topic Re: Macro lens for the SL1 in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Macro lens for the SL1

amatula — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 02:12:54 GMT

Hi,

I have been using Canon Rebel SL1 with the standard 18-55 IS lens.

I think I have found my photograhly niche: close-up flower photography. Doing close-ups has really helped me (newbie DSLR photographer) start to understand how to use light and the background effectively and powerfully to create an appealing photograph.

I get close using the standard lens using manual focus. But I am thinking it might be nice to use a macro.

Looking at Canon's macro lens, they all seem so heavy. 😞

Can anyone recommend a macro lens (it is fine if it is not a Canon but compatible with the Canon) for the SL1, preferrably light weight with image stabilization?

I am also open to any other suggestions for growing in this area (I will continue to use the standard lens for this too).

Thank you and all the best!

Annie

PS: attached image is unmodified --

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

RobertTheFat — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 03:11:03 GMT

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

Waddizzle — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 13:07:05 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro.

Good choice. Another recommended piece of gear would be a quality tripod, which will enable you to gather more light by taking longer exposres. The secret to sharp photos is low ISO and lots of light. Here are some helpful link.

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/galleries/galleries/tutorials/eos101_cll.shtml

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2016/laura-morita-guide-to-amazing-photos.shtml

If you're having fun, then you're probably doing it right.

[EDIT] When you use a tripod, Image Stabilization isn't needed. Just use the camera's 2/10 second timer on the shutter release.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 13:39:41 GMT

The EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro is great lens. Not heavy. Also consider a macro rail. It gives you fine control over camera/subject distance when you are up close.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

ebiggs1 — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 14:57:13 GMT

Annie,

Hi again! Glad you like macro photography. It is a great hobby with huge rewards.

A few on my personal opinions;

All the best macro photos are done with a tripod. Not to say you can't do well without but it helps so much.

The longer the focal length of the macro lens the better. That is one reason I would avoid the Canon 60mm (although it is equivalent to a 100mm on a FF).

Canon, Tamron and Sigma all make macro's in the 100mm range and that is where I would like to see you be.

Lasty, you need a good post editor like Photoshop. You can buy Photoshop Elements not wanting the full blown PS.

99% of the grerat photos go through post and by far the most used and best is PS (or PSE).

Up until I found out and decided I didn't have the time to do macro, I used the Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Lens.

It is absolutely a fantastic lens. It is one I cried about to see it go. But I sold mine a while ago. It is also a fine medium tele for normal use.

It is heavy. It is expensive. And is is fantastic. I am not recommending it for you as it would be a real handful on a SL1. Just remembering. Oh well...........

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

ebiggs1 — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 15:40:15 GMT

Annie,

You can get some "macro" shots with just a normal lens. This is just a snapshot, no special care taken when shooting it but looks like a macro.

It was from my Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art lens and is enlarged by about 150% (in PS). Pretty extreme but it can be done. This is an exceptional lens and some (most) others may not fair as well.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

Waddizzle — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 18:47:59 GMT

With the small body SL-1, I would stick with the EF-S 60mm macro lens.

The other Canon EF macro lenses are heavier, especially the "L" series lenses. I would not be inclined to use the heavier lenses on the plastic SL-1 camera body without mounting it on a tripod, using the Canon tripod foot.

The lenses would weigh more than the camera, and would need to be supported. The weight of an "L" lens could stress and strain the camera mount on the plastic camera body. The more expensive cameras use bodies that are reinforced with exotic metals: like Aluminum Magnesium alloys, which are very strong, but relatively light for their strength.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

fatcat — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 20:44:23 GMT

Bob, and Biggs,

You 2 are so knowledgable! How did u 2 know I was looking at a lens (vs those manif. filters) Great minds think alike! I didn't know the sl1 has a plastic body. I got this model because I have small hands, and it had MOST of the features I wanted (for the money)

I know you were both responding to Annie, but you answered my questions as well regarding a macro lens.

I have 2 (old) lenses (macro and telepphoto) from the old AE-1 that has a mount bigger than the sl1 mount. I want to get a reversal ring to use the telephoto backwards as a macro. I KNOW i will need adapter rings too. Ok heres the question:

what size reversing ring do I need to fit the sl1, and should I just buy a whole set of the adapting rings and try on until one fits?

