TEACH ME!!!!!!!!!!!

[BigAlz1]

Ok I want to learn to take shots like this,http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=706035
With my gear listed below can I get this type of shot with adding a Canon 25mm ex. tube? I am new to macro (not new, I have never done it!) and need advice. I like the specs on the Tamron 90mm macro and the Canon 100mm macro, but will my 85mm with an ex tube do the trick of getting me close? What about my 17-55 it is the closest focusing lens I have maybe the tube would put me up close and personal with that one.
Any thoughts would help.

Oh one more thing, does Canon's 25mm ex tube decrease IQ at all? Also I have heard of some people using more then one tube is that possible?

[LordV]

Before you try to go for shots like that one , you really need to learn to shoot at 1:1 magnification of a standard macro lens.
You could get close to 1:1 with your 85mm lens and a full set of say Kenko extension tubes (68mm) which will give 0.8:1 mag.

If you want to experience shooting at higher mags than 1:1 you could either reverse mount your 18-55 onto the camera body (there are adapters available for this) but you lose easy aperture control like this, or you could reverse your 18-55 onto the front of the 85 mm (again there are reversing lens couplers available for this).

A real prime macro lens is just easier to handle and you can use extension tubes with that to increase the magnification from 1:1 to 2:1.
The lens actually used for the linked shot was an MPE-65 which is a rather specialised and expensive high power macro lens not recommended for newbies to macro.

Brian V.

[BigAlz1]

OK well you got way in over my head already. You was talking about my 17-55 right?
Yeah I am not trying to take a cheap way out or anything like that just wanted to know if there was a way to start with the tubes but I must not have the right stuff so a new lens it is ;)

[Desertraptor]

Look up
Kenko tubes - these are glassless tubes that go between the camera and lens to increase Mag. Cost $160.00 Australian so maybe $140ish US

Tele converters - another tube with a reverse lens that goes between camera and lens. Cost about the same as the tubes.

Canon lenses
100mm Macro - Macro plus can be used as a normal lens (good to start out)
MP-E65 - Dedicated 1x - 5x macro

Plus you will likely need a decent flash and diffuser

[John_B]

Ok I want to learn to take shots like this,http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=706035
With my gear listed below can I get this type of shot with adding a Canon 25mm ex. tube?
No, unless you do extreme cropping in software to your photo. You won't even be able to get that photo with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 unless you use a full set of Kenko extension tubes or extreme cropping.

I like the specs on the Tamron 90mm macro and the Canon 100mm macro, but will my 85mm with an ex tube do the trick of getting me close? What about my 17-55 it is the closest focusing lens I have maybe the tube would put me up close and personal with that one.
You will need at least 85mm of extension tubes to get 1:1 life size macro with the 85mm lens. To get the magnification in the photo you will probably need 2:1 or more.

[Photo-by-Leal]

Look up
Kenko tubes - these are glassless tubes that go between the camera and lens to increase Mag. Cost $160.00 Australian so maybe $140ish US

Tele converters - another tube with a reverse lens that goes between camera and lens. Cost about the same as the tubes.

Canon lenses
100mm Macro - Macro plus can be used as a normal lens (good to start out)
MP-E65 - Dedicated 1x - 5x macro

Plus you will likely need a decent flash and diffuser

+2 yeap!

[BigAlz1]

I see that B&H is out of the Canon 100mm am looking at eBay now, and I see that the tubes are a must. Thanks guys.

[Kevin W]

Adorama has this lens for $490.00...best price i've seen.

[BigAlz1]

Out-of-stock same as B&H