Lens for shiny rings and things

Just have my finger over the BUY button on the Canon 60mm Macro, the main reason for the lens is to shot small stuff like rings and other shiny stuff.

Not that bothered about being far away from items (ie the 100mm is not an issue) also the 60 could for me double up as a portrait lens.

Any how, does anyone have shots of shiny rings with the 60mm and give me any tips for shoting that kind of stuff.

Cheers

R

Gah..when I read the title, I was all ready to suggest the 60. Fantastically sharp. Any lens can do that kind of stuff. It's all in the metering, lighting, and depth of field.

The 60 is a great lens if you are OK with the working distance and the EF-S mount. Personally I'd rather have the 100mm but that's just me - I want to be able to use it on my film camera also

hey there,

I would watch out with that ef-s mount. you may like the lens to much and be stuck with an ef-s body.

Rian

Hmm.......sounds like me

Not wanting to rubbish the 60mm which a great lens but here are a few points to chew on.

Apart from the EF-S issue I just note that for portrait work f2.8 is not that fast at this focal length, ie there is the 50/1.4 which would allow more DOF control.

Just touching on the distance thing, more distance will allow easier lighting control, its not just useful for bugs.

The 100mm macro makes a long but quite good portrait lens as the f2.8 with the longer focal length allows good control of DOF, very good length for small kids on a crop camera.

A few other points the 100mm has that the 60mm doesn't:
a) AF range switch to keep up AF speed in normal photography
b) Possible to use the B tripod mount adaptor with a cheap plastic adaptor, does not look like you can use a TMA at all with the 60mm, could be important for studio macro work.

Thanks for all your replys,

Sorry it's too late, I have the 60mm in my hand now, just playing with it. For portraits I have the 50mm f1.4 so with this combo I should do all right. Mostly the thing I want to macro are just objects, so them running away it not an issue.

Shall report back latter to say how it goes.

R

This was about the third of fourth shot with my new baby 60mm, very pleased with it so far, all I need to do now is sort the lighting and remeber to clean items and remove every fibre and bit of lint from the rings

Great lens I have done other macros and some none macro work with it today and so far it's super sharp. Love it

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I'd like to know what this issue is with EF-S?! Get the 60 it's a great lens.

I have EF-S (20D) and love it! The benefits of EF-S to me far outweight any so called negatives.

Get it and love it.

just dont plan on upgrading.

Rian

It is a great lens but it depends what you plan to do.

There is the FF upgrade issue, personally I have a policy of not getting an EF-S if there is an EF alternative, but that is not really the issue here.

Many prefer the 100mm for more working distance and its still quite a light lens. I know somee have got the lens and found the WD to be a problem for insect work - not an issue for the OP.

As far as I can see the EF-S is just a bit lighter but missing important features available on the 100mm, can you list your advantages for this lens.

What I was talking about was why a FF camera? Why not stick with EF-S?

Ryan
I don't see Canon stopping the production of EF-S mount bodies (certainly not in the short term) so I'll probably upgrade when the 30D replacement comes around. FF is a while away for me I think.

Lester
You say the 60mm EF-S lens has missing features? I've used the 60 and own the 100 and I don't really see any important features missing? There's a focus limiter on the 100 but that's not that important a feature (nice it can be though at times).

Jim

Hi Jim.

I find the focus limiter very useful when I use the lens as an ordinary tele. The other thing is the tripod mount which is realy useful if working on a tripod.

I guess they are bigger issues for me than for you.

Anyway they are both great tools and produce 1st class images, which is best for anyone person depends on individual style.

Because you can go wider with FF for those who like that. If you want AF with small max. apertures (f/8), that's only available with the 1D series, which don't take EF-S. If you want max. frame rate, you're back with the 1D/1D II line at 8.5 fps. If you want max pixels for enlarging, the 5D does 12 MP, the 1Ds II does 16.7. There are lots of reasons that people have for wanting to move to the EF-only bodies.

Here is a decent shot of a pink diamond and white diamond pendant hand made from platinum in our shop from a drawing by the customer. This with the Canon 60mm, my homemade lightbox and taken at f22 about .2sec.