Portrait/Macro Lens and Macro questions.

[stormnz]

Hi all,

Have got back into SLR photography a couple years ago after selling all my old film SLR stuff. Just couldnt bring myself to keep using it after we got a decent point and shoot digital......

So now have a Canon 550 with a recently upgraded walk about lens 15-85mm is usm. So next on the list is a Portrait lens and after that a Macro lens as Im always using the macro setting on the 550. Ive got myself a bit stuck on exactly what to get after seeing a Canon 60mm f2.8 macro at my local shop.

Will f2.8 be fast enough for decent depth of field blur when used inside, with furniture/walls within 1.5-2m behind subject? (never had a dedicated Portrait lens before and im computer illiterate to make that kind of effect with a fancy computer program)

The options are get the 60mm macro and use it for portraits and macro.

Or get a 50mm f1.8 (or a 50 f1.4) and then a 100mm macro later on, then of course a 100-300L :)

What f stops are people with the 50mm f1.8 actually using? From reading reviews the quality isnt great untill you get into the f2.4 range anyway. The 60mm f2.8 has comparable quality to the f1.4 at similar f stops "apparently".

[Redal]

Hi all,

Have got back into SLR photography a couple years ago after selling all my old film SLR stuff. Just couldnt bring myself to keep using it after we got a decent point and shoot digital......

So now have a Canon 550 with a recently upgraded walk about lens 15-85mm is usm. So next on the list is a Portrait lens and after that a Macro lens as Im always using the macro setting on the 550. Ive got myself a bit stuck on exactly what to get after seeing a Canon 60mm f2.8 macro at my local shop.

Will f2.8 be fast enough for decent depth of field blur when used inside, with furniture/walls within 1.5-2m behind subject? (never had a dedicated Portrait lens before and im computer illiterate to make that kind of effect with a fancy computer program)

The options are get the 60mm macro and use it for portraits and macro.

Or get a 50mm f1.8 (or a 50 f1.4) and then a 100mm macro later on, then of course a 100-300L :)

What f stops are people with the 50mm f1.8 actually using? From reading reviews the quality isnt great untill you get into the f2.4 range anyway. The 60mm f2.8 has comparable quality to the f1.4 at similar f stops "apparently".


Why not go for the 100 macro and use it for both ?
The extra focal length over the 60 would give move "blur" in the 1.5-2m you have behind the subject.
For portraits i prefer at least 85mm.

[stormnz]

Thanks for the advice, I had a test with a 100-300 last night to check for "usability" around the house at 100mm. Looks like I will be able to get full body shots of my kids inside the house and can fit in the whole dining table in if I stand far enought back. So thats looking like the winner at the moment, the only down side is the size. Im happy with it but my lovely wife thinks its a bit big.

Might have to start up a dedicated Macro thread so the local experts can pass on their secrets ect :)

[Redal]

Regarding Macro photography, my best tip is to use flash, off camera if possible,when using the flash you can get to sync speed (1/200).I find mucking around with tripods cumbersome , and trying to hand hold at f 22-32 near impossible because of slow shutter speeds, unless using flash.

---------- Post added at 09:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 AM ----------

Also Regarding Macro lenses, they are all very sharp. There is a Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro on trademe for about $400 which is 200-300 cheaper than the canon .
I had one of these before my camera gear was stolen, and couldnt find one to replace it , so i had to get the canon.

[stormnz]

Regarding Macro photography, my best tip is to use flash, off camera if possible,when using the flash you can get to sync speed (1/200).I find mucking around with tripods cumbersome , and trying to hand hold at f 22-32 near impossible because of slow shutter speeds, unless using flash.

---------- Post added at 09:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 AM ----------

Also Regarding Macro lenses, they are all very sharp. There is a Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro on trademe for about $400 which is 200-300 cheaper than the canon .
I had one of these before my camera gear was stolen, and couldnt find one to replace it , so i had to get the canon.

Having things stolen is very sad indeed. I think we need to tighten up our boarders to keep those criminal australians out :)

The Tamron definatly sounds good, just dont like the extension when it focuses.

Im guessing the 100mm lens will get in the way of the camera body flash on my 550D causing a shadow? What type of external flash are you using?

[Redal]

Having things stolen is very sad indeed. I think we need to tighten up our boarders to keep those criminal australians out :)

The Tamron definatly sounds good, just dont like the extension when it focuses.

Im guessing the 100mm lens will get in the way of the camera body flash on my 550D causing a shadow? What type of external flash are you using?

