T7i - Beginner macro photography challenges

[ravinat]

I bought a T7i recently and I wanted to try macro photography (I am a landscape photographer). I bought a macro extender tube in Amazon and also a Yongnua 50 mm prime lens. 

The prime lens attached tot he T7i is great and works fine at different aperture settings from 1.8 to 22. 

When I attach the extender tube, and the prime lens to it, I am unable to change the aperture as there seems to be no way to do that on a Yongnua. I saw some recommendation that you can lock the aperture by doing a DoF preview. I did that and then when I remove the lens and attach the extender+lens,, the camera now allows me to manually focus, but not change the aperture.

Any suggestions?

[ebiggs1]

The EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is an interesting lens but I would still go for the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM instead.

[Waddizzle]

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@kvbarkley wrote:

I have always felt that that lens has too small a working distance for 1:1.

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I agree, but ...

If you are shooting static subjects, the distance should not be an issue most of the time.  If you need to back up, the camera has enough resolution to where a modest crop should not make much difference.  Also, the shorter focal length should give you more DOF.

[ebiggs1]

"Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens."

...and.......

Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens.

Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens.

Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens.

Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. 

[jrhoffman75]

Does your extender tube has the same electrical contacts as your camera?

[ravinat]

No, it does not have the electrical contact. Manual focus is not the issue. Setting the right aperture is. This is the case with the prime lens as well as the 18-55mm kit lens of Canon.

[Waddizzle]

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@ravinat wrote:

No, it does not have the electrical contact. Manual focus is not the issue. Setting the right aperture is. This is the case with the prime lens as well as the 18-55mm kit lens of Canon.

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If your extension tubes have no electrical contacts, then you went just a little too low ball.  Those would be useful with a fully manual lens.

Most AF, Auto Focusing, lenses have electronic aperture control.  Without the electrical contacts, there is no way you will get aperture control with an AF lens.  

Macro lenses can also double as very good prime lenses.  In addition, because of their flatter focus plane, they can be useful where standard lenses are not.  For example, I recently too photos of a fairly wide wall mural.  The left and right ends of the mural were falling out of focus due to DOF.  My 100mm Macro was able to capture all of it in focus.

[jrhoffman75]

As far as I know you cannot set the aperture manually on an electro-optical lens. There are some manual lenses with a Canon EOS mount where you can set the aperture. For less than $20 you can get an extension tube with contacts. 

[jrhoffman75]

And has built in macro light.

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/lenses/ef/macro/ef-s-35mm-f-2-8-m...