blind photographer Loc: Rock Hill, South Carolina

I use a canon T2i camera. My question is can someone give me pointers on using my 100mm Macro USM lens? I have had this lens for a year and can not seem to master it. I bought it to take closeups of bugs, birds and flowers. I know it is not lens it is ME. i shoot in manual mode

dixiemegapixel Loc: Salemburg, NC

You are not getting too close to your subject, are you? Look on your lens for the focus distance. It might be in inches or feet. Try focusing then moving away from the object to see if it comes in focus. Also look at your aperture. A smaller f/stop results in a much tighter depth of field. Conversely, a higher f/stop allows more area to be in focus. Lastly, use a tripod to avoid camera shake.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

here where you can talk to a guy all macro questions you got he is good he started the macro thread here on UHH. Nikonian72

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html

here some look overs
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=100mm+Macro+USM+lens+tutorials&oq=100mm+Macro+USM+lens+tutorials&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=0l0l0l2265l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

Post some of your photos. That should help determine the issue or issues.

DavidT Loc: Maryland

I have the same lens, and it's the one I use most of the time...sharp with excellent color and contrast. What's the specific problem you're having? On a T2i, it will be equivalent to a 160mm lens. So, you must use a tripod because this lens doesn't have IS like the new 100mm L-series lens. And, when you say you shoot in manual, is that manual exposure or manual focus or both?

blind photographer Loc: Rock Hill, South Carolina

Thanks, I discovered that site after I posted. New to this forum and I loveeeeeeee it.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

i bet you do... lol

blind photographer Loc: Rock Hill, South Carolina

Auto focus and manual exposure. I do not have any photos to post b/c they are so bad that I delete all of them.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

come on aint that bad.. side's it a learning curve

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Tell us a little what you are getting. Is it the focus? Exposure? Are you using a tripod. So many things can go wrong when you are doing micro.
Erv

DavidT Loc: Maryland

I understand your reluctance to post less-than-perfect photos. I was giving this more thought, and several things come to mind that could help prevent unfocused or blurry photos:

1. Must use a tripod as previously mentioned (most important).
2. Use a cable release. Even when using a tripod, manually activating the shutter might cause the camera to move down when you push the shutter button.
3. Since you have a DSLR, it has a mirror that causes vibration when it moves up and down during the shutter release. I don't have the T2i (I have a 5D, so I'm not sure of your specific menu, but I'm guessing its the same on all Canon DSLRs), set in your custom functions -> mirror lockup -> enable. When releasing your shutter, wait a couple seconds before the second shutter release to allow the camera to steady itself.
4. Also, make sure you are using the largest f/stop number possible (at least f/8, but the lens goes up to f/32). Try not to use an f/stop that will give you more than 2 seconds exposure since that could cause other problems with noise.
5. Use supplemental lighting such as a flash or reflectors.
6. I also use the lens collar (a rather expense option that Canon charges extra for) to keep the camera/lens balanced on the tripod. It might help a little with vibration, but, more importantly, it puts less strain on the tripod threaded connection.
7. One last suggestion is with focusing. Remember, the focus point is usually in the middle of the depth of field. This means, if you are focusing on the front of an object, you are losing valuable "in-focus" areas in front of the object. Try manually focusing a little behind the front of an object to get more of it in focus.

Good luck! And, please post any pictures if you find any of these suggestions work. But, you might want to post them in the macro-photography section of this website.

Grumpy D Stevens

My first suggestion is: turn off the auto focus.
Use the suggested tripod and use your eyes to focus. Take a picture and see what comes out. Auto focus at those close ranges can sometimes confuse the camera, in my experience. Besides, you might want the focus somewhere other than where the camera picks for you. YOU need to be in control, not the camera.

sbesaw Loc: Boston

See:

http://www.mikemoatsblog.com/

See: http://macrostop.com/

Download at least the first .pdf. All free

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

See DavidT 3 replies above.
Agree with setting f/ stop to 8 or above.
Then check your shutter speed - for your lens it should be FASTER than 1/160 sec (for hand-held)! If not, increase your ISO - OR - use a tripod and a shutter release OR the 10-second delay!
Manual focus.
Visit Macrostop per the note 1 above.
I have the "L" version of that lens - excellent for Macro and portrait.
See my post half-way down on Pg 5 of the following UHH link. Be sure to DOWNLOAD the images for full effect!
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http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-18666-5.html#284467
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Good luck!! It should be a very good lens.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

well then you really need pointers figuring out you