Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Photo - Magic Mole

Another excellent point. "sway" probably isn't a good term when the range of movement is 2mm in either direction. When thinking in those terms it's probably harder to LIMIT my movement to that range than it is to "sway" that much.

It's clearly going to be a different mindset and set of skills. A week from Tuesday I'll place the order for overnight delivery. Woot!

Is there a chart anywhere that shows the effective image size at each magnification level for the 7D's 1.6 crop sensor? For the 5x do you just divide the sensor dimensions by 5?

AtomHeart wrote in post #12922131
Is there a chart anywhere that shows the effective image size at each magnification level for the 7D's 1.6 crop sensor? For the 5x do you just divide the sensor dimensions by 5?

The MP-E user manual shows DOF and magnification charts.

Sensor size is irrelevant at 1:1 magnification. It mean 1 unit of measure of your subject equal that much on your sensor. So, a 1.6 crop sensor is around 22.5 x 15mm. At 1:1 that is what you will be capturing.

AtomHeart wrote in post #12922131
... For the 5x do you just divide the sensor dimensions by 5?

Yes, so the whole frame is only 4.4mm wide. I think you're underestimating the power of the MT-24EX. Like Lester, I wouldn't necessarily recommend 8fps, but if you raise your ISO to 200 or 400, the flash will have plenty of power for many shots. Start slowly; the lens takes time to master, but it does repay patient practice.

Thank you, that's what I needed. I'm going to draw the capture size at each magnification to look at. Will help drive into my brain what magnifications needed for different situations and objects.

Here's a tip! If you can swing it, live view is an amazing help at focusing to me as well since the viewfinder gets so dark with this lens attached! So if you run into that problem, keep that in mind.

And is it just me or does anyone else have a hard time finding their subject sometimes and have to search around for it?

Goincarcrazy wrote in post #12923855
And is it just me or does anyone else have a hard time finding their subject sometimes and have to search around for it?

Yes. If that happens I go down to 1:1, find the subject, then extend the lens out while tracking the subject.

thanks all

i think i need this lense
i love to shoot small tiny things
but not Insects
Probably a tiny screws in my watch

Goincarcrazy wrote in post #12914102
One more Robber Fly:

That image is incredible! This is definitely the next lens!

Thanks! It's definitely an addicting lens. Here in Florida, the summers are almost too hot to go bugging, but when I suck it and go anyway, I'm always happy I did!

A week from tomorrow till I order mine!

The stupid 100mm 2.8L IS had to go on sale and tempt me...but I'm going to TRY to stay the course...magic mole, magic mole, magic mole...

I really need both, but I don't know how I can come up with an extra $1000 right now. Unless, of course, if I make due with my 420EX flash for a while, and buy the MT-24 EX in a few months when I can swing it. Hmmmmm.

I'll admit, I think the 100L IS would be a much better way to spend the money. You're so limited with the 65mm that its more or less just a novelty lens unless your into entomology or something. The IQ of the 100L (along with the standard 100 macro) that if you bought a set of 150 buck kenko tubes, you can get about 3x total mag with IS, plus you'll be able to use it for many other things besides macro...so not to talk you out of the MP-E, but if you're building your lens inventory, I'd go with usefulness for the money before specialization.

But don't get me wrong, we'd love to have you over here in the Mole Hill!

I could actually afford all three:

EF 100mm 2.8L IS
MP-E 65mm 2.8
MT-24 EX

If I were willing to get them used in "like new - " condition from KEH.com.

AtomHeart wrote in post #12941991
I could actually afford all three:

EF 100mm 2.8L IS
MP-E 65mm 2.8
MT-24 EX

If I were willing to get them used in "like new - " condition from KEH.com.

if you get the MP-E 65mm 2.8
why do you need the EF 100mm 2.8L IS for ?

Hard to take a picture of a frog with an MP-E 65mm. The largest object I can photograph is a postage stamp.

My other lenses both have a maximum magnification of .21...so there's a big gap in my lenses from .21x to 1x. The MP-E takes care of 1x - 5x...but there's still nothing for .21 - 1 for things like flowers, and dragonflies, small frogs, and portraits of prairie dogs.

aha ,, you are right
me too i need to buy the MP-E 65mm 2.8