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guidance on macro? lens
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Jul 29, 2021 19:15:45   #
drummy21 Loc: Maryland
 
my 11 year grandaughter wants/needs a lens to take closeups of flowers etc. I have nikon D90 mostly in auto mode which liimits me. she has a canon rebel t6. I have looked at several websites of canon lenses but don't understand model numbers/description. the kit lenses do not fit the need. i don't remember the range of zoom, one reaches about 55mm the other definetly 300mm. IF you have time, suggestions for appropriate or THIS IS THE ONE lens, CANON or other would be appreciated. I am a regular daily reader. right now she feels she is a good photographer after winning 1st place in local county fair photo contest and a photography club in her middle school. She talks the talk with confidence I want to help her walk the walk for her future. She will eventually be regular on this forum. Thank you for any help and guidance.

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Jul 29, 2021 19:30:32   #
wjones8637 Loc: Burleson, TX
 
drummy21 wrote:
my 11 year grandaughter wants/needs a lens to take closeups of flowers etc. I have nikon D90 mostly in auto mode which liimits me. she has a canon rebel t6. I have looked at several websites of canon lenses but don't understand model numbers/description. the kit lenses do not fit the need. i don't remember the range of zoom, one reaches about 55mm the other definetly 300mm. IF you have time, suggestions for appropriate or THIS IS THE ONE lens, CANON or other would be appreciated. I am a regular daily reader. right now she feels she is a good photographer after winning 1st place in local county fair photo contest and a photography club in her middle school. She talks the talk with confidence I want to help her walk the walk for her future. She will eventually be regular on this forum. Thank you for any help and guidance.
my 11 year grandaughter wants/needs a lens to take... (show quote)


Afraid I’m not much help, but if you post to the Close-up and/or Macro Forums they can likely give assistance. Be sure to include her camera model and lenses she already owns. I wish her well with great enjoyment and growth.

Bill

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Jul 29, 2021 19:58:57   #
kpmac Loc: Ragley, La
 
Most macros, true 1 to 1 macros, range from 90mm to 105mm. There are many choices. The Tamron 90mm is highly rated and fairly priced as is the 100mm Tokina.

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Jul 29, 2021 20:05:32   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
Starting with lenses:

EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM - a 'DX' style lens specifically for her EOS Rebel
EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro
EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro

If she has a tripod, the non IS lenses make sense, but all the options are relatively expensive, even shopping used. She might start into macro using her existing lenses, especially the longer zoom, with an extension tube (Extension Tube EF 25 II) that allows her to focus, retaining AF, at close 'macro distances'.

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Jul 29, 2021 20:23:30   #
Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore
 
I love my Tameron 90 mm macro. Used it for years in my dental practice for intramural photos

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Jul 29, 2021 20:24:51   #
drummy21 Loc: Maryland
 
Thanks, I Hoped you would responded. I have seen your previous comments to others and have great respect for your knowledge and professionalism.

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Jul 29, 2021 21:29:42   #
luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC
 
I, too, have the Tamron 90mm. It is a fantastic lens!!!

Dodie

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Jul 30, 2021 00:11:01   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
drummy21 wrote:
my 11 year grandaughter wants/needs a lens to take closeups of flowers etc. I have nikon D90 mostly in auto mode which liimits me. she has a canon rebel t6. I have looked at several websites of canon lenses but don't understand model numbers/description. the kit lenses do not fit the need. i don't remember the range of zoom, one reaches about 55mm the other definetly 300mm. IF you have time, suggestions for appropriate or THIS IS THE ONE lens, CANON or other would be appreciated. I am a regular daily reader. right now she feels she is a good photographer after winning 1st place in local county fair photo contest and a photography club in her middle school. She talks the talk with confidence I want to help her walk the walk for her future. She will eventually be regular on this forum. Thank you for any help and guidance.
my 11 year grandaughter wants/needs a lens to take... (show quote)


I do a fair number of macro/closeups in fits between doing birds etc. I find that in the realm of close ups for flowers, butterflies etc. I use my Canon 100-400L more than one of my true macro lenses. It focus to a bit under 3 feet. But that is an expensive lenses. What is your budget for this lens? If she wants to do closeups of flowers a close focusing non macro lens will do. If she is out to get down to the details and parts that calls for a true macro lens. I have the Canon 100 f/2.8 and Tamron 180 f/3.5, used copies are available and reasonably priced, esp. if you get an older version, a Canon 100 macro v1 will do a good job a lot cheaper than a new vIII.

