Stuck on Macro...

[D Boone]

Ok... so with all the macro questions floating around I found another one to ask! I want to take really close up insect photos. Some of these, you might not want to get all that close to! My question is this... Do I want the Canon 100mm with a 250D, or do I want a 70-200 4.0L with a 500D and possibly an extention tube? Maybe ebay the 75-300 I have? One more question!!! Is the 500D +4 like the 250D? B&H doesn't list the specs for it. And that would then bring the 70-200 to 1: .08. Do you think I will be happy with the size of my subjects with that set up? Or if I am going to be the macro nut I think I am I should just get the 100mm and save up again for the 70-200? Please help!!!

[Jon]

I assume you're referring to the 100 mm macro. That'll get you to 1:1 at about 400 mm camera-subject separation. Is that far enough away (about 1/2 that front of lens to subject)? If not, I would suggest using extension tubes on the 70-200 rather than close-up lenses. You'd need on the order of another 200 cm of tubes to get life-size at 200 mm (and a 400 mm subject-camera distance - over 15").

The 500D, IIRC will have you focussed on something at 1/2 metre with the lens at infinity, but won't give you a lot of magnification at that distance. It's a +2 (Diopter = 1/f.l (in metres)). The 250D (again, IIRC) changes focus to 25 cm (10 in.).

[DocFrankenstein]

I never used 500D

70-200 will give you minimal working distance of about 3-4 inches with the extension tubes. And you'll lose about 2-3 stops of light also.

If you want to take pictures of insects, you need 180mm macro.

[D Boone]

I was thinking that the 65mpe? I think thats right would be the way to go, but its good for nothing else. I really want both the 70-200 and the 100mm macro, but I was wondering if that would be overkill. Seems like the 100mm with a +4 250D would be 4:1 or 5:1. That sounds pretty big! Am I thinking about that right? With a 2x extention tube and a 250D on the 70-200 that would get to about 2:1, but It would be an F6? Please correct me if I am wrong!!!

[Jon]

With the 65 MPE you'd get beyond 1:1, but as you pass 1:1, your working distance starts to approach the lens' focal length. A 2xTC on the 100 mm macro would get you to 2X life size at f/5.6. But when you start combining macro lens' extensions, extension tubes, teleconverters and close-up lenses, there are so many variables that the safest way is to just put them all together and see what you get. Because the order you put them all together will affect the outcome. I think the 100 macro and +250 would be about 1.8:1 (EFL of 100 +250D is about 71 mm; max. extension (i) is 200 mm, subject dist. (o) 110 mm; i/o=1.8). Add a 2xTC and you have about 3.6:1.

[gasrocks]

Use the 100 macro and 2 extension tubes (they actually increase working distance.) That will be all the power you probably need at a good distance - say 4-6" in front of the lens. Want ot be further away? Get the 300 f/4 L IS and use the 1.4x, and 2 extension tubes. About life size from 3' away, roughly.

[tim]

I assume you're referring to the 100 mm macro. That'll get you to 1:1 at about 400 mm camera-subject separation.

I don't believe that's correct. B&H lists (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=194451&is=USA) the minimum focusing distance as 6 inches, I presume this is from the end of the lens, which is 154mm. That fits with my experience with this lens. Extension tubes will help increase that.

[J Rabin]

D: Close-up means different things to different folks. FYI: The Canon 70-200 with a 1.4 teleconverter on the back and a 500D diopter lens on the front (the 500D is a +2) together will give you a total of approx. 0.7x magnification with very long working distance for critters that don't like being approached, like butterflies, scorpions,snakes, etc. The advantage to this set up is the convenience of then having the 70-200 for other things.
The Canon 100mm macro gives true 1x magification with exactly 15cm between the front of lens to the subject. Of course you can back off and focus. It's just less than 1x mag.
The Daddy of all lenses for true 1x mag and increased working distance is the Canon 180mm f/3.5. But, it's a tripod mounted monster, not a stalker lens for most people. I've heard really good things about the new Sigma 150mm macro f/2.8. The compromise of working distance, price, focus speed, and 1/2 price on this lens will finally give folks an option for working distance.
Do a Google or Dogpile for Canon macrophotography and check other forums. Mostly check Tom Fitzharris's newly 2005 updated book from Firefly Books. It's a WHOLE BOOK OF CANON CLOSE-UP lens set up "RECIPIES." Enjoy

[D Boone]

Thanks for all the help... Except for the 70-200, which lens to buy seems a hard decsion to make. With macro it seems there are so many variables that make it that much harder....

[Jon]

I assume you're referring to the 100 mm macro. That'll get you to 1:1 at about 400 mm camera-subject separation.I don't believe that's correct. B&H lists (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=194451&is=USA) the minimum focusing distance as 6 inches, I presume this is from the end of the lens, which is 154mm. That fits with my experience with this lens. Extension tubes will help increase that.

You misquote me. If you'll note I said in the next sentence thatIs that far enough away (about 1/2 that front of lens to subject)?Camera-subject distance is the total distance between image plane and object plane. For a 100 mm lens at 1:1, that's 400 mm. And at 1:1, the distance from the lens nodal point to the image plane is equal to the distance from lens nodal point to the object plane, or 200 mm on a 100 mm. lens. The lens nodal point is the optical center of the lens.