bodiebill

Amateur photographer needs advice and instructions on Macro photography. Patience included as I am trying to learn.
My current equipment is listed below.

Q. What would be the best lens for me to use with the Viltrox Extender Tubes?
Q. Where can I find basic instructions for Macro photography?

Macro Photography
Equipment:
Canon EOS 6Ti Camera
Lens
Canon Zoom EFS 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM marked MACRO 0.25M/0.8 ft
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Tamron Zoom 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3
Viltrox Extender Tubes
12mm, 20mm, 36mm
Desk top tripod

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Bodiebill - Are you aware that UHH has special sections that pertain to the sort of photography you are talking about? One is called “True Macro-Photography” and the other is called “Close Up Photography”. They are administered by experienced UHH members who can answer your specialized questions and guide you to assemble the necessary gear to be able to get the shots you need. Here are links to each of them. Good luck and best wishes. — Ralph

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

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-113-1.html

coullone Loc: Paynesville, Victoria, Australia

Years ago there was a Kodak book called "Close Up Photography" which covered just about everything from lighting, equipment background and focus technique. You may be able to find a copy online. Also google "Close Up Photography" as well as Macro and Micro photography.
You will find the 18-200mm will give you more room to move if set 100 to 150 mm and the tripod is essential. Lighting, I use Aluminum cooking foil as reflector wrapped around books or blocks of wood which you can move around easily.
The whole process is addictive so allow plenty of time!!

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Personally I would go with your 50mm lens and your extension tubes, I think that would probably give you the best set up. If you are simply shooting rocks, minerals, and coins it would seem to me that you could do so on a table top that would allow you to steady your camera rather easily. A well diffused flash is always very helpful in macro photography. Concerning how large you can make your subject in the image, you will just have to become familiar with the different combinations of your tubes to see which best suits what you are trying to accomplish. Remember that with macro a small aperture is required for depth of field, but too small and the IQ of the image will begin to deteriorate, I try and shoot at f/11 and below but I think that you will find f/16 to be acceptable in most of your work. Try and position your camera on the same plane as the aspect of your subject that you are interested in, this way you will have as much in focus as possible, the depth of field in macro work becomes quite thin at full macro reproduction so the angle that your camera is in relation to your subject will determine if you are going to capture an image that you are happy with. In the image below my camera is angled at close to 30 degrees to capture both the tiny spider's eyes and his furry pedipalps (front paws) in focus, had the shot been straight at the spider one or the other would have been focused but not both.

(Download)

agillot

start with the 12mm and the lens that focus the closest , try the 50 mm first .use a coin or stamp and experiment .the beauty of dig photo , you have instant results .not like film .a zoom lens give you more choices .

Shutterbug57

Don’t forget focus stacking. Easy to do with static objects.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

50mm prime ...

..

JD750 Loc: SoCal

This is good advice.