cactuspic wrote:
I shoot primarily plants, macros and closeups. You can check my website: IrwinLightstone.com to check my work. I shoot a full frame camera with the following macros, 15mm, 50mm, 60mm, 70mm, 100mm, 150mm 180mm. All of these macros get to 1:1 magnification (which means the image on the sensor is the same size as the subject). I also shoot several lenses for magnifications greater than life size, as well as a number of older, classic manual focus macros. Here are my observations.
Thanks for the suggestions. I will look into them.
1. For an occasional closeup, zoom lenses (with or without extension tubes or supplemental closeup lens) work well. If you use a close up lens, get the good closeup lens rather than the cheap sets that have significant lens aberrations. Although you can get good, even publishable result with tubes and closeup lenses, noticibly better results can be had with a macro. They are less clunky to use and are flat out sharper at macro magnifications. A macro can be addictive.
I choose which macro to use by considering three factors. First, I consider my field of view. Do I want a wider field of view to put the subject in context or do I want a narrow field of view to eliminate distracting backgrounds. A longer focal length has greater ability to blur the background and to exclude distracting background elements. Second, I look at my lighting and the magnification. For the same magnification, you will be substantially closer with a 50mm macro than with a 180mm. While this may not impact a botanical closeup;with a 50mm at 1:1, you may so close that you shade the plant or scare a bug. Where available, I choose a the macro lens with a tripod mount as I am usually on a tripod and want to keep the load centered on the tripod as opposed to awkwardly hanging off to one side. I chose my Canon 100 macro over competing brands in that focal range because it had a tripod mount.
When choosing a focal length for your first macro lens, I recommend one in the 90-105mm range as a versatile performer. It gives you a decent working distance, in a lens that is not too heavy or expensive. Longer macro lenses tend to be more expensive, bigger and heavier. My 180mm macro is my most used, followed by my 100mm. A good compromise between a 90-105mm macros and the 180-200mm macros is the Sigma 150mm.
Good luck with your explorations. You might also check both the closeups and macro forums.
I shoot primarily plants, macros and closeups. Yo... (
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