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Archive 2005 · Macro on the cheap

  
 
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #1 · Macro on the cheap


Here is my old setup,

One used 100-300 ----$100
One 58 to 72 step up ring --$ 5
One 72 to 77 step up ring --$ 8
One 500D 77mm ---- $ 180
One home made diffuser for built in flash.

Results



Mar 25, 2005 at 07:49 PM
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #2 · Macro on the cheap


Taken this afternoon.


Mar 25, 2005 at 07:53 PM
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #3 · Macro on the cheap


#2

Lens set at 200 with 500D



Mar 25, 2005 at 07:55 PM
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #4 · Macro on the cheap


#3

Lens set at 300 with 500D



Mar 25, 2005 at 07:58 PM
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #5 · Macro on the cheap


#4

The little pod the spider is on is about the size of a cigarette butt




Mar 25, 2005 at 08:01 PM
bbailey
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p.1 #6 · Macro on the cheap


I think I'm going to take your suggestions to heart and get a similar setup to use with my Sigma 70-300. I can get a 500D and two generic step up rings for less than $180. Since I don't know how often I will take macros I would rather spend my $$ towards a good telephoto for wildlife shots. And of course, the 500D will come in handy on that and even a dedicated macro later on if I wish.

Hopefully I can get them before the wildflower shoot on the 2nd (if I can make it out).



Mar 25, 2005 at 08:25 PM
pascal03
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p.1 #7 · Macro on the cheap


Amazing shots Tom - especially with the setup you have. So what really is the difference beween this setup and the macro. I see more magnification here compared to a real macro lens ( what I understand from reading about the 100mm macro canon offers).

If the 100mm is 1:1 ratio of magnification, can shots like these be achieved with the macro lens as well. Is there really any advantage to spending the $500 and getting a macro lens.

What was your working distance for these pictures.
For shots like these on the 100 2.8 USM macro, does anyone know what the working distance would be.

Regards.



Mar 25, 2005 at 11:25 PM
oobie
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p.1 #8 · Macro on the cheap


Where'r the bugs?

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~stok0027/DSCN5123.JPG


Wow this is oof...I guess I don't know how to take pictures with a p&s any more...



Mar 25, 2005 at 11:58 PM
nads
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p.1 #9 · Macro on the cheap


Thanks for that post Tom!
Sometimes just being told that a particular cheap setup works isn't enough, but being shown opens the eyes.



Mar 26, 2005 at 08:51 AM
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #10 · Macro on the cheap


pascal03 wrote:
Amazing shots Tom - especially with the setup you have. So what really is the difference beween this setup and the macro. I see more magnification here compared to a real macro lens ( what I understand from reading about the 100mm macro canon offers).

If the 100mm is 1:1 ratio of magnification, can shots like these be achieved with the macro lens as well. Is there really any advantage to spending the $500 and getting a macro lens.

What was your working distance for these pictures.
For shots like these on the 100 2.8 USM macro, does anyone know what
...Show more



Pascal, the dedicated macro lens at 1to1 still has greater magnification that the 100-300 at 300 with the 500D . Below you will find two pics one with the 100-300 and the other with the 180 . the 180 shot is not at its closest focusing dist . it can give you greater mag, than this . but it will give you and idea of the two different set ups, It's much nicer to see the whole damsel as it is just the head and a little of the body.

The advantage in this case of the 100-300 is you have 16" or so of working distance , where with the 100macro you may be 6" away. believe me 10 " is a big distance when chasing bugs. My personal feelings are more distance is better when doing bugs .



Mar 26, 2005 at 12:56 PM
tchotchke
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p.1 #11 · Macro on the cheap


I've been thinking of selling my sigma 100-300mm to put towards a 70-200F4 L. Can i do macro with the 70-200 as well? What are some options with it?


Mar 26, 2005 at 03:01 PM
Deguello
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p.1 #12 · Macro on the cheap


What is the diffuser made of? It looks like plastic from a milk jug.


Mar 26, 2005 at 03:45 PM
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #13 · Macro on the cheap


tchotchke wrote:
I've been thinking of selling my sigma 100-300mm to put towards a 70-200F4 L. Can i do macro with the 70-200 as well? What are some options with it?


Yes macro can be done with any lens , with the right attachments.

http://www.shutterfreaks.com/Tips/tomhicksmacros.html



Mar 26, 2005 at 04:11 PM
mananetwork
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p.1 #14 · Macro on the cheap


Which do you see yourself using more. A macro lens (100 or 180) or a basic setup like this?


Mar 26, 2005 at 09:06 PM
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #15 · Macro on the cheap


mananetwork wrote:
Which do you see yourself using more. A macro lens (100 or 180) or a basic setup like this?



The 180.



Mar 26, 2005 at 09:24 PM
Yellowstone
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p.1 #16 · Macro on the cheap


Dear Tom,

Thank you very much! Please tell me what kind materials are good for making diffuser?

Thanks again!

ZB



Mar 27, 2005 at 11:47 AM
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #17 · Macro on the cheap


Zeng, I try to use a plastic milk or water jug as material for diffusers


Mar 27, 2005 at 12:22 PM
someet
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p.1 #18 · Macro on the cheap


Great photos Tom, gives a great alterate. Your photos made me think what kind of results a 250D would give. It will surely give you the option of getting closer and give you greater magnification. However, is it at the cost of image quality?... and is that substantially noticable?
Can we think this way... if we are very concerned about image quality then we would probably be doing a close up (assuming not using a dedicated macro) with 70-200 L lenses and attaching a 500D. However, if we are flexible on he quality part then we can make a cheaper option of 100-300 or 70-300 with 250D?



Mar 27, 2005 at 01:33 PM
Tom Hicks
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p.1 #19 · Macro on the cheap


someet wrote:
Great photos Tom, gives a great alterate. Your photos made me think what kind of results a 250D would give. It will surely give you the option of getting closer and give you greater magnification. However, is it at the cost of image quality?... and is that substantially noticable?
Can we think this way... if we are very concerned about image quality then we would probably be doing a close up (assuming not using a dedicated macro) with 70-200 L lenses and attaching a 500D. However, if we are flexible on he quality part then we can make a cheaper
...Show more

Someet, from everything I have read, the 500 and 250D are of such high quality that there is no loss of image quality by using them , the loss would be more from the lens you use . there is also no light loss from using them.

The 250 would give you a working distance of around 10" as opposed to the 18 or so with the 500.



Mar 27, 2005 at 01:48 PM
someet
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p.1 #20 · Macro on the cheap


First of all - happy Easter!

Just want to double check with you. Am I correct in assuming that we can always decrease the magnification by moving farther away... can we still focus?

Assuming we use the tele end: 300mm, the 250D would give a 1.2X magnification at a working distance of about 250mm (9.8 inches) and a 500D would give a 0.6X magnification at a working distance of about 500mm (19.6 inches). Now, while using 250D, we might be able to move away to increase the working distance and get a lower maginification which MIGHT be comparable to 500D? Ofcourse, what we need to compare is at what working distance while using the 250D we get the maximum magnification of 500D (0.6X)... is it 12 inches or say 17 inches (comparable to that of 500D). My guess would be somewhere in between... but it would be nice to have the number!

Just a thought since many consumer telezooms have 58mm filter size. This gives an additional option of using 250D as against just having the 500D available for the 70-200 f4s and f2.8s



Mar 27, 2005 at 02:54 PM
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