topic Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions) in EF & RF Lenses

advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

SaltyElbows — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 19:12:08 GMT

I'm an artist, building a new kit for photographing medium and large format paintings for print reproduction. I also use the camera for artistic shots and references from nature. I basically need a to expand my spectrum, or learn how to do it without tons of equipment. So far, I have the EFS 18-55mm 3.5/5.6 IS STM, and a EF 50mm f1.8.

I'm looking for tips and tools for the following scenarios:

1) wider angle for archiving large artwork in a short room (looking at EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM)

2) macro lens, maybe the 24mm paired with an extension tube? what size extension? I need details of artwork, and also like to get scientifically small for references and inspiration outside the studio.

3) a good telephoto, preferably more distance than the 70-300mm I was using in the past for the birds of prey in my neighborhood.

Thank you!

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

kvbarkley — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 19:38:03 GMT

What Camera?

Do you have a budget?

I have paired one of the Tamron 150-600's to get me extra reach. The Sigma is just as good.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

kvbarkley — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 19:39:43 GMT

We need to know what camera to know what "wide" means.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

SaltyElbows — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 20:00:03 GMT

oops, thank you. body is the EOS 90D

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

rs-eos — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 22:00:48 GMT

I would be concerned with the distortion of wide angle lenses. How far back can you be from the paintings? A standard to short telephoto may be better.

I supose a tilt-shift may be better in tight quarters and allow you to capture a panorama (but that could get costly and time-consuming).

Also, be aware of the lighting. That can lead to extra specular highlights. You can try using polarized lights to help cut down reflections. Or a polarizing filter if existing light is enough.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

Waddizzle — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 22:21:55 GMT

This is a rather challenging task. Forget about capturing an entire piece of “large format” artwork in a single shot. You will need to capture multi-level panorama images and combine in an advanced image editor like Photoshop

You will want minimum scan resolution of 300 dpi, preferably 600 dpi or more. Now compare those numbers to the resolution of your image sensor. Let’s use 24MP, 6000 x 4000 pixels, because those are easy numbers to work with in your head.

Your sampled images will be able to capture a maximum of 10” x 6.5”. Because you will need to allow for some overland between images, the effective working maximum will be closer to 6” x 4”.

The best lens to use will be defined by your distance to your subject and what gear you use to support and move the camera.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

Waddizzle — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 22:34:19 GMT

As for extension tubes, they can be bought in sets of 3. Each tube will have a different “mm” distance. You can use them one at a time or stack them for effectively longer tubes. You typically want the length of your extensions to fall somewhere between 25% to 40% of the focal length in use.

Also, extension tubes can add instability and alignment issues to the lens mount, especially when you begin to stack them up. The lens rig may sag slightly when the camera is held horizontally. So, I recommend only shooting straight downward when using extension tubes, especially with longer lens bodies.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

SaltyElbows — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 15:36:16 GMT

Perfect, the Tamron 150-600 looks perfect for catching this bald eagle that hangs out near the federal penitentiary. I found them used for around $550. Thank you!

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

SaltyElbows — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 15:45:31 GMT

Thank you, in the current space I have about 10 ft max, which I have to back up to the wall to fit a 4x4ft into the 50mm frame. We've got plans to expand, so I was hoping for a lens that will work here for any artwork over 4ft in the meantime, but also double for creative macro exploring and detail shots. I bought a 28mm EF-M with a built in ring light, not knowing the "M" wasn't compatible with the 90D. So I guess I was just looking in that same focal length.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

Waddizzle — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 16:03:56 GMT

One last comment on extension tubes. They are an inexpensive gateway to the world of macro photography. They are not perfect, but they are effective nonetheless.

Okay, last comment. Extension tubes come in two basic flavors. There are what I call the “dumb” tubes and there are the “smart” tubes.

The “dumb” extension tubes are just a simple ring that extends the lens mount away from the camera by the listed distance. Autofocusing and Aperture control is not possible.

