Just ordered Canon 100mm 2.8 macro

Paul11

Paul11

Paul11

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i couldn't decide on the sigma 10-20 and having missed out on a great deal on MM for a canon 17-40L because i didnt have the cash at the time, so i decided to treat myself to a 100mm 2.8 macro instead

(thanks gt_junkie) :D

after reading about it and seeing how sharp it is, im really looking forward to giving this lens a try...
 
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yep i have the lens myself.

it is a awsome lens, check my pictures on sig if you want to see it in action.
very happy with the lens :)

get some kenko lens adaptors and get even closer :P
 
ring flash...you say



(goes off to google).....


and yes, i have some cheapy tubes (not original kenko but i think they do the same job)
 
Paulus said:
ring flash...you say

and yes, i have some cheapy tubes (not original kenko but i think they do the same job)
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These are some of my mate Mark's pictures.

It's about time he joined these forums TBH! :rolleyes: :p

First pic is with only a couple of tubes, 100mm macro and ringflash on a 5D:

Second is the same but with a full set of tubes added. Gets you quite a bit closer as you can see! :)

1:
drag2.jpg


2:
drag1.jpg


gt
 
yea the kenko tubes, really do help even though there so simple.

just need the light to produce around it if your getting really close.
i cant afford the flash ring at the moment. :(
 
Paulus said:
how bad are things without the ring flash ?
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They're not bad... it just allows a little more freedom to use a smaller aperture for a greater DOF. Without the flash something like f8+ could not be shot due to the need for a really slow shutter. In the case of handheld shots or moving subjects you'd get blur.

If you're shooting outdoors on a fairly bright day you'll have no problems.

Even if it is darker you can just up the ISO a bit and open the aperture. Your focul plane will be narrow but that's all part of the fun.

You'll have a great time experimenting with all sorts of settings TBH! :)

gt
 
For macro with non-static subjects, i.e. live insects, a flash is pretty much mandatory so that you can close the lens and get all the DOF you can. Nothing more offputting than when you are chuffed with a good capture of an insect, and you notice the ends of the legs are all blurred.

One note, the 100mm 2.8 macro is not exactly slow focussing. Its actually pretty fast. The problem is that when it hunts, being a macro lens, it has to hunt over a much longer range of focus than a normal lens. If your technique minimises hunting, you wont find it so slow.

It would be great if rather than one focus limit switch it had two. The current one limits the range for when you are not doing macro work. One that limited things at the other end and didnt let the lens hunt all the way to infinity while you are busy with a close-up would be great.
 
Just for you Paulus,

This is a tighter crop of the dragonfly from the 2nd picture i posted.

The detail with the extension tubes is awesome:

drag.jpg


Hope you're having fun playing with your new toy! :)

gt
 
messiah khan said:
Not really. None of my shots have used a flash. A flash might make it easier, but its still far from 'pretty much mandatory'.
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yep, same here.
dont use a flash on my macro's.

then again, i only take macro's when its daylight and sunny :)
would help if i had one, but the price of the ring flash doesnt justify me having one. costs more than the 100mm lens!
 
Let me rephrase. Its not pretty much mandatory to take a shot in every circumstance, you will have enough light if its bright and sunny, I meant it more like its pretty much mandatory to own one, as I guess you'll miss many chances without one when its not bright and sunny.

Trying to get a butterfly to stay still in hot conditions is hard, because they are more active. Morning, while the sun is still low, is the best time, but of course, you have less light.

I do find the ring flash a little overpriced. I also find it a little flat with light coming in from every angle onto a small insect. A diffused normal flash to the top left/right of the subject (imitating the sun) using a bracket and off-shoe cord is a good and relatively cheap setup. Because you dont really need much power, the flash doesnt have to be anything special. I use a 420EX.
 
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