50mm f1.8mm vs a Macro

[burgoid]

hey i was just wondering weather the canon 50mm f1.8 can do the work of a macro lens? ie. for flower and insect pics

[tim]

Nope, it's terrible for that. If you try and have it focus near it's minimum focusing distance it won't focus accurately, narrow apertures might make up for it a bit. Quick answer: no.

[prime80]

While it's not the best in the world for macro, it'll do in a pinch. I've used mine for some macro type shots that have turned out pretty well.

[burgoid]

alright so i should still look into getting amcro lens then?

[Sean-Mcr]

Yeah you should look at a macro, i have the 50mm 1.4 and a great lens it is; But macro is not one of its strengths. Nor was it designed to be.

These two are something you should be looking at

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=47&sort=7&cat=2&page=2

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=134&sort=7&cat=38&page=1

[KevNJ]

I have the 100m. Awesome lens. Only had it just about 2 weeks now. Have taken about 300 pictures with it. So not much experience with it. But I find it to be awesome. Only bad thing is it searchs for a focus on autofocus. But Ive switched to only manual with it now, and on the manual end I have no complaints.

[Ballen Photo]

alright so i should still look into getting amcro lens then?
Or a set of extension tubes. Another option would be a set of bellows. ;)
-Bruce

[RAitch]

I've been using the 50mm with the kenko extension tubes. It does a good job... but I'm new to macro.

[burgoid]

i've heard that extensions tubes can be used to turn a standard lens to macro but how do they work?

[blinking8s]

if you want macro do it right and get a macro, ghetto macrfo is never as clean...and the 50 1.8 is amazing for the price, but the 1.4 is worth every penny more.

ive read tamrons 90mm macro or whatever is pretty bad ass, same for sigmas 150, and we all the know canon 100mm can hold its own...

[burgoid]

what makes the f1.4 so much better over the 1.8 besides the bohek (sp.)

[blinking8s]

build quality and manual focus ring w/scale mainly

but since we're on the subject...my eyes are def caught by the sigma 30mm that just came out...much more useful focal length for me...

[CorruptedPhotographer]

I have the 50 1.8 II, its "ok" for macro, as other have said, in a pinch, although its not 1:1, its not a real macro lens. the sigma 105mm is a great macro lens

[RAitch]

i've heard that extensions tubes can be used to turn a standard lens to macro but how do they work?

They go between your lens and the camera which changes the dynamics of the lens. Basically, it allows the lens to get much closer to the subject by changing the focus and working distance.

The 50 1.8 with all 3 tubes attached can only focus on a subject when it's somewhere around 2 or 3 inches from the subject.

The Kenko tubes are really cheap ($250CAD) and you already have EF lenses (EF-S don't work) so it's a nice way to get macro. Plus, with the 3 piece set, you can change just how close you get. It only takes a couple seconds to flip flop the tubes.
It works well with my 70-200L also.

if you want macro do it right and get a macro, ghetto macrfo is never as clean...and the 50 1.8 is amazing for the price, but the 1.4 is worth every penny more.

ive read tamrons 90mm macro or whatever is pretty bad ass, same for sigmas 150, and we all the know canon 100mm can hold its own...

Sure, if you want to spend around $1000 then get a macro lens. Now you have another big lens to tote around that generally only works at a certain working distance.
If you have tubes, you can mix them with all of your lenses to get different results.

I wouldn't say 'Ghetto macro is never as clean' when in fact using tubes IS macro and is a very valid way of doing macro photography. I think a lot of it has to do with the photographer. It's all about what you do with the equipment you have... and not about how much money you spend on it.
I've seen some pretty sharp images using macros lenses and that's a great way to go if you have the cash... but at the same time, I've seen some pretty nice tube shots.

From my experimentation... the 1.4 might be worth every penny more... but not for the extra stop. I haven't used a 1.4, but the 1.8 open more than f3.2 is pretty bad. I'd buy it for the build quality and USM but not the extra stop. I never drop the 1.8 below 2.8 now, and when I do it's usually a test that doesn't work out.

[ed rader]

coupled with a canon 250d close up lens the 50mm lens does pretty well. the close up lens screws onto the end of the 50mm lens like a filter, and the canon diopters are much better than the single element cheapies.

ed rader

[foxbat]

Sure, if you want to spend around $1000 then get a macro lensHow much?? The popular Canon 100mm is $449.95 at BH. Even the esoteric MP-E 65 is $799

[kawter2]

you can get a 50mm 2.5 macro for about 250 and it is also a GREAT.. but yeah the standard 1.4 & 1.8 flavors wouldn't be in my macro lineup

[RAitch]

How much?? The popular Canon 100mm is $449.95 at BH. Even the esoteric MP-E 65 is $799

USD? I'm Canadian so that's pretty close to $1000CAD (sorry I left currency out).

Either way, macro is fun.

I'm not a big fan of the diopters. I had a closeup set with my old S5000 and they didn't work that well. Plus, the ones you buy will only work with a certain size of lens unless you use step rings... which starts pulling the lens farther away.
I was always getting finger prints on them too. That's another reason why I like the tubes, you can switch them in and out and hang onto the extra ones with a spare finger or just throw them in your pocket without worrying. Just make sure there's not a lot of crap in them when you put them back on. No 'cleaning' required.

I still want a 100mm macro... and for $450US or $600CAD that's not too bad... but I still can't afford that right now. Plus my wife would freak on me if she saw another lens.

[Andy_T]

You can use it for Macro work ... if you don't mount it the 'normal way'...

Take a look here:
EOS lens reversing adapter (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80902)

Best regards,
Andy

[Ballen Photo]

You can use it for Macro work ... if you don't mount it the 'normal way'...

Take a look here:
EOS lens reversing adapter (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80902)
Andy, I've been looking at a similar device, only in M42 mount, with intentions of possibly using it on a set of bellows. Any thoughts on this?
-Bruce