My 1st try on canon MP E 65mm without tripod !!

Lsingh · May 21, 2013

I am still an amateur and had an opportunity to buy canon MP E 65mm from a friend ....

Was too lazy to take out tripod so I took these pictures with my shaking hands in a semi sunny day without flash with my 7 years old canon xti .....I know I got long ways to go be a good photographer ....

Thanks
Lucky Singh

jake337 · May 21, 2013

Ok....

I would do the opposite of everything you said you did.

Flash, especially with that lens, is almost a must in macro.

Did I say especially with that lens?

You may not need a tripod for macro when using flash. It's more of a decision as to how you feel most comfortable shooting macro. I've never used a tripod for macro.

Check this out:
Macrophotography by LordV - Canon Digital Photography Forums

You have yourself one b-e-a-utiful lens there! Read up on macro and have some fun.

Don't worry about how old your camera body is. It should work just fine. See link below.

Search for a canon xti group on flickr. Searched for macro within that group.
Flickr: Search Macro Photography

Overread · May 21, 2013

the MPE 65mm macro is a monster of a lens to get used to and often said to be one of Canon's hardest lenses just to use. Keep at it though, even the old Xti can do wonders with this lens:
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4146/4978894089_8059ea1e39_z.jpg
Taken on an Xti (400D in European talk) and the MPE shot handheld (with significant leaning on the doorframe that the hornet was standing on)

Always aim to lean on something or brace your setup if you can; look up the method "right hand brace technique" for some ideas on how to hold and setup the MPE. Sometimes I actually prefer using it handheld over tripod for in the field shooting because tripod shooting with it is slow and works best if you can bring the subject to the lens (the Plamp by Manfrotto is popular for this - I also know photographers who will take 2 tripods into the field so that the smaller one can be used to hold part of the subject still).