Library Archive Macro Setup?

[Vita Rara]

I have a need to figure out a Macro setup for a library to shoot artifacts. The library has received an offer to buy a camera, lens and tripod of appropriate configuration.

The subject material is Masonic in nature. The smallest items would be lapel pins of the traditional square and compasses. They also have a lot of medals with engravings from 0.5 inches to 1.5 inches.

The working area is small. The archivist can only get back about 3 feet from the subject with the way her working area is configured.

Current equipment thoughts are the Digital Rebel w/18-55 kit lens, either of the 50mm f/2.5 Macro or the 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM, and a tripod that can be weighted. No flash as it can't be used with historical artifacts.

I'm not a macro photographer so I have two questions:

1. For subjects as small as a lapel pin and the medals which macro lens would you get?

2. If she weights the tripod should that negate mostly the lack of mirror lock up on the Rebel?

Thanks,

Mark

[Scottes]

Skip the kit lens. It won't do what you want.

Skip the 50mm since it's 1:2 unless you get the life-size adapter to get it to 1:1. I wouldn't think that 1:2 would be enough for lapel pins. And the working distance is quite small for this lens.

The Canon 100mm macro is a very very fine lens. My concern here would be the largest item to be photographed - you might not be able to back up enough.

You might also want to take a look at the Sigma and Tamron macro lenses. A Sigma 105mm Macro is $100 cheaper than a Canon, and it's a very fine lens for what you wish to do. (The Canon is still a better lens, but it seems like you might be trying to save some cash.)


Speaking of that, if you can only back up 3 feet then a tripod will be very difficult. It sounds like you can't back up more that 3 feet - but can you get to within 6 inches (or less)? You will need to get within about 6 inches of a lapel pin to get it as large as possible in the frame.


As to mirror lockup, simply stay away from shots with a shutter speed between 1/5 to 1/30 (I think that's the range). This can be done fairly easily with a smaller/larger aperture setting. So this shouldn't be a probem. I don't think that weighting the tripod will help at all, because the mirror slap causes the camera to vibrate, not the tripod. It may help a little but changing the aperture will be much easier.


As for a tripod You probably don't need much of one, since it will be indoors and supporting a light setup. A $50 tripod from your local camera store would do - maybe. See Below.

The head is what will be important to you, since macro can be finicky to set up. Ideally I think that a gear head would be perfect, but the price may put you over the edge. The cheapest one I could find is $178. So get a 3-way pan/tilt which is the next best thing. A $50 tripod will often have a head already, but it might not be the greatest, though it may serve you well enough. My cheap tripod served me fine for many months and I still use it when indoors.

Be aware though that a nice tripod and head will make life easier. If you can afford it. For instance a Manfrotto 3021 Pro has an arm that can be set parallel to the floor and extended out a couple feet. It can get you into places when you can't move the item to be photographed. And a good head is *much* better than a $50 tripod with head. But for the decent stuff you're in for $300+.