RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens from Canon With R5 Mark ii Mount Questions & Subject Suggestions

[Far-Out-Dude]

I am thinking of buying the  Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens to use With my R5 Mark ii Mount but have  Questions & looking for ideas for indoor Subject Suggestions. 

I want to give background that I just spent two and a half months in the hospital and will not be able to leave the home for about 3 months other than doctors visits due to both physical issues and my friends did not turn in my license plates for me (Their vehicle but was in my name as they are Mennonite and I drive for them) the way they said they would so my license is suspended for 96 days. I had planned to buy a  Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM for Winter landscape but since I can't leave the house I want to try another interest.

My questions are mainly about mounting the lens, I use a Wimberly 200 gimble and am not sure I can use the Canon Tripod ring mount with the gimbal or not and I am also looking at a  7" Macro Focusing Rail from Oben as I understand are more precise than the ring would be? I am also looking at the Godox Ring72 Macro Ring LED Light and wonder if I am going overboard with all the extra stuff to start?

My other problem is most of my Macro interest has always been outdoors, what can I shoot indoors that could be interesting? Maybe a bug or two, coins, my eye if I can catch it at the right angle to catch the curve in it are what I am thinking so far, but what would be some other ideas? Also any advise given would be appreciated. This is going to help me learn my R5 Mark ii more as well.

[ebiggs1]

Sample of your sample in Photoshop. This is my 34" monitor. What size monitor do you have? I encourage you to get as big of a monitor you can fit on your desk.

[ebiggs1]

Last one!

[Far-Out-Dude]

Thank you for the help. My monitor is a 32" I just recently got it before I went to the hospital because I fell and put my hand through the screen trying to catch myself, that was a 27" and this is much better. It has a setting for photo's which is one reason I got it as well as settings for gaming which I do. I used the setting to make the letters bigger as well. When my eyes are bugging me less I will try to work on something with these settings. Thank you again.

I went through and used the settings that you indicated, I did have to go and set it to fit screen.

[Far-Out-Dude]

Forgive the horrible cell phone pictures, but I got my stuff in yesterday, now I just need a day where I am half awake so I can understand the manuals better. The Oben focusing rails are already confusing to me, but I have not slept much. Thanks for the help.

[ebiggs1]

IMHO, I would not use the filter on very close macro stuff. Outdoor normal stuff, yes, always use the filter. Remember what most folks forget or are not aware of, filters screw off as easily as they screw on.

[Far-Out-Dude]

Eventually there will be a large amount of macro outside, that is why I got the filter, also very expensive lenses should be protected. Is there a specific reason you do not suggest them? Is there distortion from them? If not I think it is foolish not to protect a $1200.00 lens from scratches, chips and fingerprints with a $60.00 filter. 

I am more than willing to listen and learn. 

[JFG]

Far-Out-Dude,

I'm all for protecting my lenses with good brand filters.  Yes, the low budget filters degrade, distort and soften the picture.  All filters are not the same, and they vary significantly in quality. The differences come down to the type of glass used, coatings applied, and constructions material.  A cheap filter can noticeably degrade image quality, while a high-end filter has very little to no impact on your photos indoor or outdoor.  High-quality filters use optically pure thin glass that minimizes distortion.  Low-cost filters often use  thicker, lense refined glass, which can soften image or introduce color shifts.  Premium filters use multi-layer anti-reflective coatings and improve light transmission.  Budget filters usually lack coatings or use basic ones, leading to reflections and reduced contrast.  Good filters are designed to be nearly invisible for clear image quality.  Poor filters can cause softness, vignetting, or unwanted color.   The best protective filter brands are Hoya, B+W, Canon, Nikon, Urth, and Breakthrough Photography, just to mention the best brands.  I use Hoya HD3 Hard Nano Coating UV Filters, Certified for 100MP+ cameras. With an 800% harder coating and patented 32-layer nano-technology; they are shatter-resistant, stain and scratch resistant, smudge and waterproof with multi-coatings and aluminum ring.  Hoyas have excellent balance of durability and optical clarity with 99.7% light transmission.  They are made in Japan since 1941.  B+W are German made filters with MRC nano coating etc. with a brass ring that prevent binding and warping, making them a favorite among professionals as they are the Premium brand also pricey.   As it's said, You get what you pay for or Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

[stevet1]

Far-Out-Dude,

A couple of other suggestions for indoor photography might be toy photography (there is a whole genre for that - people stage battle scenes and stuff), miniature cars, and fine art photography.

Steve Thomas

[ebiggs1]

No don’t get me wrong I too think outdoor shots benefit from the extra protection even outdoors macro. But just like everything in life there is no free lunch. Filters add another layer to the equation where their benefit is less important. Use it when it makes sense and don’t use it when it doesn’t. Agree?

[ebiggs1]

Think about it like this, the lens is at its best with no filter.