Islandgal Loc: Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Canada

Don't let it fool you, a kit lens like the 17-85mm or the 18-55mm can take great flower close ups and make very pleasing bokeh!

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abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Flash is a good idea because if you use it in manual, you can underexpose the background and get a more dramatic shot of the flower itself. You can also place the flash to the side or behind. Use the flash with a modifier and pointed upward.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I agree. Get a set of macro extension tubes that you'll be able to use with all your lenses. The Vello are good (about $80). The Kenko are even better (about $130).

These tubes have the electronic connectivity that enable autofocus, image stabilization and - most importantly - aperture control There are cheaper tubes (under $25) that don't have the electronic connections, which are NOT fully usable with modern lenses and cameras, so I don't recommend those. (However, they're fine with vintage, manual focus lenses that have a built in aperture control ring).

Macro tubes fit between the lens and the camera, making the lens able to focus closer than normal. While the tube is in place, the lens won't be able to focus to infinity. There are no optics in macro extension tubes, just air, so they have minimal effect on image quality. You can use them with virtually any lens that fits your camera... you'll probably find them most effective with lenses in the 50mm to 135mm range.

Both the sets mentioned include 12mm, 20mm and 36mm tubes. They can be used individually or combined for up to 68mm total extension. The longer the lens focal length, the more extension needed to significantly change the lens' close focusing ability. There's a practical limit of how short a lens they can be used upon, though. For example, I've used a 12mm extension on a 20mm lens and subjects were in focus when touching the front element of the lens. So a modest telephoto is usually what's best used with them, though I've used them with up to 500mm, to make it a bit closer focusing. I've also used them with macro lenses occasionally, to make them even higher magnification.

I learned to use macro extension tubes many years ago and have made a point of having a set in my camera bag ever since, with every camera system I've used. They're compact, lightweight, inexpensive, easy to use and versatile. Get a set and start experimenting with them.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

There really is no kit lens there just lens that came with the camera I don't know why people call them kit lens these lens can be bought with out the camera so I guess there no longer called kit lens .

GalaxyCat Loc: Boston, MA

I just have a 18-150mm lens on my Olympus OM-D E-M5 II camera, and I just have fun varying the options (zoom, Aperture, shutter speed, ISO) and do the best I can. I shoot scenes, flowers and everything in grocery stores (like in the produce departments). Concentrate on having fun for a year, then decide if you want/need a macro lens...

GalaxyCat Loc: Boston, MA

This is a very good idea.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

I've done a bunch of research on old lenses with characteristic bokeh. Those were done with an Aires Coral 4.5cm f1.5 lens for an old Japanese rangefinder camera, a Canon 50mm f1.2 lens for rangefinder from the 1960s and a very old Angenieux 35mm projector lens, 95mm f1.2.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Which is why I suggested that any of his lenses are fine. As well as offering, as others have done, the option of extension tubes, reversing rings, and at least one person offered using a diopter closeup which I don't care for, unless it's the two element Canon filter.

Of all the lenses the 80-200 F2.8 AF-D would be the last one I would suggest. It doesn't get close enough to make closeups. I happen to have one. You can start to approach closeup range if you use a Kenko Pro 300 1.4X TC. but I think his other lenses get him there without needing to purchase anything. The 18-55 provides .31X magnification, btw.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Very cool! I didn't know these were still around.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Kaib795 Loc: Maryland, USA

Great information and very interesting. My favorites are #5 &7. Oddly I have never seen any of these lenses but will have fun researching them. I did find a cine lens made in France like the ones you had mentioned in another post producing very nice bokeh but sadly they are out of my price range. I think the one I found was over $8K and was quite old but looked wonderful. I am a Nikon shooter though and appreciate all this Nikon banter about different alternatives to Macro lenses. But I guess the question is ... what Van Gogh lens is your favorite? I'm leaning on that Ultra Micro Nikkor 165mm f4. What a beast!

vandy

I have to second that statement! Great work!

vandy

Absolutely beautiful work, thank you for sharing!

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I agree that any of those lenses will do the job but more than that is his own photographic style, skill, and expectations. As for your second paragraph, one of the two shots I posted was with the Sigma 70-200 f.2.8. This is my first choice for most flowers. Not close enough? Depends upon the size of the flower. A greater problem might be what is in front of it.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Inspirational set.