>Tapani Tarvainen wrote answers to what:
>> On Wed, Apr 11, 2001 at 10:01:56AM -0300, John Mac wrote:
>
> > I have been getting into macro lately.
> > To start Equipment I currently have is; Elan II, standard 28-80mm
f4-5.6,
> > and 75-300mm f4-5.6, 420EX Flash and Manfrotto Tripod 055B with 222
joystick
> > head. I have the Kenko Extension Tube set on order, the 12mm, 24mm, and
> > 36mm.
>
> > 1. I only have zoom lenses and how will the extension tubes react with
these
> > lenses and what are the best techniques to use, and what suggestions can
you
> > make for me to get the most out of my average lenses?
>
> Extension tubes won't work well with the long zoom - if you are into
> butterflies or some such, a closeup lens would've been better.
> With the short zoom they should be OK (given that you find the
> zoom sharp enough otherwise).
Why not? If you're shooting, say, butterflies at 4-10 foot range, the
small extension tube on the 75-300 should work well, since that lens focuses
close at around a meter and a half with no tube. I really want to know,
since I"m considering an extension tube set myself for my 75-300. Have you
actually tried this combo? With my Kenko 2X extender, it's a fine macro lens
at 600mm - I can go almost 1:1 at 6 feet. I just want to avoid the extra
glass to get better images.
> > 2. Is it worth buying a canon 50mm 1.8 ($149 Canadian)to use for macro?
> > Would this lens be any better optically or just a waste of money since
my
> > working distance will be quite minimal and I could use my 28-80 at 50mm?
>
> It would be much better optically, even though it isn't a macro lens
either.
> It would also let through much more light than your zoom, although you'd
> probably want to stop it down somewhat anyway.
The 50mm lens with extension tube will mean you have to be within an
inch or two from a butterfly - hardly likely. Not practical for anything but
shooting a postage stamp. The zoom at 50 and extension tube will have the
same problem. You need more distance for using a flash with macro as well.
Long lenses are best for macro. Even a 100mm macro is very limited. You will
have to get within a foot or so for a full frame butterfly. 180 macros start
to look good, but the price - no way!
Use what you've got, John. It sounds like you've already ordered. My
advice is to use manual focus, hold her steady, and use fast film.
One other thing is I find a tripod useless for most macro of things like
butterflies. It's hard enough to find them sitting on a flower within your
range, but another thing to setup a tripod to catch them before they take
off again. If you're in a butterfly house at the zoo, maybe there's enough
of them for a tripod, but in the wild, you have to stalk them and grab them.
Postage stamps on the other hand, well, they tend to stay still enough to
take all day to shoot.
Jim Davis
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