Calling all T3i users!!!

WolfsPride wrote in post #16140835
Hopefully within the next month. Been sinking a ton of money into our landscaping around here but it was all a part of the deal with the wife haha

Shrewd move by you!

Ace and Deuce wrote in post #16140471
Today I actually had a Damsel fly in my hand, but my dumb ass used my right hand. I tried using my left to focus & snap a pic of it, but just couldn't make it happen, lol. If I would've had my 15-85mm on it would've been easy, but I had my macro lens on

hahaha...trying to imagine that.

What extension tubes do you have? Have you used them on the 15-85? I love that lens and i'm wondering if they would do well on it.

When I shoot macro I just use my 100mm, no tubes or extenders. I only use an extender if I'm going to shoot something stationary, like money, a toy, candle, etc... I haven't tried it, nor the tubes on the 15-85 yet.

Ace,
You have a Macro ring flash?

I do have one, a cheap one that got good reviews. I can't get it to sync right or something, it goes off, but the pic is dark as hell. Only messed with it once so far, though.

Just trying to figure out your secret for the amazing insect macros you get lol

Thanks, but nothing special, man. 100mm macro lens, 430ex II flash usually set to -1 flash compensation, cheap plastic diffuser on flash. That's it, nothing out of the ordinary at all, just make sure your focus is good.

greenjeans wrote in post #16140297
Great shot.

I just love this - will be looking to emulate it in spring!

Ace and Deuce wrote in post #16140440
Thanks for the comments, guys! Much appreciated!

Wolf - awesome lightning shots!!! Don't be afraid to get right in those bugs faces!

Bas - Great seeing you in here again, been a while. Love the hover!! It says you shot it at 90mm using a 24-70mm lens?

Dutch - I can always tell a picture is yours before I look at who posted it, always a nice shot!

Rosey - I'm jealous of the scenery that you have at your disposal, beautiful!

Agree about Mike's lightning shots!! We don't tend to get that kind of lightning here, and doubt I'd be quick enough to capture it anyway

Ace - thanks. I'm tending to revisit the same places, but always different light of course. i'm thinking of getting a macro lens for myself for Christmas - would only be the Tamron 90 f/2.8 though, if I do. So could be looking for tips if I do

Ace and Deuce wrote in post #16140993
When I shoot macro I just use my 100mm, no tubes or extenders. I only use an extender if I'm going to shoot something stationary, like money, a toy, candle, etc... I haven't tried it, nor the tubes on the 15-85 yet.

I agree with Ace... Extension tubes are not that great when you try to use them outdoors. Problem is the effective aperture, as you all probably already knew.

Simple formula to calculate effective aperture with extension tubes:

Set aperture * (1+(extensions / focal length)) = Effective aperture

Example, Set aperture = f10, 21mm extension tube with 35mm prime lens:

10 * (1+(21 / 35)) = 16

An extension tube increases lens magnification by an amount equal to the extension distance divided by the lens focal length.
For example, adding a 21mm extension tube to a 35mm lens will give a magnification gain of 0.60x.
So, if the lens's original magnification was 0.17x, then the new magnification will be 0.17x+0.60x=0.77x. (Where 0.5 = 1:2, 1 = 1:1 etc)

These formulas are from very old finnish photography book. My copy of the book is printed 1987
I think most of you already knew these formulas, I just hope heres someone who didn't know math behind extensions and will find these formulas useful...

riekkuja wrote in post #16142341
I agree with Ace... Extension tubes are not that great when you try to use them outside. Problem is the effective aperture, as you all probably already know.

Simple formula to calculate effective aperture with extension tubes:

Set aperture * (1+(extensions / focal length)) = Effective aperture

Example, Set aperture = f10, 21mm extension tube with 35mm prime lens:

10 * (1+(21 / 35)) = 16

An extension tube increases lens magnification by an amount equal to the extension distance divided by the lens focal length.
For example, adding a 21mm extension tube to a 35mm lens will give a magnification gain of 0.60x.
So, if the lens's original magnification was 0.17x, then the new magnification will be 0.17x+0.60x=0.77x. (Where 0.5 = 1:2, 1 = 1:1 etc)

These formulas are from very old finnish photography book. My copy of the book is printed 1987
I think most of you already knew these formulas, I just hope heres someone who didn't know math behind extensions...

I didn't know the maths, and not really too much into it to be honest I just want to get the shots but thanks for the info.

roseyposey wrote in post #16142349
I didn't know the maths, and not really too much into it to be honest I just want to get the shots but thanks for the info.

Haha, yep... I think my point of view is very "Finnish"... I just need to know math behind everything

riekkuja wrote in post #16142363
Haha, yep... I think my point of view is very "Finnish"... I just need to know math behind everything

Each to his own

I didn't know the math, but I do know it's pretty hard to get a great shot using tubes or an extender outdoors. When you do get a great shot, it really is impressive, but I like my 'keeper' rate being 75%+ instead of 5%.

I had the opportunity to go to Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia yesterday with a friend. Both of us are amateur photographers, and we spent a few hours wandering around just shooting pictures of whatever struck our fancy. I have a new to me Tamron 17-50 lens that I'm trying out, and the jury is still out as to whether or not I like it. It seems to have some trouble with autofocus when shot completely open - something I only began to read about after I had already spent the day shooting - so next time I might try choosing a different f-stop and reserving 2.8 for when I want to do something a little more artistic.

Here are a few of my favorites:

I like this one. I know that the highlights are completely blown out, but I thought it really added to the picture in this case. The place is spooky. This captures it, I think.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/monack/93400176​92/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/monack/93400185​30/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/monack/93399685​70/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/monack/93372441​81/