First Macros with Nifty-Fifty and Tubes

[BearLeeAlive]

These are a few of the images I got on Saturday doing my first ever attept at macro photography. I used an EF 50 f1.8 and 48mm of Kenko extension tubes. I thought this inexpensive setup would not look great, but for a couple hours of crawing through my wifes flowers I am pleased with results as they can only get better...Right? LOL

Any C&C would be appreciated. In time I will get a good macro lens and talke it to higher levels.

I am not sure what the name of these inscects is so any ideas there would be great too.

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/gallery/652237/1/27984463http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/gallery/652237/1/27984494http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/27984494-M.jpg
http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/gallery/652237/1/27984463

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/gallery/652237/1/27984467
http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/27984467-M.jpg


http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/gallery/652237/1/27984483http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/27984456-M.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/27984483-M.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/27984463-M.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/gallery/652237/1/27984456

I hope this works out well as another first I am trying is a new smugmug account and linking to it.

[GyRob]

er cant see any pic,s
Rob

[BearLeeAlive]

I have to figure out linking to smugmug, thought I had it.

[BearLeeAlive]

This is the link to the page, I think this is what I was trying to post. Sorry, please have patience with this Newbie.

Macro Page (http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/gallery/652237/1/27984456)

[Drk Orange]

The links work now. Nice photos. :)

[cameron]

those are prettty sweet.

can you explain your setup in more detail? maybe even post a photo of your camera setup? thanks!

[V6GTO]

The shots that show are great! Now you're hooked and will be spending huge piles of cash on more gear! :lol:

Martin.

[GyRob]

SEE THEM NOW AND they look rather good .
Rob.

[cmM]

cool shots, I like them. I"m surprised you didn't scare the bugs. I bet they were like 1" from the lens :D

[BearLeeAlive]

Thanks for looking all. I plan to try an learn more from the masters here. The one thing I think is distracting (though some of the others around me disagree) is the saturation of the pinkish/purple flowers. Should I tone it down a bit?

can you explain your setup in more detail? maybe even post a photo of your camera setup? thanks!

Used my 20D with a 36mm & 12 mm Kenko extension tubes with a EF 50 F1.8 attached. I was surprised at the images myself. As it was all hand held stuff I did find focusing in the narrow DOF trying (I just used MF an teetered back and forth.....LOL).

I really want to get a real macro lens, likey the Sigma 150, but my wife/bookeepper says I have to wait as all the gear in my singature has been bought within the last 90 days.

The one nice thing about the setup I am using is the weight (or lack thereof) and as I do a bit of climbing and backpacking this is a bonus.

[BearLeeAlive]

cool shots, I like them. I"m surprised you didn't scare the bugs. I bet they were like 1" from the lens :D

Actually, I was about 2" away, crawling through my wifes flowers. Many did scare off. I found if I first place the camera near then slowly stuck my eye in the view finder this made them less skitish.

Another drawback of this setup it seems is the lack of distance focusing. The butterfly image is only slightly cropped from the original. I could not get seem to get a shot of the entire butterfly in the view finder.

[Leorooster]

Lovely shots. Very colorful!

[BottomBracket]

Man, I'd like to see what you can do with a 'real' macro lens. Those are great shots you have there.

[Bald Eagle]

awesome shots, very impressive work, especially being hand-held. i also got a new extension tube, the one i now have is the 25mm. I wasnt sure wether i'd be happy with the extensions, but, boy, was i wrong, they are impressive and work extremely well. great job on the photos.

[erdavis]

Excellent shots!

[mrclark321]

Those are excellent shots Jim!

Dan

[Ogrt48]

Are these 1:1 macros using this kind of setup?

[BearLeeAlive]

Thanks for the nice comments all.

The ratio is 48:50 so as close to 1:1 as you can get. I can add more tubes for even more magnification is desired.

[BlanceEMT]

i very much like them. cant wait to see what you do with a real macro setup

[BearLeeAlive]

Thanks BlanceEMT, can't wait to get that 'real' macro lens, flash too.

