Macro or rings?

Masked Bandit

Masked Bandit

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Philip
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Hi All, I have renewed my interest in dragonflies and would like to take some images when I get the opportunity. My longest lens is a Canon 70-200 f2.8 markII, and I use a full frame body. I am not too interested in ultra close ups. Would you suggest a macro lens, or extension tubes with the 70-200.

Regards,

Philip
 
I'd be inclined to use a 1.4 teleconverter. You'll still have infinity focus- so you won't have to swap for birdies, and it's cheaper lighter and smaller than a macro lens.
I have a 105 macro but I think all my dragon shots were with the 300mm f4 or the tamron 600mm.
 
Dragonflies and damselflies tend to be very cautious and will take flight quickly on the approach of a photographer, so a longer focal length is better. I find that I get more consistent shots with my Canon 300mm f4 L + 25mm tube than with my Siggy 50mm macro lens, if ultra close-ups are not my intention. I use a 7D, which turns my 300mm into an effective 480mm, which gives great results. On full frame you will need to get closer, but the long lens option is still the best. Dan's solution of a 1.4x tc is a good one, but as you have the f2.8, perhaps the 2x is better. I am not sure what the minimum focus distance of this lens is but around 1.2-1.5m should be adequate with this combo.
 
Coyon said:
I'd be inclined to use a 1.4 teleconverter. You'll still have infinity focus- so you won't have to swap for birdies, and it's cheaper lighter and smaller than a macro lens.
I have a 105 macro but I think all my dragon shots were with the 300mm f4 or the tamron 600mm.
Click to expand...

Hi Dan, I was afraid someone would suggest a 1.4 conv. I sold mine about 6 months ago because I wasn't using it....maybe I should buy a Mark III.
 
Brachytron said:
Dragonflies and damselflies tend to be very cautious and will take flight quickly on the approach of a photographer, so a longer focal length is better. I find that I get more consistent shots with my Canon 300mm f4 L + 25mm tube than with my Siggy 50mm macro lens, if ultra close-ups are not my intention. I use a 7D, which turns my 300mm into an effective 480mm, which gives great results. On full frame you will need to get closer, but the long lens option is still the best. Dan's solution of a 1.4x tc is a good one, but as you have the f2.8, perhaps the 2x is better. I am not sure what the minimum focus distance of this lens is but around 1.2-1.5m should be adequate with this combo.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark.
 
i think u can get reasonably priced macro tubes for canon, but that does mean getting closer :/
kenko dgx 300 or whatever the newest one is might be a good budget option
 
extension tube is not what you want...the tubes will turn your lens into macro lens and won't give you focus to infinity so you will have problems there.

if you want to take pic of things at a distance and small things then u need a long lens...so macro lens won't give u any benefit as macro is about close range focus.

as suggested above, 1.4/2xTC coupled with longish lens would be what you want, and VR or OS or IS would be nice.
 
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