nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

All suggestions appreciated: Canon 7d, new Tamron 28-300mm lens with 43mm of extension tubes. I have a 100mm macro lens, but I am trying out this new lens in different situations. Is it cheating to crop the photo a little, too? Sunflower is not cropped; the other blossom is cropped a little. Thanks in advance!

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nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Looks like I had the flash on, too.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I think you'll get better edge-to-edge sharpness with the true macro, especially compared with that zoom. I would also suggest some diffusion on the flash to mitigate hotspots and shadows.....

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Thanks. I am concerned about the sharpness (or lack thereof).

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Photos look good. No, cropping isn't cheating. I use it quite often for composition. That said, heavy cropping for the sole purpose of magnification isn't a good idea as too much sharpness and resolution (detail) is lost. Slapping tubes on a telephoto zoom lens is certainly a valid approach but it comes with a cost, most often softness in the corners and in some cases through to the center of the image. The other issue with zooms is pin cushion and barrel distortion. This is usually an easy fix in post. I'm not familiar with your zoom lens but I seriously doubt it will out perform your 100mm for image quality. To counter that the 100mm is limited in the focal length category and the zoom more versatile is this regard. Perhaps some controlled tests are in order to better understand the IQ hit you are taking, Tamron vs Canon. Then again, if the results are good does it really matter what lens is used. Great thing about photography, many, many, ways to skin the proverbial cat but each way has it's advantages and disadvantages. It is up to the photographer to decide what is most acceptable.

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Thank you so much! I'll take those same shots now with my 100mm macro and compare. Good info on the extension tubes. I'm wondering how long it would have taken me -if ever - to figure all this out had I not posted the photos on UHH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Just to clarify tubes allow magnification levels needed for macro. They have no bearing on image quality. Decreases in image quality are due to the telephoto lens not being a flat field lens...

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Ooh! Wow. I really got that one wrong. Now that I think of it, the tubes are hollow! I guess I'll not forget that the macro lens is flat, either. The old brain cells run amok in my aging brain!! Thanks again!

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I strongly suggest that you read each of the threads posted here:
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers Concerning Macro-Photography
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-36372-1.html

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

will do. thanks

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I like your photos. I started using extension tubes because I thought I needed them to get ultra close up photos. Then some of the kind people here on the Macro forum let me know that not only were the extension tubes making my shots harder due to excessive loss in depth of field but I could simply use my 105mm macro lens at the minimum focusing distance and then crop to the image I wanted for composition. That was a very bright light going on for me. Simply by these guys and gals helping me with honest critique of my photos I am starting to get a grasp of what is needed for acceptable photos of these tiny subjects.
Having said that try using the 100mm macro lens you have and get good with it. Then practice, practice and practice. It will come with time.

Good shooting to you,

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Thank you, Dennis! Glad to know that cropping isn't a "sin" but I'd sure like to get some of the shots I've seen here with as little cropping as possible.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

If that's the most egregious one you commit, you're good to go!
;-)

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

You mean, I'm not in Kansas anymore?

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Well, there might be other "sins" in Kansas. haven't been there in awhile.
I believe "liquor by the drink" qualifies.
;-)