About to buy a 500D but getting confused ....

It is time to replace my existing camera and I have been visiting the shops. I am tending to think a 500D is going to fit my needs but I am getting a bit lost in terms of what I need to buy.

Apart from my "general" needs I have two areas to address. I need to digitize about 2000 slides and I do quite a lot of macro work.

I have been reading round and asking questions.

I am told that I need to buy either an EF25 II extension tube OR use two (12mm and 20mm) Kenko extension tubes in order to digitize the slides. I am told that the same will be fine to use for macro work.

The other view I am given is that it would be better to buy a dedicated macro lens and use that for both purposes. I have asked which lens but not get a solid response.

So I was wondering if anyone can point me approximately in the right direction... ?

Have you considered getting an old manual focus macro lens? I use this setup:

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hpulley/4409539​470/

My T1i on the Bellows FL:

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hpulley/4115967​441/

If you want to digitize slides, get a scanner. If you want to shoot macro easily, get a dedicated macro lens in the 100mm range. If you want to try macro on a budget, but a little less friendly, try extension tubes.

The scanner is simpler that's for sure, focuses better.

Wow. Scanner and a macro lens.

Thank you for your replies.

Things are not as straight forward as you may imagine. I am in provincial Thailand and getting any non standard equipment is a huge challenge (meaning impossible).

The images here are VERY helpful to me. Not only does it help my understanding but also I can print them out and then show the most likely shop and see what they say.

I see mention of scanning. This is really a non starter. The only scanner range that is thought to be any good is the Canon Coolscan but the price does not equate with reality when it comes to scanning only 2000 slides. Flat bed scanners are generally not up to the job even though they have slide and film mounts / caddies. Good added feature to help sell flat bed scanners but that is about as far as it goes. The PlusTek scanners are also often mentioned but in the Linux world (where I am) they do not get higher than junk status.

And ... yes, I know ... it is possible to use an external service for digitizing the slides. This is good in theory but not a service offered here. One shop says that they will do it but their price per slide is higher than the UK high street and they want a 30% premium to save as a tif. Sending to the States (or otherwise overseas) is not on since I would never get the slides back past the customs service here.

Sorry, I guess we take things for granted sometimes. Good luck with whatever method you can arrange.

expatcm wrote in post #9737722
Things are not as straight forward as you may imagine. I am in provincial Thailand and getting any non standard equipment is a huge challenge (meaning impossible).

Welcome to POTN

I live in Vientiane Laos where there are no "real" camera stores to buy equipment from, although there are heaps of computer stores but I can't remember seeing any scanners which will handle film..

I buy heaps of gear from eBay out of Hong Kong.. I've bought cameras, lenses, a flash and other bits and pieces, never any problems.. I don't know what the postal system is like in provincial Thailand but I get my stuff posted to my work place here in Vientiane.. Bangkok has many good camera stores,, maybe a trip to Bangkok could be worthwhile..

On the subject of digitising slides this is what I've done.. I find a window in my house that's in the shade.. I tape a piece of fine grade white paper to the window, inside looking out.. I then tape the slide in its mount to the paper.. The paper acts like a diffuser.. With my camera mounted on a tripod plus shutter remote and a macro lens, macro extension tubes will work..I re-photograph the slide.. Ensure that everything is square in the viewfinder,, live view helps heaps.. Use an aperture of around f/8 or f/11 to get enough depth of field to negate any focus issues.. Shooting the camera in manual mode and a low ISO is also advised..

The postal service can have its moments here with say 90% of items missing and then you get months when the service is perfect. It can be very very SLOW though. The customs are the real problem though, they will sit on anything of value and request their fee.

I am please to hear of your good experiences in Hong Kong. I tend to computer shop in Singapore rather than HK. For camera kit ... well I think you are doing well with ebay.

Bangkok .. yes sure but the problem is that it puts up the costs a lot. To visit BKK will cost me say ฿20,000 (travel / hotel / ..), never mind the time and when you look at the cost of a 500D being ฿30,000 it really puts things in perspective. It is also not as if you can remote order .... well not that I know of (but if anyone knows better please let me know).

I think your idea of using a piece of paper on a window is totally brilliant. I was going to make a light box but with your insight I really think that may not be necessary. You comment that extension tubes will work but it sounds like a macro lens will work just as well. Since I can use a macro lens for other purposes it is possibly the best path to buy a macro lens and not bother with the extension tubes?

expatcm wrote in post #9739160
I think your idea of using a piece of paper on a window is totally brilliant. I was going to make a light box but with your insight I really think that may not be necessary. You comment that extension tubes will work but it sounds like a macro lens will work just as well. Since I can use a macro lens for other purposes it is possibly the best path to buy a macro lens and not bother with the extension tubes?

Thanks for your comment

Although extension tubes are cheaper than macro lenses, macro lenses are versatile,,they double as great portrait lenses..

I'm on my second Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Macro.. My first was the old f/2.5 model when I was shooting film.. I didn't need to look any further than the Tamron when bought my current macro lens..

The Tamron SP AF90mm f/2.8 Di Macro will give you 1:1 magnification without any adaptors and is brilliantly sharp from around f/4.. Having 1:1 magnification you'll be able to fill the frame with the entire slide..

BTW,,what are you doing in Thailand and where are you based??

oh wow .... I am so pleased that I registered for this forum .... It is so nice to hear your perspective / experience, I would never, ever, have considered using a macro lens for portrait work..... so now I broaden my horizons.........

There's a wealth of knowledge in these forums and most are only willing to help