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How can a macro lens also be used for portraits? Confused!
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Jul 12, 2012 10:34:25   #
twowindsbear
 
Screamin Scott wrote:
But you do lose infinity focus...


I'm really curious - How do you loose infinity focus???

Thanks


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Jul 12, 2012 10:38:12   #
ahanonymous Loc: Queens, NY
 
I love my 100mm 2.8 Canon macro for portraits. I just smooth out the skin on female subjects.

Macro portrait 1
Macro portrait 1...

Macro portrait 2
Macro portrait 2...

Reply
Jul 12, 2012 10:38:29   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
Because the lens optical properties are changed, meaning the light being focused on the sensor has been changed in where it is focused, meaning subjects are no longer in focus when they are at greater distances...Hard for me to explain properly...I'll see if I can find a Wiki or something else explaining it...

twowindsbear wrote:
Screamin Scott wrote:
But you do lose infinity focus...


I'm really curious - How do you loose infinity focus???

Thanks


Reply
 
 
Jul 12, 2012 10:43:26   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Screamin Scott wrote:
Yes, they will get you closer, but you do lose infinity focus...So if you are shooting macro subjects and a photo op comes up that is beyond the range of focus with the close up lens, you have to take the time to remove the lens, store it & then hope the subject hasn't moved on. Plus the magnification ratio is fixed, thus if you can't fit your subject in the frame, you have to change out to a different lens (if you have one, the Canon 500D offers greater magnification at a higher price) ...The winner is the macro lens for it's convenience, no light loss, no resolution loss, no loss of infinity focus & variable magnification....Save up for a true macro lens if you at all serious about macro.


imagemeister wrote:
AnnieB wrote:
Hello there, I am looking at possibly buying an affordable macroCanon lens - I have had alot of fun with extension tubes, but would now like to take the next step. However, on looking around, I see that macro lens can also be used as "general purpose" lens - I just can't get my mind around this!! Perhaps because I have been using ext tubes, my mind set is that you can only take macros!!! I am very confused!! Hope someone can set me straight!

PS have been looking at EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM Macro Lens on my canon 550d to complement the 18-55 kit lens, the 55 - 250 zoom lens and the nifty fifty(just love this lens!

Thank you
Hello there, I am looking at possibly buying an af... (show quote)


Before you spend a lot of money, try looking at the Canon 250D close up on your nifty fifty. This will take you to 1:2 without loosing any light ( like with extension tubes ) and you do not have to remove the lens to use it ! ( exposing the sensor do dirt ) Cost? about $80-105 depending on where and how hard you look.
quote=AnnieB Hello there, I am looking at possibl... (show quote)
Yes, they will get you closer, but you do lose inf... (show quote)


The magnification ratio is also fixed wih a prime "macro" lens - and FYI - the 500D provides LESS closeup ability for about the same price. The 500D is primarily used with longer telephoto primes and zooms - but of course can also be used with the nifty fifty and probably good for about 1:3 with it. The cost of these close-up lenses goes up as the size ( diameter in mm ) goes up.

Reply
Jul 12, 2012 10:46:43   #
Wahawk Loc: NE IA
 
twowindsbear wrote:
Screamin Scott wrote:
But you do lose infinity focus...


I'm really curious - How do you loose infinity focus???

Thanks



That happens with Close Up FILTERS, NOT with a true macro lens!

Reply
Jul 12, 2012 10:48:40   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Oh, and I forgot - as you extend a "macro" lens you DO loose light ! At 1:1 you will loose 2 F-stops of light and at 1:2 you will loose 1 F-stop of light.

Reply
Jul 12, 2012 10:53:01   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
If you look at my post, you will see it was in response to using a Canon 250D close up lens

Wahawk wrote:
twowindsbear wrote:
Screamin Scott wrote:
But you do lose infinity focus...


I'm really curious - How do you loose infinity focus???

Thanks



That happens with Close Up FILTERS, NOT with a true macro lens!

