Looking for a little help

[mkoop]

Hey all, I got a Tamron SP AF 60mm F2 Di II 1:1 Macro lens today (paired with D200). As I am just learning about macro things are not coming out as great as I had anticipated.

It just doesn't seem to give me the level of macro I was looking for, very small fine detail, ice flakes, bugs and such. As I paid $550 for this lens I will be returning it tomorrow and getting something correct. Can anyone give me a recommendation (that is similar price preferably).

Thanks

 

[Markw]

Sigma 105mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro. Itll save you roughly $70 if you paid $550 for that one..and will give you extra reach. Can you post some photos so we can tell you what your issue is?

Mark

 

[mkoop]

Sure, I have included one below.

I just feel that I don't get enough zoom out of it. Or is it something I am doing to not get such fine detail? Should this lens be sufficient?

In this picture I was really trying to capture the detail and all of the grooves of the strings. But the closer I got the more blurred it became.

The following lens has Macro as well and would cover a 70-200 lens slot that I need to fill. If this would give me the ability to get closer pictures as well as good mid range I may do this?

I'm still very new to all of this and the lenses are a bit overwhelming trying to get a handle on what I need to accomplish what I want.

Tamron SP AF 70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro for Canon

 

[Markw]

Well..you've got two completely different realms of photography there. The macro lenses will not zoom. It's just not what they do. They are prime lenses and remain at a certain focal length. Your 60mm lens will remain at 60mm, always. Different macro lenses..true macro lenses..will all get nice details up close. That's what theyre made for. And they all will achieve the same magnification.

That Tamron 70-200 will zoom, but it is not a true macro lens. I believe that lens is 1:3 or 1:4 magnification. This means the image produced by the camera is 1/3 or 1/4 the real life size of the object. True macro lenses will get you to 1:1 magnification. That is, the size of the object on the sensor is true to the life-size.

Now that I've probably confused you further, you may just have to wait around until this Macro diety pops about. It goes by the name of Overread and will most likely answer all of your questions and then some in more detail than I ever could.

Sorry to be so vague, but I'm running short on time and have to be running now. I'll be back! Good luck!
Mark

 

[mkoop]

After reading quite a bit I think I may need to switch to the 90-105mm category (as the 180 is a bit out of my price range) and the Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro is about $100 cheaper and should hopefully get me what I'm looking for.

 

[mkoop]

I switched to the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro and am MUCH (incase I didn't put enough emphasis on it) MUCH happier. It fills the roll I wanted from a macro lens significantly better imo. YMMV.

These are also in the begginers thread with the rest of the images from my photo shoot (first time using the D200 and lenses) from today.

ISO was set between 100-500 as it was very overcast today, used f11-16 for these shots.

Any tips or pointers are very much appreciated as every tid bit of info helps me at this point, I'm like a sponge right now!

1.

2.

3.

4.

 

[Natred]

I like to use a tripod when I shoot macro. Did you use one?

 

[commissionedsk]

well these are great starter shots...but not really excellent macro shots. I would say first keep shooting...the more you do it the better you will get. second...try different angles...take for example shot 3. try shooting up the branch focusing on the bumps and imperfections in the ice instead of the side. I like to shot macro shots at angles people would not normal look at...or showing off things that you can't see without looking in that specific direction. last thing I would say is more of a suggestion than advice...I like to shoot macro with a low f-stop as low as possible 1.8 being my usual setting...using a low f-stop will let lots of light in and narrow down the focal point. so that just one small area is focused upon...it gives the shot a dramatic pop if the lighting and angle is right. all in all a great start though. Keep shooting!