Macro and Wide angle lens advice

[jackinavox]

Hi guys,

I'm looking at getting a macro lens for close up and portrait work, what would the experts recommend?

Also looking for a wide angle lens.

Both for a Canon EF mount.

I need one or the other or both in 2 weeks and have got $500 to spend.

And if anyone knows anyone who rents out lenses in Wellington, can you please let me know.

Look forward to your thoughts.

Cheers

[tomberkley]

prob wont be able to get eather for under 500 new. canon make a few 100mm macro lenses.
100mm f2.8 usm $1029 (good marco lens, sharp fast quiet well built)
100mm f2.8 is usm aroun $1600 ( really good macro lens all of the above and more)
50mm macro f2.5 $650 ( If your really into macro dont buy this lens, is better as a first marco and 50mm is a good general focal lenth, so you could also use it as a general perpose)
Wide angle
Canons wide angles are pritty $$$ they are all good but you have to really want one and you wont come close with 500 if you want a new one.
16-35mm f2.8 $2645
17-40mm f4 $1465
14mm f2.8 $3089
15mm f2.8 fisheye $1295
Not to sure if you want to go trird party but there are heaps of options there and cheaper.
the only other suggestion is try second hand, look on tm and see if anyone is selling, good lenses dont loose value fast. A one year old lens isnt going to be mush less than new, but you might get lucky and find someone wanting a fast sale.
If you dont really care about quality, try find sone old school lenses they go prity cheep and can be all good.
Cheers
Tom

[Wellzy6]

I agree with the above as well. Here is a site with a huge amount of info on lenses to suit Canon cameras. There is a large amount of info on third party lenses there as well.
Cheers Tony

[Redal]

All macro lenses are pretty much equal, in terms of image quality.
So look for any that will fit your camera.
Or you could look at a set of tubes.

How wide do you need? What camera are you using? 24mm on one camera is wide and not wide on others.

Regarding rentals in Wellington, i think WPS does rentals.

[*Glenn*]

I purchased these for my Nikon D5000 . They do them for Canon as well.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=277166714

I've also got the new Nikkor 85mm Macro lense

[jackinavox]

i would only need one for a couple of shots, so looking at used gear.

anybody know if the 70-200mm F2.8 IS USM is any good doing simple macros?

WPS is just next door will ask them, thanks for the headsup!

[tomberkley]

The max magnification in 0.17 so not too good for macro.

[Rick0r]

It depends what kind of macro you want? If you're wanting to take photos of a bugs eyes, then it's a little different than if you wanted to take a pic of someones face.


You could use a 100mm macro to get "close", you could also use a 10mm fisheye to get "close" (min focal range is like 1cm)

If you're after more than 1:1 macro, then extension tubes would help.

TBH, you're not going to find much in your budget. Hire the lenses you want for the shoot, and then do serious research about what you want for future lenses.
A 70-200 will take fantastic photos of someones face, but it's not exactly "macro".

[jackinavox]

thanks for the input guys. ended up using my 28-135mm for some of the 'detailed' shots, not the best macro shots but good enough for covering wedding details stuff like rings, flowers, etc.

[Rick0r]

Pro tip: don't agree to photograph a wedding if you don't have the gear, and are looking for suitable lenses a fortnight out from the wedding.

You have one chance with weddings, you don't get to reshoot it if you botch up. You have to be on your A game the whole time and it's not the kind of event you want to be learning how to use your new lens at.

[jackinavox]

good tip and yes i agree, don't try to be pro if you don't have the equipment.. but..

..everyone has to start somewhere aye?

i know a pro who does entire weddings with a 50mm 1.8 lens. it's not the equipment, it's the user.

[Rick0r]

Hell if it was up to me to grade wedding photographers, i'd make it so only NZIPP people could call themselves "professional wedding photographers"

I guess ultimately it's up to the couple to find their own photographer for their day, but the market is absolutely saturated in NZ with people calling themselves wedding photographers when all they have is a D40 with kit lenses and like taking photos of their pets.

I totally agree with the equipment/user thing.. A bad photo taken with a $10k camera is still a bad photo.

The pro taking an entire wedding with a 50mm 1.8 would know that it's the only lens he needs to get what he wants. No offence, but the difference is that he isn't asking for assistance two weeks out from the wedding, desperate for equipment.

Sorry if it sounds snarky, it's just that there are way too many people out there spoiling the brides happiest day of her life (apparently lol) by ruining the photos.

[jackinavox]

no offence taken, at the end of the day you're only as good as the last job you did.

and me asking for equipment late in the game is me trying to be creative using lenses i don't currently have. more than confident in the equipment i have now, just wanted to try and do some creative shots with a macro (for stuff like close ups of wedding rings, flowers etc) and wide angle (for a shot of entire church and reception venue while still empty).

all the other shots were adequately covered by the right equipment.

[fokker]

Are you still looking for a lens or lenses?

[jackinavox]

yeah still wanting a UWA and a macro lens in the kit bag in the long term.

[fokker]

wide angle:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Camera-accessories/Lenses/Other/auction-283038620.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Camera-accessories/Lenses/Canon/auction-283007675.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Camera-accessories/Lenses/Sigma/auction-283402946.htm


macro:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Camera-accessories/Lenses/Canon/auction-282913523.htm


http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Camera-accessories/Lenses/Canon/auction-283248535.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Camera-accessories/Lenses/Canon/auction-283181254.htm