Macro questions

[rab3rd]

I am currently saving up for a 5d, after I buy that I am going to save for the MP-E 65mm. What type of lighting are you guys using and is bugs all that gets shot?

[rab3rd]

Ok, thanks then....

[alliec]

Most guys that use the MPe-65 me included either use the MT24ex or an external flashgun mounted of camera on a flash bracket. I have used both a 430ex speedlite and am currently using the MT24ex twinflash, both give excellent results but will need some form of diffusion to soften the light. I primarily use the MPE for photographing the smaller insets and extreme close ups of the larger bugs. With a 5d you will be able to get slightly larger bugs but a 1:1 macro lens will still be needed such as Canon 100mm, Tamron 90mm, Sigma 105mm etc for the larger insects and such.

[rab3rd]

Thanks, doent the MP-E do 1:1?

[alliec]

it goes from x1 to x5 life size, but dosent focus to infinity. You have to within 4inches at x1 and 1.6 inches at x5 to achieve focus. I think you will only be ablt to fit bugs about 25mm maximum in the frame, hence why a standard macro lens is also required if you want to shoot larger insects.

[rab3rd]

thanks, good to know. So a 100mm (or 60mm) macro would be a more useful lens to start with I am guessing

[alliec]

Yes definatley, the MPe-65 is pretty specalised, manual focus only etc. Get the 60mm or 100mm and some extension tubes (you will get 2:1 magnification then) and get to grips with that then get the MPe, it is an awesome lens.

Here is a shot with it.

[rab3rd]

Nice, but that only makes me want the MP-E 65 even more......Ever shot anything other than bugs with it?

[Ran_photography]

Idt you can use the 60mm on a 5d can you? I thought it was a full frame? Aren't EF-S lenses ( such as the 60mm ) unable to be used on a full frame? I may be wrong. I'm not even sure what EF-S means.

[troypiggo]

That's correct. On the 5D you can only use EF lenses, not EF-S.[1]

I'd go with either the Canon 100mm macro lens, or the Sigma 105mm macro. The Sigma is cheaper and just as good, if not better. Better do some researching there...

As Alistair recommends, get the 100 or 105 first. They only go 1:1 max mag (without tubes), but you can also use them as portrait lenses etc because they can focus to "infinity". The MPE-65 can only shoot 1:1 to 5:1. You could not use it to shoot a portrait of a person for example. The biggest object you would be able to shoot is something the size of you sensor IIUC.

[1] Think I may have read somewhere that if you put an extension tube between EF-S lens and full-frame camera you can use it, but you may get vignetting or something. The "S" stands for short backfocus or something like that.