Which lens best for which?

[potphotos]

Lens I've got are...

1/ SIGMA 24-70mm f2.8 EX DG
2/ CANON 85mm f1.8 EF
3/ Canon 18-55mm
4/ SIGMA 55-200mm f4-5.6 DC
also have some extension rings, tripod, flash triggers etc

1 & 2 I've been using for trying gig photography...
2 is great for portraits
3 is the standard kit lens and
4 was an early purchase.

Q1) With bonfire just a couple of nights away which would be best for trying firework shots? Read a couple of articles on 'how to' with black card, exposure etc but not sure of which lens to use.

Q2) Similarly, with some fantastic shots on this forum of a)water drops and b)close-up/Macro (spiders & flowers etc) again which lens would be best to use.

And with regards to my second question...
...the preferred(?) setting up of such shots using manual settings, when would one use the close-up (flower) setting on the camera (Canon 450D)?

Thanks in advance of any replies.

 

[cuthbert]

1) firework shots, depends, but i would go for something wide. maybe 18-55 or 24-70 depending on how 'wide' you need.

2 for general close-up use, check the lens with the closest minimum focus distance - it will be a good start. you can always get a set of tubes to turn any lens into a macro lens, the longer the lens, the better as it will give you a greater working distance (ie, you can be further away from your subject which makes illuminating it easier)

if you want to get seriously into macro then a dedicated macro lens will always be the best way forward. options from canon include ef-s 60 f2.8 and ef 100mm f2.8 for a reasonable cost. i'd certainly give some tubes a try and see how you get on though, can be had for just a few squid from the bay.