Heres my NEW question: Am I going to need a special mount for this also for the tripod? (like a lens ring mount) The lens is quite big and heavy. I saw a thing that allows you to slide the camera as a unit forward and back w. a dial to focus with a reversed lense. Don't know what it's called. Do I need to mount the lens or the camera to the tripod? With that slider thing, how do I mount the thing to the tripod. I don't know if I am even asking the question correctly, but I hope one of you experts can help me. You two have so much more experience than I do.

As for using photoshop, I wish. I have a chromebook right now that doesnt run google play, adobe or java. so photoshop is out. I found PicMonkey which seems to be a bit less advanced, but one can buy ($35/yr) additional (advanced) effects. Mind you, I have ONLY DONE 1 PHOTO there! Expert? NO WAY....but it's what I have available as SUMO and PIXLR seem complicated and time consuming. Any other ideas on this would be appreciated. I will be getting a real computer one of these days, but right now my money is going for this expensive hobby called photography! lol (and time goes to gardening)

thanks boys,

your new friend from Oregon,

Liz

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

kvbarkley — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 21:05:47 GMT

The EF-S 60 mm is very petite, and will not overbalance a lens/tripod.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

amatula — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 23:30:27 GMT

Thank you!

This (and all the responses) are very helpful. I appreciate your taking the time to respond.

May I ask: what is the "2/10 second timer?" Are you referencing the self-timer? If you are I am inferring that you suggest this so I would not have to press shutter release and therefore, less likely camera shake will factor in.

Thank you!

Annie

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

amatula — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 23:32:55 GMT

Hi Biggs,

Thank you again!

May I ask: what camera did you use for the photo? I love the color quality...

Thank you and all the best,

Annie

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

Waddizzle — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 23:42:40 GMT

"Heres my NEW question: Am I going to need a special mount for this also for the tripod? (like a lens ring mount) The lens is quite big and heavy. I saw a thing that allows you to slide the camera as a unit forward and back w. a dial to focus with a reversed lense."

I would forget about reversing a lens. It only makes sense if that is the only use for the lens. Forget about reversing an old existing lens you may have had laying around for the last 20-30 years. The image quality will be a disappointment because a modern digital camera can, AND WILL, expose all of the flaws in most any old lens. Look at the current crop of macro lenses by Canon, like the EF-S 60mm macro.

As far as needing a special mount for a tripod, that depends upon the head, not the tripod. Cameras mount onto a tripod head, and heads mount onto tripods. Cheap tripods have a head that cannot be removed. The most common type of "universal" tripod mount, quick release plate, is called "Arca Swiss", which is a defacto standard, for lack of a better description. If you install an Arca-Swiss compatible plate onto your camera, or lens, then you will be able to mount your rig onto gear made by a wide range of manufacturers.

That thing you saw that allows you to move the camera on a set of rails is called focusing rails. Someone posted a picture of a set of rails, just above. A set of quality rails can be costly. Focusing rails are typically used with software that allows you to perform what is known as "focus stacking", which probably will not run on your existing PC. With your budget, forget that I even mentioned either focus stacking or focusing rails. Sorry.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

Waddizzle — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 23:54:37 GMT

@amatula wrote:
Thank you!
This (and all the responses) are very helpful. I appreciate your taking the time to respond.

May I ask: what is the "2/10 second timer?" Are you referencing the self-timer? If you are I am inferring that you suggest this so I would not have to press shutter release and therefore, less likely camera shake will factor in.

Thank you!

Annie

Bingo. You've got it. Sorry for the abbreviated reply....but I knew you could figure it out.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

fatcat — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 00:56:37 GMT

well Bob, you just saved me a whole wad of money. I thank you for that. I just saw that post with the picture of the "focusing rail" after I wrote that. I was excited because that was exactly what I was talking about. It sounds to me like the 60mm is the way to go (around $360.)

I thought if I COULD use those old lenses why not try, but I wll take your word for it, not worth it. It would be just terrible to have to do everything manually, now that I have experienced the quality and luxury of a DSLR,lol Far better in many ways. Why go backwards....

In my situation, the 50mm and magnification filter set has been the route I chose for now. I'm able to get very close, I'll be able to tell you more in the fall when my flowers bloom if it's close enough. A bit disappointed in the Cannon 50mm/1.8stm. It feels kinda cheap in the mechanism and noisy (to me) but only had it for a couple of days. I love the weight, very little. Great for hiking. You be the judge when I get a pic worthy of puttinig up.

