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Lens Recommendations for Cat Close-ups

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Apprentice

Two or three years ago I bought a new digital Canon camera. It's an EOSRebelT5 and came with an EFs 18-55 macro0.25/0.8ft which didn't focus closely enough to photograph my cat. I want to be able to do close-up portraits of her and I was directed to a much heavier, longer lens that's hard to focus and it's like trying to focus through a tunnel. This one is also macro, 2.8/100mmED (I think I've got all the info). My last camera had a lens that got the cats' heads and it is Macro focusing zoom - vivitar (the camera is a Minolta) 35-70mm 1:28-38 . I don't suppose that Vivitar lens would fit my Rebel The Vivitar was perfect for me. Is there something like it that will fit my Canon?

6 REPLIES 6

jrhoffman75
Legend
Legend

How. Close do you want to get? 0.8 feet is 10 inches. 

John Hoffman
Conway, NH

1D X Mark III, Many lenses, Pixma PRO-100, Pixma TR8620a, LR Classic

Be nice! I've always been able to do well with the lenses that came with the camera. This lens is so much longer and heavier and focusing takes so long I've lost the moment when I click the shutter. When I check the screen on the back even though I've tried to focus it's only close. I'm sure I need to get used to this lens, but it's so heavy that my right hand has trouble holding up the camera, keeping the camera still and sparing my index finger to click the shutter. I would really prefer to use a shorter, lighter lens. Also, the red-eye eliminator is not flashing so I'm getting glowing eyes. How do I turn that back on? I remember not liking it when I first used the camera because I always lost the moment. I may have turned it off. Thanks for the list of lenses. I'll have to check out those lenses.

AtticusLake
Mentor
Mentor

I'm puzzled that the EF-S 18-55 macro lens isn't working for you.  According to Canon's specs, the max magnification for that lens is 0.36; so if your cat's head is, say, 3 inches across, that would be just over an inch on your camera's sensor.  Since your sensor is less than an inch across, that cat head would be more than filling the width of your frame.

If you're not getting this, then most likely you need to play with your lens' settings.  In particular, you might need to zoom in all the way.  Experiment, and bear in mind that macro is tricky; depth of field is going to be an issue.  Use lots of light.

The Vivitar you mention I believe has a magnification of 0.25, which is even worse than the EF-S 18-55.  BTW I think the numbers you're quoting (1:28-38 and so on) are f numbers, which have nothing to do with magnification.  And no, a lens for Minolta will not fit a Canon EF or EF-S camera, and there is no adapter for that, at least not without modifying your lens.

If you want more -- like if you want to fill the frame with one eye -- then you will need a lens with better magnification, like 1:1 or more.

I don't know what "2.8/100mmED" is, but if that's the "Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM", then that should be a great lens, with a magnification of 1:1.  So that would fill the frame with an eye.  I don't know what you mean by "like trying to focus through a tunnel".  It certainly seems to get good reviews.

Tintype_18
Authority
Authority

Or use the lens and back off so the photo is to your liking. I write for outdoor publications and I have learned to use diopters for trout flies. One fellow said he uses one of the low power telephoto lenses to photograph trout flies in the vise. Backs off and presses the button.

John
Canon EOS T7; EF-S 18-55mm IS; EF 28-135mm IS; EF 75-300mm; Sigma 150-600mm DG

ebiggs1
Legend
Legend

A better solution is to use your T5 and the kit lens that came with it. The additional gear you need is a post editor. Canon offers DPP4 to you for free. But of course the ultimate is Photoshop. It also has a consumer version called Photoshop Elements which is reasonably priced. Change you shooting mode to Raw instead of jpg. It gives you way more room for editing. Simple crop.

bird.jpgcrop.jpg

 

EB
EOS 1DX and 1D Mk IV and less lenses then before!

jrhoffman75
Legend
Legend

Here is the info on red-eye:

Screenshot 2022-12-17 053749.jpg

You can get the entire camera manual here:

Canon Support for EOS Rebel T5 | Canon U.S.A., Inc.

It's unclear which lens you are talking about. The 18-55mm kit lens is very light and focuses close if you want to. 

John Hoffman
Conway, NH

1D X Mark III, Many lenses, Pixma PRO-100, Pixma TR8620a, LR Classic
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