Personal computing discussed
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paulWTAMU wrote:This is likely a case of your camera just not being able to focus closely enough. A good macro lens, maybe with some extension tubes and other close-up accessories as well, would do better.I'm still figuring it out, particularly the macro stuff. Two situations I run into a lot:
I like to shoot bugs. There's lots of very tiny (I'm talking eraser sized) inverts I'd like to get good shots of, and I simply don't seem to be able to. They're never quite in focus. I don't know why but I can't get the focus on the dang bugs (using manual focus). The ground, leaves, whatever are behind them are perfectly sharp. If I back it off a bit, the bug's too small to be visible even what picture there is is crisp and clear.
paulWTAMU wrote:Roughly speaking, it's going to be possible to roughly double your magnification from what you currently get for the long-distance critters. To do this you would need a 500mm lens on a crop body. The cheap end of "ok" lenses at that focal length is going to start around $1000.As far as the lizards go: this is a shot of a sceloporus undulatus, taken with my current point and shoot. I'd like to be able to get similar shots with the cnemidophorus, but they dash a lot sooner than the sceloporus. I don't need to fill the frame with them, but I've been nearly unable to get any shots where they're really visible. Going out in the early AM can help, when they're still a bit sluggish, but the best behaviors occur mid-day when they're all warmed up and ready to go tearing off.
mattsteg wrote:The Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 OS is $1000. The Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 OS is $1600. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM is $1441 (at Amazon). The Nikon AF 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR is $1650. The Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6G is $1500.Roughly speaking, it's going to be possible to roughly double your magnification from what you currently get for the long-distance critters. To do this you would need a 500mm lens on a crop body. The cheap end of "ok" lenses at that focal length is going to start around $1000.
JustAnEngineer wrote:Additional options you didn't list include the unstabilized version of the sigma or their 150-500 around 1k, or the tamron 200-500 which is also decent at about 900.mattsteg wrote:The Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 OS is $1600. The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM is $1441 (at Amazon). The Nikon AF 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D VR is $1650. That's a pretty big chunk of change for a starter.Roughly speaking, it's going to be possible to roughly double your magnification from what you currently get for the long-distance critters. To do this you would need a 500mm lens on a crop body. The cheap end of "ok" lenses at that focal length is going to start around $1000.
paulWTAMU wrote:So far very informative. I'm hoping to keep 2k or below starting out. Which means the 500mm lens is probably out of reach >.> I can likely start with a Canon, a good macro lense, and at least a decent lens that's got the same reach as I have now though, something in the 250-300mm range.
Any good books or anything I should read before I dive in?
Thanks
FireGryphon wrote:Under $2k? Let's see what B&H has to offer. A Rebel T1i costs $610 new. An EF-S 60mm macro runs $422. An EF 70-300 IS USM is $549. So, a very nice starting setup for $1,581 + shipping.
Voldenuit wrote:Something like the Minolta Rokkor 500/8 catadiatropic lens would give you an 800mm equivalent reach (1000 on a micro four thirds camera), is about the size of the Canon kit zoom, and can be had for under $200. It's capable of some nice results, but you'll have to understand that with a cat lens you lose aperture control and can get some funky looking highlights. You can mount the Rokkor on a Canon or Sony body with a MD to EF and MD to Alpha mount adapter. Unfortunately, I don't think there's an adapter for Nikon because of Nikon's long flange back distance.
Hm... apparently there's a modern 500/8 cat lens with AF for the Sony Alphas... (haven't seen or heard of it until I googled the Rokkor).
JustAnEngineer wrote:Take the deal on the EOS Rebel T1i + 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS + 75-300 that I posted earlier and sell the 75-300. Add the Sigma 150-500 OS that mattsteg recommended, a tripod, a Speedlite 430EX II or 580EX II flash, a camera bag, memory cards and the EF 50mm f/1.8, and you've got a nice kit for your $2k.
JustAnEngineer wrote:Take the deal on the EOS Rebel T1i + 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS + 75-300 that I posted earlier and sell the 75-300. Add the Sigma 150-500 OS that mattsteg recommended, a tripod, a Speedlite 430EX II or 580EX II flash, a camera bag, memory cards and the EF 50mm f/1.8, and you've got a nice kit for your $2k.
liquidsquid wrote:No, I don't have first-hand experience. Nikon and Canon are NOT the only game in town, and in this case may be too bulky to deal with.
ludi wrote:liquidsquid wrote:No, I don't have first-hand experience. Nikon and Canon are NOT the only game in town, and in this case may be too bulky to deal with.
This is true, although for a beginner, there's a much larger used lens market for Canon and Nikon, which improves the odds of locating what you want at a tolerable price.