New to SLR, let alone Macro, Questions though..

[KandJinIN]

So I never knew the name for the type of photography that I really enjoy, until I hopped on these forums and started exploring. I checked out the macro photo sharing forum, and knew I had found a name, and a goal with it. I have some questions though...

So I am awaiting my XTi to get here in the mail, it is a replacement for a stolen XT, and I am quite excited. I have some idea (some actually = little idea) on the workings and mechanics of Digital photography. That being said, I have checked to see the cheapest way to get into Macro. I have checked into the Kenko tubes, and am curious about the whole reversing a lens. I know some people have said they reversed the kit lens on the nifty fifty... how well does that work.. and what the heck does it look like. On that subject, how much would a reverse lens kit/attachment/thingymajig be? Also if I were to reverse the kit lense, would I still need extension tubes? What kind of mag does that create?

So I am realizing as I type this up, just how big of a n00b in photography - let alone macro that I really am. Any other help/tips that I would need to know would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[LordV]

You can do all sorts of things like reversing the kit lens onto the camera body (which gives upto 3:1 mag) or reversing lenses onto longer ones. For the cheapest good quality images think I'd advise getting a 50mm F1.8 and a set of kenko ext tubes. That will give you a max mag of 1.36:1 and you will be able to use the ext tubes on other lenses as well as a proper macro lens if you get one in the future.
Brian V.

[KandJinIN]

When you say a longer lens.. I am assuming that means that a kit lens on a 50mm doesn't work?

Next I think will be the 50 mm, and as I am broke, I will be saving up for a bit till I can get the extensions..

Thanks for the help though

[brecklundin]

if money is really tight...try out a set of the tubes w/o any electronics. A set is around $15-$20 shipped. They are VERY tedious to use but will work.

Or start haunting the best thrift stores in your area and watch for old 50mm fast lenses...you would be surprised what shows up there for $5-$10...you can reverse that lens setup and get better control than with the el cheapo tubes.

[LordV]

When you say a longer lens.. I am assuming that means that a kit lens on a 50mm doesn't work?

Next I think will be the 50 mm, and as I am broke, I will be saving up for a bit till I can get the extensions..

Thanks for the help though
A 50mm onto the kit lens will work and give mags upto 1.4:1 but optically not as good as just the 50mm and ext tubes.
Brian V.

[nuffi]

A 50mm onto the kit lens will work and give mags upto 1.4:1 but optically not as good as just the 50mm and ext tubes.
Brian V.

LordV, you talked about reversing a 50mm lens giving a 3:1 ratio.... It seems to me that an old FD lens would be very cheap (like an old 50 f/1.4) might be available for less than fifty bucks. You can get a camera cap for a few dollars and follow some instructions in another thread to make a dedicated macro lens that way. (This tip is here for the OP to think about, or else I would have started a new thread.)

I am wondering.... What are the differences in results doing that compared to using an mp-e65 @ 3:1? Is the DOF much different? Is the field of confusion better or worse? What about things like IQ and noise?

And would it be better attaching a 24mm 1.4 or an 85mm FD f/1.2L?

thanks!

[LordV]

LordV, you talked about reversing a 50mm lens giving a 3:1 ratio.... It seems to me that an old FD lens would be very cheap (like an old 50 f/1.4) might be available for less than fifty bucks. You can get a camera cap for a few dollars and follow some instructions in another thread to make a dedicated macro lens that way. (This tip is here for the OP to think about, or else I would have started a new thread.)

I am wondering.... What are the differences in results doing that compared to using an mp-e65 @ 3:1? Is the DOF much different? Is the field of confusion better or worse? What about things like IQ and noise?

And would it be better attaching a 24mm 1.4 or an 85mm FD f/1.2L?

thanks!

No a 50mm reversed tends to give around 1:1 I think- I was talking about the kit lens reversed gives a nice range from <1:1 to 3:1

DOF is purely dependant on aperture and magnification in macro - not the lens system.

Brian V.