[chemicalbro]

Thanks for the nice comments all.

The ratio is 48:50 so as close to 1:1 as you can get. I can add more tubes for even more magnification is desired.

i take it you got something like an 11mm in the set.................. shove that on too
and use your efs-17-85 your mag range with that baby will be from 0.6x to 3.4x (altho at 17mm focal length you prolly won't get close enough to enably the 3 times mag , try it in the mid focal lengths.......) being kenko tubes i am assuming they retain electronic contact with the lens, theres a good chance your IS will work too :)

you can decide what is a safe distance before the critter flys........... and use your zoom to focus (kinda like moving macro bellows in and out)

i've had great results with a full set of extensions and believe it or not the efs 18-55

i do prefer the 50 1.8 on my 31 and 21mm extensions (gives slightly over 1:1) and you know its a cracking lens for quality so any oof or dodgyness is user error :)

[Rob612]

I had to post this... was too funny :D :D :D


http://www.digitalpics.it/forumlnk/error.jpg

[rockyc2]

OOPS! I can't see them. Smugmug is under maintanance right now. I can't even see my smugmug site.:cry: You will love the 150 when you get it.

Rocky

[BearLeeAlive]

i take it you got something like an 11mm in the set.................. shove that on too
and use your efs-17-85 your mag range with that baby will be from 0.6x to 3.4x (altho at 17mm focal length you prolly won't get close enough to enably the 3 times mag , try it in the mid focal lengths.......) being kenko tubes i am assuming they retain electronic contact with the lens, theres a good chance your IS will work too :)

My set is a Kenko with 12/20/36 mm tubes. They won't fit onto my EF-S 17-85. They do retain electronic contact fine with my EF 50 or EF 70-200. Stacking 68 mm on the EF 50 is great magnification for small critters by something like a bumblee bee is to big for the frame.

you can decide what is a safe distance before the critter flys........... and use your zoom to focus (kinda like moving macro bellows in and out)

I to found it easiest to focus with the zoom, or sometimes by moving in and out. I never try to use auto focus, it just searches too much.

i've had great results with a full set of extensions and believe it or not the efs 18-55

You must have other than Kenko tubes I imagine, in order to use an EF-S lens.

i do prefer the 50 1.8 on my 31 and 21mm extensions (gives slightly over 1:1) and you know its a cracking lens for quality so any oof or dodgyness is user error :)

I too prefer my EF 50 but do use the EF 70-200 when I need more distance to the subject.

Since I took these pics I have done lots more macros with these tubes, many of which turned out great. I will try to get some of them processed and posted here soon.

[D Boone]

BearLee, I started off in the spring with much the same setup. They do work great although, it can be very frustrating with all the moving back and forth to get focused. I wish those kenko tubes would fit ef-s lens, i think they would work great with the kit lens. The fifty takes some tack sharp pics though, even though i can't get a look at yours. I am dying for a 70-200L, and I bet they would work well paired with that lens. I use them sometimes on my 75-300, and although it makes taking the same picture a whole lot easier, the lens sharpness leaves something to be desired.

[chemicalbro]

You must have other than Kenko tubes I imagine, in order to use an EF-S lens.

yeah i've got a set of jessops 13, 21 and 31mm tubes they have the red mark on them for normal ef lenses and also the white square for efs lenses.... and i assume the inside of the tubes is constructed different to alow for the Short back focus....

thats a shame coz IS on extension tubes woulda been nice ;)

[BearLeeAlive]

thats a shame coz IS on extension tubes woulda been nice ;)

It sure would be nice to gain a bit more shutter speed or DOF. How much did your tubes cost. These were only 100 USD. I bought them to play with until I get a 'real' macro lens.

[chemicalbro]

They retail at £75 (about $135) from jessops obviously :)
but i got mine from a cool little second hand camera shop in Glasgow for £30
here's a pic of them.
(i also got them as a stopgap between a dedicated macro lens.... i'm gonna go for the sigma 150mm ex dg)

http://hellmouth.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tubes.jpg