Beginner Canon Lenses

funny_h0w

funny_h0w

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Sam
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This might sound like a silly question but, I am currently look to add another lens for my Canon 100D. I only have one lens with came with the body (18-55mm) and would like to add a better zoom lens.

My quandary is this, I would like to have a zoom les but would also like to be able to shoot macro from time-to-time from a short distance (around 0.2-0.6m) without having to move the camera back a metre or so .

I don't even know if this is possible, I couldn't really find one on the Canon site, other than a Macro lens. Is it possible to have a zoom lens that shoots close up Macros, or is it better off for me to buy a zoom and a macro separately?

Thanks.

:)
 
funny_h0w said:
Is it possible to have a zoom lens that shoots close up Macros
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Yes and no.

You'll see a lot of zoom lenses made by independents such a Sigma and Tamron which claim to have a macro capability, but most of the time you need to take their claims with a pinch of salt. Always read the small print of the specs to check the minimum focus distance and the maximum reproduction ratio.

But there are a few zoom lenses that have decent macro capabilities. The Canon EF 24-70mm f/4 L IS USM springs to mind, which has a very useful maximum reproduction ratio of 0.7. It's not quite 1:1, as you get with a specialised macro lens, but it's not bad.
 
I do not know were you are. But if you live near a calumet store. They are having a series of one day events. Were you can take your camera and try different Canon and other lenses.
 
funny_h0w said:
My quandary is this, I would like to have a zoom les but would also like to be able to shoot macro from time-to-time from a short distance (around 0.2-0.6m) without having to move the camera back a metre or so .
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Another option is using close up filters... These often come in a set of three and they screw to the front of your lens either individually or you can stack them. You'll lose the ability to focus at a distance (until you take the filter off...) but you'll have the ability to focus closer.

The quality you get from these will not be as good as from a macro lens but may be good enough for your purpose. Some people dismiss these filters out of hand but I have a set and I think they're actually quite useable. They're not as good as a macro lens but for the price they're not bad but of course it's up to each of us to decide what level of image quality is acceptable.

Here's a couple of shots I took with my cheap set mounted on a Canon zoom lens. They're posted here via Photobucket which does degrade the image quality but on my screen thess shots look ok for me.



 
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There are all good suggestions. Another inexpensive possibility is using a reversing ring with your 18-55mm lens. This is an old technique, which was quite popular in the film SLR days amongst the financially challenged, like me! Seriously, it works very well if you experiment a bit. Check this out for more information: http://www.eos-magazine.com/articles/macro/reversevision.html, and post any questions you have.
 
And another suggestion... extension tubes :D

Personally I'd rather use close up filters as they avoid the need to change lenses while out and about.
 
have you heard of nifty fifty? would be my next lens if I was you ;-)
 
Because he is limited to lenses with macro tube he has a great macro lens and a Gr8 portrait lens with lower aperture than he will get on a zoom lens and obv as he is starting a good budget all-rounder imho
 
Well there are plenty of options offered :)I would certainly take a look at CU filters and a set of 3 ext tubes can be had for around £20 off auction site.
If your looking for another lens then the Tamron 70-300 looks to be a good choice or Sigma offer a number 70-300mm lenses giving half life size on FF body so with crop sensor you get greater magnification :) Decisions decisions I guess it's going to be down to your budget at the end of the day.
 
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personally I'd suggest the 55-250 for about £99 - it won't do macro but you have the various options outlined above for macro on a budget (Raynox converters are another option) - If you go with extension tubes a nifty is a good call though theres nothing stopping you using your 18-55 on them initially.

point of note if you get heavily into macro there will come a time when only a true 1:1 macro lens will do - so it may be worth just going that way to start with - you can get a tamron 90mm Macro f2.8 for about £200 second hand
 
When people ask me what lenses should I get next on a limited budget, I normally recommend the 55-250IS as a telephoto option, the 50mm f/1.8 for lower light photography and if they want macro, to try either a Raynox adaptor or some cheap extension tubes from Ebay. Then to figure out what part of photography interests them the most and from there can make more informed decisions.
 
funny_h0w said:
Not to sound thick but what does 2:1, 1:1 mean? I've never really known. I know it is a ratio of some sort.
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OK. 1:1 means the image is the same size on the sensor as the subject is in reality. Since the sensor of your Canon measures about 22x15mm, it follows that a 1:1 macro lens can fill the frame with a subject which measures 22x15mm.

Most "true" macro lenses offer 1:1 capability. Some "macro" zooms will give you say 1:2, or 0.5x (two ways of saying the same thing), and that means the image is half the actual size of the subject. So in this case the smallest object which could fill the frame would be about 45x30mm.

I think there's only one lens which offers a reproduction ratio of greater than 1:1, and that's the Canon MP-E 65mm. It starts at 1:1 and goes up to 5:1, which means you're filling the frame with a subject measuring about 4.5x3mm. Totally bonkers. (You can also use exceed other means such as extension tubes to exceed 1:1,if it floats your boat.)
 
I might go down the route of an extension tube, or close up filters.

I am still thinking of buying a Macro Lens and a telephoto lens separately, but might have to wait until after christmas...

Your images look awesome by the way!!! Thank you guys for your help. :).
 
StewartR said:
OK. 1:1 means the image is the same size on the sensor as the subject is in reality. Since the sensor of your Canon measures about 22x15mm, it follows that a 1:1 macro lens can fill the frame with a subject which measures 22x15mm.

Most "true" macro lenses offer 1:1 capability. Some "macro" zooms will give you say 1:2, or 0.5x (two ways of saying the same thing), and that means the image is half the actual size of the subject. So in this case the smallest object which could fill the frame would be about 45x30mm.

I think there's only one lens which offers a reproduction ratio of greater than 1:1, and that's the Canon MP-E 65mm. It starts at 1:1 and goes up to 5:1, which means you're filling the frame with a subject measuring about 4.5x3mm. Totally bonkers. (You can also use exceed other means such as extension tubes to exceed 1:1,if it floats your boat.)
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Thats makes a lot more sense now. Been trying to find an answer for ages. Best explanation thus far.
 
big soft moose said:
personally I'd suggest the 55-250 for about £99 - it won't do macro but you have the various options outlined above for macro on a budget (Raynox converters are another option) - If you go with extension tubes a nifty is a good call though theres nothing stopping you using your 18-55 on them initially.

point of note if you get heavily into macro there will come a time when only a true 1:1 macro lens will do - so it may be worth just going that way to start with - you can get a tamron 90mm Macro f2.8 for about £200 second hand
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I would agree with the above. The 55-250 is a very sharp lens, and sticking an achromat on front will give you a lovely combo. Personally I would use an old Leica achromat or a Marumi, which will offer outstanding quality...I used a +5 for this shot
Marmalade Fly by Robin M Jones, on Flickr
 
I agree with andrew . Beauty of these lenses is second hand they keep their value and are easily resold
 
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