I want to do the layering you mentioned, and I think theres a way to do some on advanced v. of picMonkey. But I fear you're correct about the processing part of all this. Will have to get an "adult version" of a computer, dl the software from the camera and get into photoshop/lightroom (some ppl swear by chrome, but I've yet to meet one of them that is a photographer that needs to do some processing) I have so many cool ideas in my head, the how to is the puzzle. And part of the fun!

T Y also for the info about the tripod mount. I will look for one as my next purchase instead of a new tripod. I wanted to get a quick release anyway, so I'll look for that one.

You all have been SO helpful. I hope Annie got her questions answered too. You ALL are great. THANK YOU, Liz

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

ebiggs1 — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 04:14:01 GMT

First lets straighten out the SL1 body. It is of aluminum and polycarbonate resin body construction. It is not plastic in the sense of the word.

"I have 2 (old) lenses (macro and telepphoto) from the old AE-1 ..."

Forget this idea. Unless you just want to waste a lot of time and money. I learned that from experience. It can be done but it isn't easy and the new modern lenses are very much better.

" Do I need to mount the lens or the camera to the tripod?"

Almost always it is best to mount a tripod to the lens. However the ef-s 60mm doesn't come with a tripod mount. I doubt there is even one for it.

"PicMonkey which seems to be a bit less advanced ..."

I will be of little to no help with that. You should look at Photoshop Elements when you get a PC. Avoid a Mac. Too much trouble with printing.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

ebiggs1 — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 04:01:51 GMT

Annie,

That was just a snap shot. I was trying out the Sigma 35mm and mostly just playing around. I cropped it as much as I could to see where it would break down.

It was on my 1Ds Mk III. This was the most advanced full frame camera Canon made until the 1Dx came out. The Ds3 still has higher resolution than the 1Dx or even the new 1Dx Mk II.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

ebiggs1 — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 04:13:27 GMT

"It sounds to me like the 60mm is the way to go ..."

OK lets see if it is. I say the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens is the way to go.

Why? First it is a vastly better lens. That alone is reason enough but. Second it allows an increased working distance from your subject. If you are doing insects this can be critical. It does have a tripod mount available. And if you ever decide to go with a more advanced full frame camera the 100 will go right along. But the 60mm won't. You will have to buy the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens anyway!

Now which sounds like "the way to go"?

Other choices:

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens for Canon

Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Canon

Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 AF Pro D Macro Autofocus Lens for Canon

As listed would be my opinion. Check them out before you buy anything.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

fatcat — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 05:56:04 GMT

Okay, now I'm going to have to do some homework.The 100mm looks pretty nice. I haven't looked at the others yet. I did take a pic today w/ the 50 mm, I am VERY disappointed. AF doesn't seem to be sharp at all. Heres a sample.

50mm 1.8 f 4.5 iso 100 1/100 Maybe if I turned up the shutter speed it would seem better focused. I like the kit lens better, hate to say it.

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

fatcat — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 06:31:09 GMT

why not the sigma 35mm that you used? btw that one looks good too. What is the disadvantage of buying the "international version" of a lens?

Re: Macro lens for the SL1

diverhank — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 07:01:07 GMT

@fatcat wrote:
Okay, now I'm going to have to do some homework.The 100mm looks pretty nice. I haven't looked at the others yet. I did take a pic today w/ the 50 mm, I am VERY disappointed. AF doesn't seem to be sharp at all. Heres a sample.
50mm 1.8 f 4.5 iso 100 1/100 Maybe if I turned up the shutter speed it would seem better focused. I like the kit lens better, hate to say it.

Hi fatcat,

Hope you won't take offense at what I'm about to tell you.

Granted the 50mm f/1.8 STM is not exactly a macro lens but the example you showed pointed out perhaps the weakness in your technique. Close up pictures of flowers and butterflies are not the easiest to master because of the shallower depth of field. Unless you have the technique down, it doesn't really matter what lens you get, you will not be happy. Here are a couple of pictures I took with the 50mm f/1.8 STM and as you can see, there is no problem with focusing for this lens...

f/2; 1/1000

f/2, 1/320

I use an EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro lens for macro...it's a whole lot better than the 50mm f/1.8 STM for macro, of course but focusing is just as "hard". Here are a couple of examples: