topic Re: Today I pulled the trigger. in EF & RF Lenses

Today I pulled the trigger. - New macro lens!

JFG — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 12:12:49 GMT

Hello everyone,

I'm psyched! Today I begin my journey into "Macro Photography". I finally pulled the trigger and purchased the Canon RF100mm f2.8 Macro L IS USM lens with the Canon Tripod Mount Ring and Adapter. That's right folks, as of Thursday, I'll be officially armed with a glass tube that can see the world in the eyeball of an ant. 🐜 They say, “big things come in small packages,” and now I’m about to find every speck of dust that proves it. From the elegant swirl of a snail’s shell to the fiercely dramatic stare of a housefly, I’m diving headfirst into the glorious, unpredictable, slightly itchy, and slimy realm of macro photography.

This Canon lens isn’t just a piece of equipment; t's basically a microscope that decided to become an artist. The clarity, the stabilization, the 1.4x magnification?! It’s like zooming in on life’s little secrets with style.

So, if you start seeing way-too-close photos of flower stamens, spider legs, or the shimmering wing scales of moths, don’t panic. It’s not a zoom malfunction. It’s art. Here’s to chasing tiny worlds and making them look massive. Let the macro madness begin! 🕷️🌿💫

#MacroMadness #CanonRF100mmf2.8 #ZoomInAndGeekOut

Re: Today I pulled the trigger.

zakslm — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 03:04:28 GMT

Joe,

Congratulations! Enjoy your new lens.

Based on the quality of the photos you have posted, I’m looking forward to seeing your macro shots. I’ll bet they’ll be stunning!

Regards,

Re: Today I pulled the trigger.

JFG — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 03:36:35 GMT

Thanks LZ,

However, "Macro" photography is a whole different world, and the learning curve can be a steep one, especially if one wants to achieve professional level results. It presents unique challenges that differentiate it from other types of photography. I just hope that with practice, practice and the willingness to learn the technical aspects I can capture tac sharp images. The one thing I got going is that I have great canon equipment and that's half of the battle. Now that I'm getting the lens in two days, I only need to order the Macro Flash Diffuser, and I will be complete. Wish me luck, LZ..

Re: Today I pulled the trigger.

zakslm — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 04:15:27 GMT

Joe,

The golfer, Gary Player is credited with saying, “The more I practice, the luckier I get!” My experience dabbling in macro photography bears that out. So practice a lot and you’ll have good luck!

I think you will find different subjects require different techniques. Insects, flowers, man made objects, etc. sometimes require different settings. I enjoy experimenting and trial and error, then going back and trying something different.

Sometimes, when you process your images you see things you didn’t or couldn’t see when shooting. I really like discovering a tiny bug or a details that I was oblivious to when shooting.

Also, a macro lens like yours should be an awesome portrait/short telephoto lens as well. You may find that you prefer it over other lenses you’ve used for those purposes in the past.

So once again, have fun and good luck!

Re: Today I pulled the trigger.

JFG — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 05:44:26 GMT

LZ,

Now I know who to go to for advice and tips on Macro photography. Gary Player is right, the more one practices the luckier one gets. 😊 I ordered the lens today and will receive it Thursday, July 24th. B&H provides really great 1-day free shipping/delivery. Do you use a Macro Flash Diffuser? I'm looking into getting one, still researching it though.

Re: Today I pulled the trigger.

shadowsports — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 05:52:02 GMT

Joe,.

Welcome to the club 🤣. Hey get ready to see bugs in a whole different light (Uhm perspective)

Make sure that you turn magnification on when shooting video 1x or 2x. It's creepy but very cool. You're going to enjoy the lens.

Re: Today I pulled the trigger.

JFG — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 08:00:11 GMT

Thanks Rick,

I'll do that. I can always count on you for good tips. Now all I need is to get a Macro Flash Diffuser.

Re: Today I pulled the trigger. - New macro lens!

ebiggs1 — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:05:12 GMT

"The golfer, Gary Player is credited with saying, “The more I practice, the luckier I get!” "

Gary Player may have said that quote, even originated it, but I have heard it in well beyond golf. It seems the entire quote goes like this, In, name your sport, there is a lot of luck involved but the more I practice the luckier I get.

When the kids at my school were going to contest or state we always kept that in mind.

Re: Today I pulled the trigger.

zakslm — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:10:32 GMT

Joe,

I do not have a flash diffuser - but may either make one* or put one on my list! I do use flash with macro shot including the built in flash on my camera and usually use -1 (sometimes more or less) flash exposure compensation or with external flash, flip down the diffuser on my 430EX. I have what I think is an advantage in that I use an EF-S60mm macro and that lens is shorter (as long as I take off the hood) than any of the EF 100mm macros and less likely to cast a shadow.

As far as advice and tips, I'll be happy to help although I do not think I'm an expert by any means. There are other Illuminaries and forum members that are far better at macro photography and more experienced and accomplished photographers that I am. I've slid down the macro slippery slope and I am enjoying the journey and will be happy to share my experience where appropriate!

Regards,

* Back when I was shooting film decades ago, I fashioned a flash diffuser from an isopropyl alcohol bottle and a rubber band. I cut the bottle about 3-4 inches from the bottom and did some slitting and trimming of the sides of the bottom half of the bottle so that I could slide the end of the bottle over the head of the flash and secure it to the flash with a fat rubber band.

Re: Today I pulled the trigger. - New macro lens!

zakslm — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:45:37 GMT

EB,

I hear that quote often in a variety of contexts and originally thought that it was either Lee Trevino or Arnold Palmer that first said it or some version of it. I Googled it and Google attributed Gary Player as its orginator. If you've read Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point" he talks about the 10,000 hour rule which I believe is pretty much the same thing. In any case, as my late father-in-law used to say, "Repition is the mother of retention!" which is (according to Google) a version of an ancient Latin proverb.

Regards,

Re: Today I pulled the trigger. - New macro lens!

JeffXB — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:30:52 GMT

Hi to all, first post.

JFG, what diffusers are you looking at?

Looks like we’ll be heading down the same rabbit hole, lol. Bought my RF 100mm macro a few weeks ago, but due to all the rainy weather in west central Florida I haven’t been able to get out and use it much. Mine is on an R6 M2 with a Molight (Godox) V100. I can highly recommend a Cygnustech diffuser, but I’ve also gotten good results using a simple smaller soft box type of attachment as well as natural light for close up’s of flowers. You might also want to consider a small LED panel light to use as fill light or for illuminating the underside of a subject. They also come in handy when using in camera focus stacking as the R6 M2 doesn’t support use with a flash unless you use a Canon speed light (I forget which one).

You might want to check out Stewart Woods’ You Tube channel for some great tips on Macro.

Note: I have no affiliation with Stewart Woods or with any of the products I mentioned.

Good luck with your new lens, I know you’re going to love it!

Re: Today I pulled the trigger. - New macro lens!

ebiggs1 — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 14:53:07 GMT

"I Googled it and Google attributed Gary Player as its orginator."

That sounds good to me. It is certainly a popular quote whoever said it first.

Re: Today I pulled the trigger. - New macro lens!

JFG — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:40:28 GMT

Hi Jeff,

Welcome and congrats on your new RF100mm f2.8 Macro L IS USM lens. I'll be getting mine from FedEx today. Florida is a great place to be for shooting Macro and all the fauna there. Funny that you recommended the Cygnustech Diffuser, because I ordered mine from Cairns, Australia yesterday. How long did it take you to get yours, from the time that you ordered it to when you received it? I was going to get an AK Diffuser because they're based in Florida, but their website is all messed up and the only way to contact them is via email. I placed an order paid for it then I got the confirmation from my bank, but didn't ever receive a condemnation from AK, with the order number and itemized receipt. So I canceled it. Everything I've read about Cygnustech Diffuser is great and highly recommended as the best diffuser in the market today. I will be shooting with my R6 Mark II and R5 Mark II, also I'm using the Canon flash 430 EX III RT for now and see how it goes. I'm also considering a small led type of light, but still researching what's available that really works well. BTW, thanks for recommending "Stewart Woods", I will check him out. Let's stay in touch as we go down the macro rabbit 🐇 🕳 hole.

#PetalToTheMetal #BugLifeCrisis #StackItTillYouMakeIt 🪲🪰🐞🐜

😀

Re: Today I pulled the trigger. - New macro lens!

JeffXB — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:45:34 GMT

Thanks Joe. The diffuser was shipped within 2 days of ordering it and arrived in 17 days. Brendan will send you an email once it’s shipped with an Oz post tracking number.

I also considered the AK diffuser as well as another similar one. I like the idea that the AK has a holder for a Raynox (I have the DCR-250) mounted on it, but it’s just as easy to carry it your pants pocket and you’re less likely to lose or damage it. From my research Brendan’s is far simpler to assemble and he uses better quality materials. So worth the wait IMHO.