Macro Lenses

jimbling

hey, I'm new to photography.... just bought a Canon 350d. Basic kit. I was down in west cork taking some snaps over the weekend and soon realised I'm gonna need a few things... especially a zoom lens. So was having a look this morning and came across these little guys.
[URL="http://cgi.ebay.ie/MACRO-Close-Up-Lenses-for-Canon-EOS-400D-350D-300D-30D_W0QQitemZ230157481793QQihZ013QQcategoryZ30070QQssPageNameZW
DVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"] macro lenses [/URL]
Do these things work? Obviously they are not a replacement for a decent lens, but for someone just starting out who would like to limit the spending?


Also.... Over the weekend, I was pretty much just doing the whole point and shoot photography. Haven't learnt anything yet.
Can someone tell me what is a good absolute beginner book? Or would I be better off just doing my research online?

magicbastarder

most people here will recommend a book called understanding exposure, don't know the author, but one i have seen which looks good is the national geographic field guide to photography.

also, http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055131450

DaireQuinlan

jimbling wrote:

So was having a look this morning and came across these little guys.
[URL="http://cgi.ebay.ie/MACRO-Close-Up-Lenses-for-Canon-EOS-400D-350D-300D-30D_W0QQitemZ230157481793QQihZ013QQcategoryZ30070QQssPageNameZW
DVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"] macro lenses [/URL]
Do these things work? Obviously they are not a replacement for a decent lens, but for someone just starting out who would like to limit the spending?

For macro work I'd recommend a set of extension tubes rather than those dinky close up lenses. You can buy a set of kenko tubes that preserve all the lens contacts for cheap enough, certainly for Nikon bodies, I presume they do them for Canon bodies aswell.

jimbling

DaireQuinlan wrote:

For macro work I'd recommend a set of extension tubes rather than those dinky close up lenses. You can buy a set of kenko tubes that preserve all the lens contacts for cheap enough, certainly for Nikon bodies, I presume they do them for Canon bodies aswell.

Cheers, I'll have a look at those.

leinsterman

If you are on a budget then get the Kenco extension tubes ... Canon ones are overpriced ..... here's a link to where I got mine -

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Kenko-Extension-Tube-Set-for-Canon-EF-and-EF-S-NEW-9W_W0QQitemZ200136484089QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4687QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem



On books I prefer Langford's two books Basic and Advanced Photography as a technical reference but these also have some great stuff on the creative side ... they cover both digital and film with a film heritage ... but digital is well covered ... the books also have a large number of exercises at the end of each chapter to give you better focus and help keep you motivated ... it is a text book but well illustrated ...

... two well known professional photographers in the Art and Fashion industry recommended him to me ... they are books you will keep coming back to for ideas and information ...

He also has another book "Starting Photography" ... I've not read it but check it out here -

http://www.amazon.com/Langfords-Starting-Photography-Fourth-pictures/dp/0240519671

haz

jimbling wrote:

Do these things work? Obviously they are not a replacement for a decent lens, but for someone just starting out who would like to limit the spending?

Nothing beats a decent macro lens, and extension tubes (with the auto connections, preferably), BUT a +2 close-up filter turns a Sigma 70-300 zoom into a very versatile macro lens with greater than 1:1 enlargement for next to nothing and no extra weight.

sineadw

Word of warning - AFAIK you can't use the extension tubes on the kit lens. Anyone want to correct that?

Get the 50mm 1.8 though and tubes and you're away

jimbling

cheers for all the info guys.
I will be buying a lens or two as I get into it. But to be honest, at the moment, there is so much information around that I'm a bit overwhelmed. I have no idea what lens I should be getting... and for what reasons etc.
I have seen that 50mm 1.8 mentioned a lot though... whats so good about it, and why is it better than the kit lens?
I am also surprised how cheap you can get that sigma 70-300 lens. 125 on ebay.
thanks again...
j

sineadw

Yeah the 70-300 is my next buy I think Its a great lens by all accounts here

Basically, the 50 1.8 means you can shoot fast in low light (say.. for instance.. gigs or candid portraiture indoors). I'm assuming you're starting from the beginning (as I did), so - the kit lens allows you to shoot at 3.5 at the 18mm mark. But if you get up to 55mm you can only shot at 5.6. This means you have a LOT less light coming into the camera sensor. Which means you get blurry shots in lower light. The 50mm gives you the option of shooting at 1.8 aperture. This is a very very large aperture (the lower the aperture number the higher the actual light it lets in - think backwards..). So you get very sharp shots even when the light is not great. And its a fine lens. Before delivery (which is the price you quoted for the sigma) its only 60 euro or so! Its an excellent start off lens. That and the kit lens has you sorted for all sorts. Mind you, its nice to have the range up to 300. It depends on what you see yourself taking shots of basically.

JMcL

jimbling wrote:

hey, I'm new to photography.... just bought a Canon 350d. Basic kit. I was down in west cork taking some snaps over the weekend and soon realised I'm gonna need a few things... especially a zoom lens. So was having a look this morning and came across these little guys.
[URL="http://cgi.ebay.ie/MACRO-Close-Up-Lenses-for-Canon-EOS-400D-350D-300D-30D_W0QQitemZ230157481793QQihZ013QQcategoryZ30070QQssPageNameZW
DVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"] macro lenses [/URL]
Do these things work? Obviously they are not a replacement for a decent lens, but for someone just starting out who would like to limit the spending?

You can get fairly decent results using these, one of the guys in the Waterford camera club does some fantastic bug photography that's done really well in national level competitions using one, and you can't complain about the price.

At the end of the day though, you won't beat a dedicated macro lens, or extension tubes coupled to a decent lens. The former is expensive, but are also generally really good quality lenses in their own right (I got the Canon 100mm recently, and love it to bits). Hmmm tempted by those extension tubes as well though!