Macro gear for beginner

[boubou]

I have a 400D, and I'm interested by macro pictures and getting close to Nature. So I would like to buy some gear for this futur passion. I will take pictures of insect, so I was thinking about the Canon 100 2.8 Macro, I heard exellent review of that lens. Will it be enought for the beginning, or should I buy something else? Maybe a good book for beginner in Macro pictures?? Some advices.

[Peepaw]

The Canon 100 mm macro lens would be an excellant first macro lens.

[poorARTstudent85]

that was the first macro lens i bought when i got my xti back at christmas and im glad i hadnt gone any other way. its an amazing lens that is super sharp. i would definitly recommend this lens to you.

[Bill Pham]

they all are excellent depent on what you want to do with it. i'm one of the 100 macro fan myself. will get the mpe-65 next.

Bill

[boubou]

All right, I think I will order it soon, and do my first macro pictures with it. I'm sure I will enjoy it. Do I need something else to start, or will my 400D and the 100 macro be enough? Do you know a good book to learn with. Thanks for your advises.

[AlphaChicken]

if you are serious about macro photog, i would get an external flash, flash bracket, and flash sync cord next. If you need ideas for gear setups there is a great thread sticky in this forum where everyone posts their macro rigs/setups.

[LordV]

Best way to learn is just practice and ask questions here:)
You will probably also need an external flash gun with a softbox type diffuser. This is probably better mounted on a flash bracket with an off camera cord but that is not absolutely necessary.
Some hints/tips and setups here on how I do my shots
http://www.flickr.com/groups/topic/66514/

Brian V.

[AlphaChicken]

Ooops yea forgot the diffuser thing. def get that. flash bracket makes whole setup much easier to hold as well.

[dpastern]

Yup, really do recommend the Canon 100mm, it is a cracking lens. The diffuser/flash/offshoe adaptor/flash bracket are recommended as well. Some people like to use a tripod for their macro work too, but in all honesty I wouldn't recommend it.

Dave

[racketman]

extension tubes will help you get closer to the smaller bugs. kenko do a set.

[Alan Neilson]

Something around the 100mm mark is I think the best way to start, so you have the choice of a few lenes Tamaron 90mm, canon and tokina 100mm and sigma 105mm. Then with the crop factor will seem slightly longer and you also have a handy short telephoto as well. Which lens you go for is upto you, they are all reasonable, and will give good results. There will be fans of all lenes on the forum.

As has has been already said having the flash on a bracket would be useful, as would extension tubes, but these can be added in time, along with other things like an angle finder. As Lord V said get out there and pratice and read the posts. He knows what he is talking about when it comes to macro shots.

[AlphaChicken]

I have the 100mm canon macro and cannot recommend it enough. MAN its SHARP.