28-135 IS USM for macro

[45R]

Has anyone tried using this lens for marco work. I tried shooting a few images of a 9" folder last night and they turned out really bad. I had it set on a tripod with mirror lock up at 135mm.

Any examples would be great. Thanks a bunch!!!



45R

[PacAce]

Has anyone tried using this lens for marco work. I tried shooting a few images of a 9" folder last night and they turned out really bad. I had it set on a tripod with mirror lock up at 135mm.

Any examples would be great. Thanks a bunch!!!



45R

Although the 28-135 IS has a "macro" range setting and allows you to get closer up than is usual for a "regular" lens, it really isn't a true macro lens per se. But, having said, that I have used it for close up shots of flowers. Here are a couple of examples if you care to take a look:

http://tanseikai.com/tanseikai/flowers-2.htm
http://tanseikai.com/tanseikai/flowers-3.htm

All shots on these pages were shot using the 28-135 IS with the 550EX and a Lumiquest Ultrasoft diffuser except for the Rhododendron and the "yellow flower" on the 2nd pags which were shot outdoors.

[Note: I just started using the Firefox browser a few days ago and I just found out that my web pages aren't working 100% like they're suppsed to so the name of the flowers aren't being updated like they should be. Bummer! :evil: (They do work fine in IE, though.) ]

[msnow]

PacAce--those look pretty nice to me.

45R--I've used the 28-135 for some macro shots and I think the trick is a) make sure the IS is off when on the tripod b) use the flash and c) don't use all three of the extension tubes at the same time.

[45R]

45R--I've used the 28-135 for some macro shots and I think the trick is a) make sure the IS is off when on the tripod b) use the flash and c) don't use all three of the extension tubes at the same time.

Would anyone be kind enough to explain to me how extension tubes work? I've moved from point and shoot photography to a dSLR. It was pretty easy to set up the Canon G5 and fire away.

here are a few from the G5 but I cant even get close to that with the IS USM lens

http://www.pbase.com/image/28982370.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/image/29137366.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/image/29137363.jpg

Thanks for the tips guys![/img]

[robertwgross]

An extension tube moves the focus distance for a particular lens.

Let's say you have a lens that will focus from infinity down to 2 feet. With a short extension tube added, the same lens might focus from 8 feet down to 10 inches. That might be just the ticket to getting a flower closeup.

Since I do not use any regular macro lens, this is my way of getting closeups.

The only problem is that the Depth of Field gets kind of squirrely. Use your Depth of Field Preview button to try to see what is really in focus, or not.

---Bob Gross---

[45R]

Thanks for the tips guys!!! Now just out of curiousity.....why would IS cause blurr?

I shot these today with the IS off with MLU and 2 sec timer. This is much better!




http://www.pbase.com/image/30973850.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/image/30959576.jpg

Your kindess and knowledge has made this journey a fun one!!!

[Hot Opal]

G/Day 45R,
My understanding is that if you use Image Stabilasation while the camera is stationary (ie: on a tripod) the gyros in the lens are still operating trying to find two identical images to compare.
Which also to my understanding is how the lens determines how much movement you have.
Someone else may be able to explain it better.

[EoSD30fReAk]

i've used it many times for macro!

you have to set it to 135mm with IS off and then you'll be amazed what good macro work you can do!

here's an handheld example

http://img20.photobucket.com/albums/v59/EoSD30fReAk/others/butterfly.jpg

[tarves57]

This is probably something everyone knew (except me till recently!)... but just in case..... when you want a really close up picture with the 28-135, switch off the autofocus, zoom right in and then manually find the focus with the thinner focusing ring on the lens.

If you are in autofocus, you can't get up so close.

Don't have time to post photo cos I'm off to work, but might do later if I remember.

Susan

[robertwgross]

I like the green butterfly shot.

That's my kind of photo.

---Bob Gross---

[EoSD30fReAk]

I like the green butterfly shot.

That's my kind of photo.

---Bob Gross---

thanks it was one of my first photo's with the 28-135.

[robertwgross]

One reason the good green butterfly shot caught my eye is that I had just been using the same lens to shoot orange butterflies. When you get down that close, the autofocus gets unpredictable, and you have to switch over to manual mode. I trained my left hand to hit that AF/MF switch quickly.

---B.G.---

[EoSD30fReAk]

that's true

manual focussing is the best option for these shots.

although this shot was done with autofocus :wink:

[Mark Kemp]

Another good trick if you have to hand hold is to manually set the lens to its closest focus and rock your body back and forth to make the final adjustments. That way you aren't trying to keep dead still and focus at the same time. You only have one thing to adjust.