Reply
 
 
Jul 12, 2012 10:54:57   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
If that were the case, then why are there magnification ratios on the lens barrels of macro lenses?


imagemeister wrote:
Screamin Scott wrote:
Yes, they will get you closer, but you do lose infinity focus...So if you are shooting macro subjects and a photo op comes up that is beyond the range of focus with the close up lens, you have to take the time to remove the lens, store it & then hope the subject hasn't moved on. Plus the magnification ratio is fixed, thus if you can't fit your subject in the frame, you have to change out to a different lens (if you have one, the Canon 500D offers greater magnification at a higher price) ...The winner is the macro lens for it's convenience, no light loss, no resolution loss, no loss of infinity focus & variable magnification....Save up for a true macro lens if you at all serious about macro.


imagemeister wrote:
AnnieB wrote:
Hello there, I am looking at possibly buying an affordable macroCanon lens - I have had alot of fun with extension tubes, but would now like to take the next step. However, on looking around, I see that macro lens can also be used as "general purpose" lens - I just can't get my mind around this!! Perhaps because I have been using ext tubes, my mind set is that you can only take macros!!! I am very confused!! Hope someone can set me straight!

PS have been looking at EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM Macro Lens on my canon 550d to complement the 18-55 kit lens, the 55 - 250 zoom lens and the nifty fifty(just love this lens!

Thank you
Hello there, I am looking at possibly buying an af... (show quote)


Before you spend a lot of money, try looking at the Canon 250D close up on your nifty fifty. This will take you to 1:2 without loosing any light ( like with extension tubes ) and you do not have to remove the lens to use it ! ( exposing the sensor do dirt ) Cost? about $80-105 depending on where and how hard you look.
quote=AnnieB Hello there, I am looking at possibl... (show quote)
Yes, they will get you closer, but you do lose inf... (show quote)


The magnification ratio is also fixed wih a prime "macro" lens - and FYI - the 500D provides LESS closeup ability for about the same price. The 500D is primarily used with longer telephoto primes and zooms - but of course can also be used with the nifty fifty and probably good for about 1:3 with it. The cost of these close-up lenses goes up as the size ( diameter in mm ) goes up.
quote=Screamin Scott Yes, they will get you close... (show quote)



Reply
Jul 12, 2012 10:55:45   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
That is true, I stand corrected on that point

imagemeister wrote:
Oh, and I forgot - as you extend a "macro" lens you DO loose light ! At 1:1 you will loose 2 F-stops of light and at 1:2 you will loose 1 F-stop of light.

Reply
Jul 12, 2012 11:02:35   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Sorry, now I see what you mean by magnification - the close up lens does the same thing within it's focus range - it's just not marked as such on the lens barrel. In this repesct though the "macro" lens and close-up filter are functionally the same.

Reply
Jul 12, 2012 11:18:15   #
gregr Loc: Hudson, FL
 
Is 60 enough? I recently purchased the same lens and found it does not get in as tight as I wanted. Think about this before you purchase

Reply
 
 
Jul 12, 2012 11:23:59   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
Although he shoots Nikon, Thom Hogan has this article which is very informative for those new to macro & most of the info applies to any camera make...

http://bythom.com/qadmacro.htm

Reply
Jul 12, 2012 11:28:25   #
Jim Peters Loc: Pittsburgh
 
The Best Lens For Portrait Is One Twice Or Nearest Twice The Normal. So If you Normal Is A 50 MM The Normal For Most 35MM
Then Your Best Choice For A Portrait Is 100 MM Or The Closest That Your MFG Has.With A Cannon It Would Be A 105MM
The Reason Is This Type Of Lens Gives The Best Nose to Face Relationship. I Do Know Other Photographers That Swear by the 70 To 300 MM Zoom.They Also Blur Out Distracting Backgrounds.
I Like To Use Macro for Macro.
As Far As Normal Eye View Most Magazine Photographer That I Know Believe That 35MM Wide Is The Best Normal Eve View.
When You Use Normal Eve View To Shoot Close Up On A Face It Is Going To Distort It.

Reply
Jul 12, 2012 11:38:17   #
Wendy2 Loc: California
 
I have the 100mm and it is superb for macro and portrait. It is a 'true' macro. You will absolutely love this lens! If you get the 60mm you may look back and say 'Oh how I wish I had purchased the 100mm instead'! 100mm is excellent for portraits too, whereas the 60mm not so much. So you get double duty out of this lens.



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Jul 12, 2012 11:43:15   #
twowindsbear
 
Deleted

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