondering, if I were to get more than one lens which ones
to get..
I am wondering what the purpose of getting a 50mm lens
is instead of a zoom which has 50mm within its range. Is
it because of price, or is it actually better to have a non-zoom
lense in some cases?

I'm not sure, beyond macro photography, what lenses I should
definitely get, and am wondering about non-macro photography
too..

But I must say I am interested in maybe getting a 1:1 macro
lens and attaching the extension tubes to get extra close.

About needing a lot of light - will 1 extension tube require less
light then 2 extension tubes and 2 less light than 3? I'm mostly
going to be taking pictures outdoors - what about flashes on
cloudier days (for flowers with rain drops, for example)
- would that work?

Basically, I'm wondering what my first 2 lenses should be.. I
definately want to do close up, but *might* want a general
zoom lens, or maybe something different that would allow me
to do some stuff that I've never done before with photography..

should I go ahead and get the 50mm f/1.8 or would a zoom
with 50mm in its range work as well and give me more versatility
(if it is a price issue) ?

Any further suggestions from anyone would be great.