Macro setup Q

[JayJay65]

Alright.. so heres what i did.. I ordered a macro lense from b&h: Sigma Telephoto 150mm f/2.8 EX APO Macro, also a UV filter (to protect it) and a warranty.. now heres the question part..

My friend explained what an extension tube is for my macro lense, but I um.. kinda forgot what he said.. can someone explain what an extension tube does and what (if it applys to anything related to my macro set up, what an adapter does?)


Thank you!! :mrgreen:

 

[JerryPH]

It makes an ordinary lens into a macro lens. Not that you will need it with your choice of lens, it already has macro incorporated into it. The 150mm is not the best choice for a lens useable for anything other than macros and the odd telephoto work due to the sensor crop values (most but not all dSLRs today are like that). I prefer the 105mm for a little more useability with ZERO loss in macro quality or magnification (both the 150 and 105 go 1:1 in macro mode).

I have the 105mm, and its good for portature (given a little room) and macro work:

A reduced pic of the entire frame (picture of an ordinary small old computer ram chip):

At 100%, then cropped and resized to fit on this page:

The link below is to the fullsized pic of the one above... take a look:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/1659376861_27669ce9dd_o.jpg

Here is what I was shooting:

Finally, what it looks like on my D200:

 

[JayJay65]

It makes an ordinary lens into a macro lens. Not that you will need it. What kind of camera will you be putting that Sigma on? If its a Nikon, the 150mm is not the best choice for a lens useable for anything other than macros.

Olympus E-510

 

[JayJay65]

so let me get this straight.. I can use my other lense.. Sigma Zoom Normal-Telephoto 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Autofocus Lens and turn it into a macro lense with the extension tube and make it have as good detail as the shot you took?

 

[TCimages]

Yes. Extension tubes do not contain glass. You can get them in sets which vary in sizes and maintain the electrical contacts.

You shouldn't need extension tubes for this lens, unless you're going for magnification greater than 1:1. They will reduce your working distance.

 

[JayJay65]

Would this
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/10082-REG/B_W_65076076_72_mm_Close_up_NL.html
be of any help.. and also I guess I need a macro ring, right?

 

[TCimages]

Would this
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/10082-REG/B_W_65076076_72_mm_Close_up_NL.html
be of any help.. and also I guess I need a macro ring, right?

I've never used these Jay. Honestly, I don't even like to use UV filters.

What exactly are you trying to shoot and how much magnification you looking for?

 

[JayJay65]

Insects, birds, flowers, plants, ect ect..

 

[Garbz]

Closeup filters do suffer a quality hit but that said you still get some great quality shots from them, especially if you use good closeup filters.

Extension tubes can turn a normal lens into a macro lens but they are cumbersome and you loose your ability to focus at infinity in return for the macro focusing range.

If you really do like macro photography, there really is no substitute for a decent 1:1 lens.

 

[JayJay65]

If you really do like macro photography, there really is no substitute for a decent 1:1 lens.

So the lens I ordered was just what i needed..? :mrgreen:

 

[Garbz]

Indeed. A 1:1 lens is just what you need if you're into this stuff. http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_150_28_nikon/index.htm and sharp as a tac too. The performance looks even nicer than my Nikkor AF 105mm f/2.8 but it really should since that lens is 10+ years old.