Macro lens question?

[Canon10Digital]

New photographer here, just bought a 10D. My question is, is a macro lens only good for pictures of flowers and bugs? thats all i ever see it used for, i think i want to get one eventually, saving to buy Canon 24-70 2.8 right now, but i dont want a lens thats only good for one type of shot? is macro ever used for say portrait close-ups? thanx, and excuse my ignorance....

[Scottes]

A macro lens is simply one that can focus very close. This ability to focus closely allows for a very "magnified" shot. It does not affect it's ability to focus on things far away. For instance the Canon 100mm f/2.0 lens (not a macro) can focus on something as close as 3 feet away. The Canon 100mm Macro lens lets you focus as close as 1 foot. This close-focus ability lets the macro lens take an image at 1:1, while the non-macro takes an image at 1:7.3.

1:1 means that the subject is shot at exact life size on a frame of 35mm film. That is, a 15mm long subject takes will be 15mm long on the film itself. With the non-macro lens that subject would only take up 2mm of film.

Most macro lenses are actually very or even excellent good quality - generally better than their non-macro equivalents. You pay a bit more - the Canon non-macro above is $390 while the macro version is $470.

Most macro lenses also have a tendency to be slow to auto-focus. You don't do much auto-focus when you are in macro range, so they seem to skimp on the focus motor.

[Sendide]

Advice : save some money, then get the 100mm Macro USM lens, useful also as a telephoto lens 1:1 to infinity. This lens you WILL NEVER regret it, worths avery penny. dead sharp for macro.
by the way , if you think your going to stop at one or two lenses, well, think again. the 10D body is jsut an introduction.

by the way, did you think about a BG-ED3 ? there you go :wink:

regards

Khalid

[dreamer]

How come macrolens you can't zoom in or out?

Is there a differences between the standard 300d lens and the compact macro lens EF 50mm?

[JZaun]

Canon10Digital

I have the Canon 100mm f2.8 macro. It is a great all around lens. 100mm small tele, great close up and fab! macro. Yes it is used for more than just Macro!!! I have read of some useing it for portraits!

I live mine. when the 100-400 IS is not on the camera the 100mm Macro is. :D


dreamer

With macro you are getting close anyway, You only need to move your camera a few inches to move in closer in macro mode. Zoom not needed.

JZ

[aam1234]

I have a lens that has a macro button on it (an old EF), but it doesn't give real macro, may be a bit close up only. Can somebody explain those type of lenses.

Thanks

[PacAce]

I have a lens that has a macro button on it (an old EF), but it doesn't give real macro, may be a bit close up only. Can somebody explain those type of lenses.

Thanks

There's really nothing to explain more than what you just said. It allows you go focus closer than is normal for that type of lens. Did you know that the popular EF 28-135 IS will focus in the macro range although it won't give you 1:1? Comes in handy for those flower shots although you might be hard pressed to get a really big picture of a tiny insect with it.

:)

[Canon10Digital]

Thanx everyone for the info. And believe me i know im not going to stop at one lens, i already have a bunch picked out, but its all about the money right now. The 24-70 2.8 just seemed like a good place to start.

[eric1]

i bought the Sigma 105EX. it's a good macro lens, and it was on sale
at a local shop going out of business for $200.

eric1

[alsmith]

Please help me with the 1:1 and 1:7.5 stuff what does that mean?

[DC]

Please help me with the 1:1 and 1:7.5 stuff what does that mean?

As stated earlier it is the ratio of actual size to size on film. So a 1:1 ratio means that for every 1mm actual size, it will occupy 1mm of a 35mm frame.

or put another way divide actual size by the ratio ie 15mm / 7.5 = 2mm. That's a 15mm subject, shot with a 1:7.5 ratio occupies 2mm of a 35mm frame

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Thanx everyone for the info. And believe me i know im not going to stop at one lens, i already have a bunch picked out, but its all about the money right now. The 24-70 2.8 just seemed like a good place to start.

The 24-70L is a great lens. You can add either or both from a close-up filter or extension tubes to use this lens for macros.

Neither option is at all expensive (especially compared to the price of the lens :) ). I've got some info about the 500D close-up filter here:

http://www.rogercavanagh.com/helpinfo/18_500D.htm

Regards,