The “smart” extension tubes cost a little bit more because the include provisions for the lens contacts to connect with the camera, making autofocus and aperture control possible.

Macro tubes work because moving the lens away from the camera body reduces the MFD, Minimum Focus Distance, for a given lens. This benefit usually comes at a price. The combination is no longer able to focus out to infinite distance. But, who cares? You are using the combo to photograph subjects that are close to the lens, anyway.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

rs-eos — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 16:22:04 GMT

That would be enough space to capture panoramas. Though you'll want a very good tripod with leveling base (and possibly a nodal slide; not sure if that would be 100% necessary due to the close distance of the subject).

I've captured nine-image panoramas with my EF 135mm f/2 lens at minimum focusing distance of around 3 feet. Ended up with 114 megapixel images. Enough resolution for a 39 x 31 inch print (300 dpi).

However, it can get tricky if depth of field is shallow. For the central image in the 3 x 3 capture, the camera's sensor was exactly parallel to the subject. However, for the side and corner images, I moved the lens about 2.5º horizontally and/or vertically. So for those images, the subject was no longer parallel to the camera's sensor. If you have deep enough depth of field, that should no longer be an issue.

This is where tilt-shift lenses are really cool with panoramas like this. Since the camera's sensor will always be parallel.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

SaltyElbows — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 16:22:35 GMT

Good to know, sounds like I do not want extension tubes. I mostly need to shoot details of paintings, probably no need for real magnification there, but I was hoping to find something that will cover that and also offer actual macro use for fun and inspirational exploration for futrue paintings. I bought the Arsenal II, for stacking and stitching, but I don't think the panorama stitching feature is available on it yet.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

ebiggs1 — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 18:24:17 GMT

If I were you I would buy the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens. It is currently the sharpest lens made. Certainly at the very top of all sharp lenses. I would not use extension tubes as they bring along their own issues.

I love the suggestion of the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. But make sure it is the G2 model otherwise I would prefer the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens.

You will need a good sturdy tripod for the art work photos and perhaps a few of the super tele zoom shots. I would avoid wide angle lenses and any zoom lens for this art project. If you need to add artificial light make sure it is diffused light.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

ebiggs1 — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 18:25:44 GMT

"Good to know, sounds like I do not want extension tubes.''

The siggy 35mm wil close focus to a bit less than 12 inches. That's pretty close and just might be all you need.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

Waddizzle — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 19:56:39 GMT

I do not know the size of the pieces of artwork, but I do know this. The 150-600mm lenses are probably not well suited for this type of macro work, or any for that matter. The MFD on them is simply way too long. The Sigma is over 9 feet. The Tamron is over 7 feet.

As I guesstimated above, you will probably want to fill the entire frame with 6” x 4”, if not much smaller like 3” x 2”. Digital scanners typically capture at resolutions ranging as high as from 300 dpi to 1200 dpi.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

kvbarkley — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:41:57 GMT

The 150-600 recommendation was in response to this:

"3) a good telephoto, preferably more distance than the 70-300mm I was using in the past for the birds of prey in my neighborhood."

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

Waddizzle — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 21:03:15 GMT

@kvbarkleywrote:
The 150-600 recommendation was in response to this:
"3) a good telephoto, preferably more distance than the 70-300mm I was using in the past for the birds of prey in my neighborhood."

Ah! Yes, a good sturdy tripod or monopod can make a tremendous difference.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

ebiggs1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:12:12 GMT

"You will need a good sturdy tripod for the art work photos ..."

When using the "good sturdy tripod" make sure you set it up so the camera/lens is perpendicular and parallel to the subject. If you don't that will also add distortion to the photos.

Re: advice for maximizing lens usage (wide angle/macro/extensions)

kvbarkley — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:51:37 GMT

The OP needs to get back to us, but I assume we are talking about two different lenses:

A wide-angle/macro for artwork

A telephoto for raptors.