Macro Possibilities

Here is the situation. Im a wedding photographer, and I feel I need macro capabilities. I wont be using it an incredible amount, just for rings, small details, etc. I have the lenses in my sig.

I pretty much decided on the 100mm 2.8, non-L. I played with the L a little, and while it is nice, I dont know if it is THAT much nicer than the non-L. Then I started looking at tubes after a photographer I shot with last night used a Canon 12mm. I have been looking around a little bit and had a few questions.

What lens would work best with the tubes?
Which is the best extension tube to use? Should I go with the Kenko kit with the three tubes? Or do I only need one?
Canon vs Kenko? I read they are basically the same.

I look forward to the replies, I know this forum has a wealth of knowledge.

Kenko has nice extension tubes, they come in 3s but you might not need all of them for 1:1

1. The 100non-L is pretty much just as good as the L IMO, if you really need the IS or has a body to use the IS for macro (which only the 7D and 1D4 have I think) then you aren't gaining that much.

2. Any prime tends to work well, your 135, 85, and 50 should all perform great

3. I would just go Kenko and get the kit of three. FOr around $140 it gives you flexibility at about the cost one Canon tube.

themadman wrote in post #11323430
1. The 100non-L is pretty much just as good as the L IMO, if you really need the IS or has a body to use the IS for macro (which only the 7D and 1D4 have I think) then you aren't gaining that much.

2. Any prime tends to work well, your 135, 85, and 50 should all perform great

3. I would just go Kenko and get the kit of three. FOr around $140 it gives you flexibility at about the cost one Canon tube.

This confirms what I was thinking. I dont have IS on any of my lenses, and have found I havent really NEEDED it.

I was also thinking about my 135 and 50. The 85 doesnt focus as close, but im guessing with the tubes that would change? I dont really understand how the tubes really work to be honest, and how do I combine them to create 1:1 macro?

The set of 3 makes sense, and for a third of the price of a macro lens, and less space, it sounds good.

Extension tubes will definitely change the 85's ability to focus close.

As for how to get 1:1... it is a bit voodoo to me, but Brian tries to explain it in THIS thread: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=807056

Saying this:

I wouldn't worry about magnifications much as just getting the shot you want. Even if in the future you get a macro lens, you can still use your extension tubes with it! =)

Sounds great. Thoes look the way to go.

I was looking through the 85mm thread the other day and saw some really awesome Macro work done with the Kenko tubes. It made me regret buying my Macro lens (which I love, btw). Apparently it not only works, but works well!

I'm with Will on this one. Get the Kenko tubes and use your 85mm or 135mm lens.
I have the same 85mm f1.8 and love to put 56mm of ETs behind it, using the manual focus technique of rocking back and forth until the focus reticle lights up.

All images shot using a Canon 40D, Canon EF 85mm f1.8, Kenko Extension Tubes and some macro style off camera lighting.

Charles, it was your work I was referring to (seen in the Canon 85mm 1.8 thread) above. Terrific stuff!

You should only need about 1:2 by the sounds of things. If there is a lens you own that you don't normally use for weddings you might want to try a tube on that and then leave it fitted to it so you don't have to fumble around at the wedding.

Mookalafalas wrote in post #11325227
Charles, it was your work I was referring to (seen in the Canon 85mm 1.8 thread) above. Terrific stuff!

Thanks man, your kind words are much appriciated. It took me the better part of this past summer to finally dial in my technique with the 85mm and the macro flash. But it works!

As for using one lens for the macro so you don't have to fumble. Shooting macro stuff is so different from the normal wedding/event style of shooting because of the lighting, you really need to stop down from shooting anything else to focus on doing only the macro stuff. Switching back and forth will be a real pain at first. I built my own macro flash bracket so I could have the stobe already placed when I was chasing the bugs around my backyard. Once you have the technique down, it's actually pretty fast. The shot of the Praying mantis above was shot in a real hurry. Light was fading, the creature was trying to scurry away and I had to go inside to get my camera and flash set-up. Luckily the mantis posed for me and then flew off. I got the shot because I knew what camera and flash setting worked at the distance needed. I got to make one adjustment and then fired off 3 shots before the mantis had enough of me jacking with him/her.

Ebay is great for the equipment. I bought a $16 flash bracket that works fine (it screws into the tripod mount of the camera), and paid about the same for an off-flash cable, and just 4 bucks or so for a little plastic-cloth diffuser that fits over the flash. If you have the equipment prepared ahead of time it shouldn't take more than a minute or two to change the lens and screw in the bracket (during the shoot, I mean).

All you need to add to your equipment is one Canon 12mm ext. tube. Will give you what you need and will work on several of your lenses.