I have to many flashes to count :)
But my basic set up when starting was a nikon sb24 on a stand/ umbrella and sync cord . Which is a good set up.
Now when i want to get fancy, i'll run the sb24 on stand as a rim light and a sb25 with umbrella on stand and both triggered by cybersync triggers/ receivers.

[stormnz]

nikon sb24 on a stand/ umbrella and sync cord. i'll run the sb24 on stand as a rim light and a sb25 with umbrella on stand and both triggered by cybersync triggers/ receivers.

Your speaking a whole nother language :)

Ive mainly been taking macro shots "out in the wild" so dont think stands and umbrellas are what im after, Unless you use the umbrellas to keep your flash dry when its raining :)

Think im after a ring style flash, will have to give it a test when I get the lens.

[in2fx]

One of the best value for money macro lenses is the EF 100 f/2.8 macro.
It is a very sharp lens and focuses fast.
I love this lens for macro and have used quite often for portrait photography as well and even captured some lovely shots of a Tui within bushes in the rain

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs192.snc4/37956_10150101774870550_522110549_7434297_6726714_ n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs381.snc4/44439_490726935549_522110549_6955694_4920549_n.jpg

---------- Post added at 11:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:06 AM ----------

I went looking for some portrait shots, but could find any people but instead found this one that I took with the EF 100 f/2.8 macro as well which should give you an idea

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs980.snc4/75299_10150118774235550_522110549_7719933_3973647_ n.jpg

all taken connected to a 550D

[tomberkley]

true macro is done at 1:1 ratio (Meaning the object you are shooting will apper the same size on the camera sensor) making it look bigger. and to do this you will def need at least a tripod to get sharp images.
So when talking about macro lenses this is what they are able to do. A normal zoom or prime lens wont be able to do this.
if your just looking at snapping bees and flowers then thats a different story.
the umbrellas are used to fire the flash into to soften the light making it not as harsh and more evan.
The good thing about the macro lens is it is able to change from normal zoom to marco, as for the 100mm focal is a good one for portrait also.

[in2fx]

Although, not a macro lens, the EF 50 f/1.8 is great value for money which produces very sharp images, although can hunt for focus in darker conditions and I find it frustrating to manually focus some days with the fiddly focus ring on the front and end up switching back to auto focus.
This lens is very nice lens for portrait photos at a great price although it does feel very cheap and made of plastic (of course it is too lol).
Maybe you could reach the extra and get a 50mm for full shots and the 100mm for macro and outdoor or bust portraits.

[Frostiboy]

anyone have comments on a prime lens and macro extension tubes??

[jackinavox]

i have a 50mm and 85mm, i find that i'm using the 50mm more often (on a crop 40d) and hardly shoot at f1.4, usually at f2-4 for really sharp images.

the 85mm is a bit difficult to use in confined spaces, but is very fast and sharp. the 100mm macro might be perfect because it can focus closer, so easier to get tight head shots at a close distance.

[stormnz]

---------- Post added at 11:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:06 AM ----------


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs980.snc4/75299_10150118774235550_522110549_7719933_3973647_ n.jpg

all taken connected to a 550D

Thanks for the pics :)

Looks like some good info coming through. The 100mm will definalty make things a bit tight in bedrooms for example, but think its going to be the best choice for me to cover the Portrait/Macro that I want to do. Rather than purchasing 2 lenses.

Will change the title to this thread a bit, feel free to add your macro questions here.

[jackinavox]

haven't tried the EF 100mm for portrait work, but it was a real b*tch to use as a macro, but that's just me with my shaky arms.

[Cory Varcoe]

I've used the 100mm f2.8 for portraits and macro and find it works very well.
For less than $200 you can't go wrong with the 50mm f1.8 =)

[in2fx]

haven't tried the EF 100mm for portrait work, but it was a real b*tch to use as a macro, but that's just me with my shaky arms.

It can be difficult to use wide open hand held, but if you stop it down a bit you will find it a little easier.
I mostly get lazy and use a tripod or monopod because the DOF you'll like to use can be very narrow as you can see below even with stopping it down a bit on something like this which is about the size of a sandfly
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs833.snc4/69379_10150101775105550_522110549_7434305_2965158_ n.jpg

[stormnz]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs833.snc4/69379_10150101775105550_522110549_7434305_2965158_ n.jpg

Love the eyes :) Got my 100mm macro today, time for some playing over the weekend.