I purchased the Canon 100/2.8 a year ago for wedding use, and while the results are great, I am trying to lighten my bag this year. Too many lenses, too much weight. Trying to simplify
Is there another option for shooting just ring shots? Extension tubes for the 35/1.4, 50/1.2 or 85/1.8?
Just using the macro on the 24 - 70/2.8?
Buying the Tamron 90/2.8 macro and selling the Canon 100/2.8 and Canon 85/1.8?
I have a good friend who shoots closeups of flowers with a full frame camera, 5dc and 5d mkiii and EF85 f/1.8 with extension tubes. He makes fine art B&W images and prints using this combination of equipment. His work is serenely beautiful, the very finest of this type I have ever seen.
Before you conclude that your 85 1.8 isn't up to the task of ring shots, take a look at his work here.
I didn't want the weight of ANOTHER lens so instead of going with a macro lens for just the one use, I went with a single extension tube. Light weight and small.
A tube on the 50 gets you too close to the subject; I normally go with an 85 or 135, instead.
jolson72 wrote:
do you use the 12 or 25 extension tube with the 85? does the extension tube change the focal length, or just the close focus distance?
I use the 12.
Not sure exactly on the technicalities of how the tube works but I think it just changes the close-focus distance.
I will add ...
I don't go in super tight on the ring. I get the ring with some items around it. If you go in on just the ring, you may need to look to the 25. Never tried the 25 so can't say for sure.
jolson72 wrote:
diggler, do you use the 12 or 25 extension tube with the 85? does the extension tube change the focal length, or just the close focus distance?
Extension tubes don't change focal length, they are empty tubes that move the lens further from the sensor to change the focus range. Keep in mind when using extension tubes you can only focus close up, so the lens will be a one trick pony with the extension tube on.
The shorter the lens the less extension you need, a 12mm tube on a 50mm lens will get you very close focus. Generally speaking I'm more inclined to use a 12mm than a 20mm for up to 85mm lenses.
Check out the Kenko extension tube sets, since there are no optics involved going third party is a good alternative to the more expensive Canon brands. I believe you get a 12mm, 20mm and 36mm tube for around $180.
I count my 100mm L IS macro as backup for my 20-200mm, so even if it is a one trick pony most of the time, I still feel like I have to carry it. For those of you that use extension tubes, do you still carry a backup for your longer lens? I.E. if you use the 85 or 135 for with tube for macro work do you still carry a 70-200 (or something similar) as backup?
Extension tubes for me. Don't have funds for a lens I would literally only use for ring shots at this point in my career. Tubes aren't perfect but so much cheaper/smaller/lighter.
I have used my Canon 85mm with an extension tube in a pinch.
Well, I tell ya ...
I've got a 35mm macro lens for use on crop (which is about 50mm equivalent on full frame) but I still end up using the 85mm + extension tube for the ring shots over the 35. Main reason is that the 85 gives me about two feet shooting distance vs. two inches for the macro.