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Jul 30, 2021 08:38:45   #
Jack47 Loc: Ontario
 
drummy21 wrote:
Thanks, I Hoped you would responded. I have seen your previous comments to others and have great respect for your knowledge and professionalism.


When directly to another poster, click quote reply and not just reply.

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Jul 30, 2021 08:48:08   #
warrenvon Loc: Ellicott City, MD
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
Starting with lenses:

EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM - a 'DX' style lens specifically for her EOS Rebel
EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro
EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro

If she has a tripod, the non IS lenses make sense, but all the options are relatively expensive, even shopping used. She might start into macro using her existing lenses, especially the longer zoom, with an extension tube (Extension Tube EF 25 II) that allows her to focus, retaining AF, at close 'macro distances'.
Starting with lenses: br br EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro... (show quote)


I second your suggestion to start her on inexpensive extension tubes. They are inexpensive and will take advantage of her existing lenses. She will have the same learning experience as a dedicated macro with little to no degradation in image quality.

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Jul 30, 2021 08:53:26   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
drummy21 wrote:
my 11 year grandaughter wants/needs a lens to take closeups of flowers etc. I have nikon D90 mostly in auto mode which liimits me. she has a canon rebel t6. I have looked at several websites of canon lenses but don't understand model numbers/description. the kit lenses do not fit the need. i don't remember the range of zoom, one reaches about 55mm the other definetly 300mm. IF you have time, suggestions for appropriate or THIS IS THE ONE lens, CANON or other would be appreciated. I am a regular daily reader. right now she feels she is a good photographer after winning 1st place in local county fair photo contest and a photography club in her middle school. She talks the talk with confidence I want to help her walk the walk for her future. She will eventually be regular on this forum. Thank you for any help and guidance.
my 11 year grandaughter wants/needs a lens to take... (show quote)


The Canon EFS 60mm macro is a GREAT lens and investment ! also useful for portraits - plentiful used and not expensive .....

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Jul 30, 2021 09:25:02   #
gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast
 
Literally any lens can take "closeups". Just move in close until you can’t focus the lens any closer. But a dedicated "macro" lens goes a step farther. It can focus down so close that you can capture a very tiny subject life size. For example, a small subject will be rendered at its actual size on the sensor. If the sensor is 1", a 1" subject will fill the sensor. The bottom line for me is that a macro lens is not needed if you just want to take "closeups".

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Jul 30, 2021 10:29:16   #
Drewline Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
We just purchased the 100mm Tokina for my wife’s D90. Very pleased with it so far. She is having an interesting time with it. First time in a real long time she is not using a zoom.

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Jul 30, 2021 10:43:38   #
burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC
 
drummy21 wrote:
my 11 year grandaughter wants/needs a lens to take closeups of flowers etc. I have nikon D90 mostly in auto mode which liimits me. she has a canon rebel t6. I have looked at several websites of canon lenses but don't understand model numbers/description. the kit lenses do not fit the need. i don't remember the range of zoom, one reaches about 55mm the other definetly 300mm. IF you have time, suggestions for appropriate or THIS IS THE ONE lens, CANON or other would be appreciated. I am a regular daily reader. right now she feels she is a good photographer after winning 1st place in local county fair photo contest and a photography club in her middle school. She talks the talk with confidence I want to help her walk the walk for her future. She will eventually be regular on this forum. Thank you for any help and guidance.
my 11 year grandaughter wants/needs a lens to take... (show quote)


I'd probably look first at the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM prime lens. It is available used, sometimes, for around $300 in good condition. Try Adorama, B&H, UsedPhotoPro, KEH, and MPB, the usual trustworthy used gear dealers.

The 60mm on that Rebel has about a 2X normal magnification and is a decent compromise for all-around nature macro and some studio work. It is a bit long for copy work, and a bit short for photographing dangerous insects or snakes.

I'm glad to hear a young person is interested in serious photography. I got started at about her age, and photography eventually became a large part of my career.

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Jul 30, 2021 10:52:14   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
One other consideration is the Canon EF 50mm f2.5 Macro, which is also a very good general use flat field lens. It’s only .5/1 but also selling in the $185 range, and if you need true 1:1, you can add the “life size converter” which sells in the $100+ range. The food photographer for our local newspaper turned me on to it (it’s her go-to lens), and it’s both tack sharp and a bargain.

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