NEED HELP in choosing camera and lens!

Hi,

I'm a Web Designer by profession, but love photogrpahy and in particular macro.

I did shoot some "close ups" with an old 35mm, now is time to get a digital camera and become serouis in taking real "macro" photos.

My budget is about $1800 (for a Digital camera and macro lens), I was considering the following:

1) Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSI and a Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens

2) Canon 20D and Canon MPE-65 Micro lens?

What do you think? do you have a better suggestion?


Thanks in advance for your advice.


Regards
Fausto Albamonte

the XSI or 40D with the 100 2.8 is a good option, the liveview option will come in very handy

personally I would get the 40D, I had the XT before I moved to the 40D and I really never liked the feeling of the camera, but if you do then why not save yourself the money I dont think the other features the 40D has will be of much value for macro shots

At B&H the 40D body is $940. Add in the 100mm f/2.8 macro for around $450 (when it comes back in stock) and you're doing very nicely for about $1400. That leaves you $400 in your budget for other gear and if you want walkaround lense (40D with 28-135mm kit lens is $1130).

I think that the best value right now out there in Canonland is a refurbished 30D from Adorama for $640 with free shipping. The 30D does everything that I need and want and after having to send two new Canon DSLR cameras (10D and 350D) into service in the first 90 days of ownership - I will always go the refurbished route from now on. I have had no problems with either the 10D or 350D after service and I have had absolutely no problems with the 30D in a year of ownership. I have more confidence in the quality control of Can Service centers than in the Q.C. of Canon Assembly Line.

I would definitely NOT GET the MPE-65 macro lens because that lens is too specialized. It will not cover a U.S. ten cent piece from edge to edge because 1:1 is the smallest ratio it can accommodate.

I would choose between either a Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro or the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di Macro. Both are excellent lenses and both will give you 1:1 imagery without any added accessories. However, if I needed to get imagery in excess of 1:1; an extension tube or two would fill the bill very well.

The 30D and the Tamron would cost just at $1,000 while the 30D and the Canon would cost just about $1,100.

I would add a Canon 580ex flash = $390

That would total about $1,400 with the Tamron and $1,500 with the Canon lens

A Lumiquest Promax Softbox = $39
http://www.adorama.com …hinfo=Lumiquest​&item_no=1

A Canon Off Camera sync cord = $39
http://www.adorama.com …20off%20camera&​item_no=11

A Siegelite Flash Bracket = No longer produced but available frequently on eBay for under $25. See my image. The flash with the Lumiquest and the Siegelite bracket gives wonderful soft lighting and can be used on a tripod or most often used hand-held.

Now, I would exceed the $1,800 by a bit and add a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens to either of the above packages so that you could have a very versatile camera with other than a 90mm lens. This package with either lens (I use the Tamron) would give you excellent macro capabilities along with a great general duty digital DSLR. If you chose the Tamron, you would have an excellent portrait setup also because of the wonderful bokeh produced by the eight bladed iris of this lens. I don't know the Canon capability along that line.

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