coin photography, which macro?

just wondering if anyone does coin photogrpahy if so any lense recommendations? i am just starting to get into coin collecting and can't quite get the image i want. i have never owned a macro so i thought it would be a good time to get one. i was thinking of maybe the 50/F2.5 mainly because of the price and i would be shooting off a tripod. i just figured for the amount this lense will get used this was a good price point to start.

murtaugh wrote in post #10901562
just wondering if anyone does coin photogrpahy if so any lense recommendations? i am just starting to get into coin collecting and can't quite get the image i want. i have never owned a macro so i thought it would be a good time to get one. i was thinking of maybe the 50/F2.5 mainly because of the price and i would be shooting off a tripod. i just figured for the amount this lense will get used this was a good price point to start.

Look at the Sigma 50mm 2.8 it does 1:1 where as the Canon 50mm 2.5 does not .

60 f2.8 Macro Canon.

ok this might sounds silly and i haven't searched yet but getting ready to when i post this, what is this talk of 1:1, i have zero experience with macro keep in mind

1:1 refers to the ratio of the image size with respect to the subject; in this case life size. What this means is that if you photograph something that measures 10mm long, it will be rendered 10mm long on the sensor of your camera.

I'm not sure how big the coins are that you wish to photograph, but if any of them are bigger than the sensor in your camera, you don't need to image them at 1:1, as you won't get all of them in the frame.

Rather than invest in the expense of a true macro lens, you may be able to get away with a relatively cheap set of extension tubes to use with your existing lenses.

With the 65mm from Canon you can achieve the best result IMO.

I took this image with a reversed kit lens.

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Extension tubes should work just fine, you don't really need a macro lens. Just slap some tubes on your nifty fifty and you will be golden.

themadman wrote in post #10902362
Extension tubes should work just fine, you don't really need a macro lens. Just slap some tubes on your nifty fifty and you will be golden.

You have higher regards for the nifty then I do . For best IQ get a macro !

CountryBoy wrote in post #10902560
You have higher regards for the nifty then I do . For best IQ get a macro !

Once you stop the nifty fifty down it's plenty sharp.

theextremist04 wrote in post #10902758
Once you stop the nifty fifty down it's plenty sharp.

Yep yep! VERY sharp!

Sorarse wrote in post #10901705
1:1 refers to the ratio of the image size with respect to the subject; in this case life size. What this means is that if you photograph something that measures 10mm long, it will be rendered 10mm long on the sensor of your camera.

I'm not sure how big the coins are that you wish to photograph, but if any of them are bigger than the sensor in your camera, you don't need to image them at 1:1, as you won't get all of them in the frame.

Well, you could always just back up a few inches... 1:1 only applies to the minimum focus distance. =)

theextremist04 wrote in post #10902758
Once you stop the nifty fifty down it's plenty sharp.

That's true about a good number of lens .

Another solid option is the old Macro Takumar in my sig. They go for around $100-$150 (here's one going now, for example), do 1:1, and are quite sharp. You'll need an m42-EF adapter to make it work, but any $7 eBay one will do. The only real issue I have with mine is that the focus ring is so heavily damped that I often accidentally unscrew the lens from the mount!

CountryBoy wrote in post #10903098
That's true about a good number of lens .

Yep, the difference is the OP already owns the nifty fifty =)