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.

[JFG]

Hi EB, 

I agree with you, the lens is at its best with out a filter.  However, I  myself use the the Hoya HD3 UV filter which introduces zero distortion. It is engineered to maintain precise parallel alignment to the sensor plane, ensuring maximum sharpness and clarity without altering the image.  The filter achieves a 99.7% light transmission rate, meaning that almost all light passes through without being blocked or scattered.  It is Resolution Certified.  It has been re-certified for use with 100+ megapixel sensors, ensuring no loss of resolution or clarity.  Therefore, I can live with the -0.3% Light Transmission Rate.  The benefits of having a provocative filter on expensive lenses totally outweigh the negatives.  Once I  put on a filter I leave it on and forget it. Having said that, it's a personal decision.  With or without a  good filter a well focused subject will be sharp and crisp as long as the trinity is in sync.  I say, follow your hart and do what's right for you and develope your own personal style as photography is an art where the photographer expresses their own interpretation of what is in his minds eye.  😉

[Far-Out-Dude]

Thank you all for your replies on this. My hands being as clumsy as I am I am going to use a filter at this time, I hate cleaning lenses, it makes me very nervous and I would rather have to clean a filter than scratch a lens. I will upgrade the filter when I can, but that may be a bit, I still need to get a light and difusser.

I really need to wake up enough to start using this stuff, I have been very tired since I got out of the hospital, you would think I would be over it, it has been close to a month but I am not. I am reading the manual for the lens right now, I pulled out a tripod and will get things attached and try to do some shooting later in the week. I tried shooting the bristles on a brush real quick, it was not very interesting and taught me I am going to have to learn more about running the lens and macro as well. I have to find out if there are any special settings on the R5 Mark ii as well, that thing seems to have settings for everything. lol

[Far-Out-Dude]

Little bit of practice with the lens, body is not letting me shoot much but I am as it will. Stick bugs the two shots are of one that was walking around the edge of the tray on my walker over and over again the other is a dead one I found and decided to put it on the tray for practice, it was full of dog fur which actually helped it stand upright and I did my best to edit that out. I had tried to take some pictures of one of my deceased girlfriends rings, but I was not happy with how it turned out, I was either to close or to far far the lens, it looks good taking the picture but when I put them on the computer they were out of focus. Moving Left to right 100mm f/8 1/4 sec ISO 1250 No flash. Moving right to left 100mm f/8 5.2 sec ISO 100 no flash. Dead 100mm f/11 2 sec ISO 100 no flash

[SignifDigits]

I hate those stink bugs!  Good pics though.   Take your time and get well.  Getting older doesn't help.   She was sick in bed for 6 days 3 weeks ago with the flu.  Went to church Sunday after - no singing, standing or visiting that week.  Next week no standing and singing at the same time.  This week standing AND singing.  And that's no hospital visit, just the flu.  So take your time.

Same advice on the macro shooting - not that I know.  I'm now wanting that lens myself to explore the world of macro shooting.

I am thinking a LOT of things are interesting at the macro level - carpet fibers, a dogs' eye, nose teeth or tongue, mechanical stuff is interesting, dirty coins, rusty tools, nasty toenails (well, maybe not that last one, lol).  Just looking looking around me and thinking of of that the two colors of wood on our table would look like with the right light and shade combo in macro, or my bamboo flooring, or the pine trim or the window screen with the right background and blur, and, if I'm unlucky (lucky?) one of those cursed stinkbugs or non-ladybug beetles that seem to be everywhere!  Spiders or cobwebs seem to always be around, too.  And dust on the floor in the sunlight.  Anyways, seems like it would be fun thing to explore.  And, when you get well enough to get outdoors again, see what Marc shot with that lens at https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/Gear-Guide/Canon-EOS-R50-vs-R10-for-a-beginner/m-p/579705#M2990 - great shots!

[Waddizzle]

This is how I mount my EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM on a nodal rail and a geared head. 

 

[JFG]

Hey Waddizzle, 

That's a nice set up.  I use a Sirui rail set up, similar to yours.  👍

[Waddizzle]

Thanks! I think my rail is RRS.  I also use a Sunwayphoto horizontal arm.

The geared head is by Benro.  It’s a tree trunk:  Absolutely zero backlash, even with several pounds of gear.  Have you ever tried to photograph the Moon and the rig shifts slightly as tighten down the tripod head?  That’s backlash.

The only issue with the Benro geared head is that the handles can hit the tripod in certain positions.  This is is easily corrected by adding an accessory.

 Red Wing Iron Rangers.  The Arca-Swiss bracket on the arm, the rail, and the head can rotate 90 degrees.  I will often rotate one or the other to adjust horizontal alignment 

 

[Far-Out-Dude]

Thank you much for the reply. I have a shot I tried years ago when sitting in a blind waiting for turkey that I would very much like to try with this, there had been lots of fog and then the sun came out and the moisture was glistening like diamonds at the tips of the grass, very pretty. I think I was using the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens at that time, not the best for that shot and I was set up in the blind for shooting turkey as I called them in, I was not as low as I would have like to have been but would like to try it again. No. just found it and it was with the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens

[Far-Out-Dude]

Thank you for showing me that, I have to get mine on one of the rails I bought but when I picked it up out of the box it made no sense to me. I am in all honesty horrible at assembling things.

[Far-Out-Dude]

By she I am guessing that you are talking about your wife? Regardless whomever it is I am glad to hear they are feeling better. Yes those stink bugs sure do earn their name, that's for certain! 

The faux ladybugs I have heard refereed to as "Potato Bugs" and some form of Asian bug but I do not recall the full name.

You have some interesting ideas there, the spider web is a big one for me, I just love them, especially in the early morning with dew glistening in the sun like diamonds or tears.
I have already checked it out and he did some nice work (I was not feeling up to replying the first day I saw replies, very sorry.) I will look again though, they were quite good.