Trade in 60mm macro for 100mm

Robbo

Robbo

Messages
3,962
Edit My Images
Yes
Hey, just contemplating if it's work it to sell my canon 60mm macro to get the canon 100mm macro.

Is it worth doing so? Pros and cons?

Thanks
 
The 100mm (160mm equivalent on your 450D) will give a better working distance if insects are your thing.
 
One slight 'con' is that using extension tubes behind it will result in less magnification increase on the 100mm when compared to your 60mm lens.

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
One slight 'con' is that using extension tubes behind it will result in less magnification increase on the 100mm when compared to your 60mm lens.

Bob
Click to expand...

hmmm how does that work :thinking:

Thats a massive con as I use the tubes with my 60mm macro quite a lot for 2.5:1 ..... any less and I would miss it
 
You'd need 100mm of tubes to get the same effect as 60mm of tubes on the 60mm.
 
ahhhh makse sense...hmmm could be a problem...I might keep saving for the MP-E65
 
Robbo said:
hmmm how does that work :thinking:

Thats a massive con as I use the tubes with my 60mm macro quite a lot for 2.5:1 ..... any less and I would miss it
Click to expand...

You'll get 2.2x maximum magnification on the EF100 with 68mm of tubes.

Bob
 
I had both but ended up always using the 100mm, simply for the working distance. And I had a choice (used the 60 for general table-top mainly).

But I could have got along very well with the 60mm, and it's such a cute little lens, and mega-sharp. Not a massive difference between them TBH. New 100L with hybrid IS is nice :)

But if you are regularly going bigger than 1:1, I think the MP-E65 is the one to go for. Don't let the focal length fool you, it just doesn't work like a normal lens. It's a fantastic thing :love:
 
i have the 100L with IS, not had any other macro lens so don't know how it compares to them but it doubles as a superb portrait lens too
 
Robbo said:
How do you mean don't let the focal length fool me?
Click to expand...
It's "65mm" but focal lengths are specified when the lens is focussed at infinity (which the MP-E can't achieve).

Your 60mm macro isn't 60mm when used at macro distances, it's more like 52mm. The EF100 is 100mm at infinity and 78mm when focussed at 1:1 ..... that's why you get 2.2:1 by adding 68mm of tubes behind the lens and not simply doubling the magnification by adding 100mm worth of tubes.

Bob
 
Robbo said:
How do you mean don't let the focal length fool me?
Click to expand...

Canon Bob said:
It's "65mm" but focal lengths are specified when the lens is focussed at infinity (which the MP-E can't achieve).

Your 60mm macro isn't 60mm when used at macro distances, it's more like 52mm. The EF100 is 100mm at infinity and 78mm when focussed at 1:1 ..... that's why you get 2.2:1 by adding 68mm of tubes behind the lens and not simply doubling the magnification by adding 100mm worth of tubes.

Bob
Click to expand...

Thanks Bob :)

Building on Bob's reply, see this review - good description of using this unique lens http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-MP-E-65mm-1-5x-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx

Kind of what I meant is this working distance thing. Canon makes several different macros and it is generally agreed that longer focal length and the extra working distance is gives is beneficial. But only up to a point.

If you want to go to 3:1 or even 5:1 with something like the excellent 180L Macro, you'd need an impossible amount of extension. With the kind of insect macros you're shooting (v nice stuff on your Flickr BTW :) ) the better overall solution is to get close, for a number of reasons.

Looking at your Flickr, the MP-E65 with a macro-flash looks like it was made for you :thumbs: Then have a go at focus-stacking technique ;) I've never done it and I know it's not easy, extreme macro is damn hard anyway, but the results I've seen using it, with that lens, are nothing short of stunningly amazingly fab.

I'd say it was right up your street. You can hire an MP-E65 off our good friend StewartR on here for £48 a week http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/canon-mp-e-65mm-f28-1-5x-macro-140-p.asp
 
HoppyUK said:
Looking at your Flickr, the MP-E65 with a macro-flash looks like it was made for you :thumbs: Then have a go at focus-stacking technique ;) I've never done it and I know it's not easy, extreme macro is damn hard anyway, but the results I've seen using it, with that lens, are nothing short of stunningly amazingly fab.

I'd say it was right up your street. You can hire an MP-E65 off our good friend StewartR on here for £48 a week http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/canon-mp-e-65mm-f28-1-5x-macro-140-p.asp
Click to expand...

Well canon did say they made it for me lol

I would love that with the twin light set up, unfortunately my ££ are a lil low for that right now :shake:

I WILL get it one day! hmmm maybe a loan!
 
Hi mate, just be aware the working distance on the mpe-65 starts at 4in at 1x and decreases to 1in at 5x mag :eek: This explains why a lot of mpe-65 users go for single flash / twin flash over ringflash as at higher mags the ringflash really starts to get in the way as you have no clearance around your lens to get any decent angles.... I may still get a 100mm to compliment the mpe to give a me a bit more working distance for more nervous prey.
 
Thanks for that info, I have just asked a working distance question on the macro thread lol

If its that close, how the hell do people get within an inch or two to a wasp and time to get the focus etc without spooking them
 
Robbo said:
If its that close, how the hell do people get within an inch or two to a wasp and time to get the focus etc without spooking them
Click to expand...

I don't for one minute advocate this but it is certainly done. Most insects slow down when they're cold so people put their subjects in the refridgerator for 30 minutes or so and then shoot them before they warm up and get angry.

Bob
 
Robbo said:
Thanks for that info, I have just asked a working distance question on the macro thread lol

If its that close, how the hell do people get within an inch or two to a wasp and time to get the focus etc without spooking them
Click to expand...

I believe you can use teleconvertors to add working distance but still not huge amounts and of course you lose a bit of IQ etc.. I like as much distance as possible between me and anything in a yellow jacket :eek:
 
According to the link I posted above, working distance with the MP-E65 is 100mm at 1:1 and goes down to 41mm at 1:5. That's about 1.6in which doesn't sound like much but half and inch is like half a mile at that range. It's certainly the difference between getting a ring flash in there, and not.

There is also the crop factor to consider and Carl is on full frame, Robbo's is crop format. I know magnification is magnification, but if you look at it in terms of filling the frame you get a bit more effective working distance with the 1.6x cropper.

It's kind of funny how birders like the extra pixel-reach that crop format gives with big telephotos and so I guess it's a bit the same thing with ultra-macro. There is also the extra stop or so of depth of field you get from crop format which is worth having.
 
HoppyUK said:
According to the link I posted above, working distance with the MP-E65 is 100mm at 1:1 and goes down to 41mm at 1:5. That's about 1.6in which doesn't sound like much but half and inch is like half a mile at that range. It's certainly the difference between getting a ring flash in there, and not.
Click to expand...

:lol: You're not kidding, at 4 - 5x mag you're very lucky not to squash your subject with the lens itself.

HoppyUK said:
There is also the crop factor to consider and Carl is on full frame, Robbo's is crop format. I know magnification is magnification, but if you look at it in terms of filling the frame you get a bit more effective working distance with the 1.6x cropper.
Click to expand...

:razz: I forgot the crop factor.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top