Share your Macro Photos

[lindam]

Have you captured an awesome macro photo? Post it here and share the story behind the shot. Be sure to include the Canon gear you used. This photo was captured with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens at f/5, 1/160 sec, ISO 100.

[fatcat]

very nice.  How close did you have to get w/ that sigma lens?  Very clear, great dof.  🙂 L.

[Waddizzle]

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@fatcat wrote:

very nice.  How close did you have to get w/ that sigma lens?  Very clear, great dof.  🙂 L.

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Who?  Me?  I used the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM macro lens.  The camera was about 12 inches away, which means the bees were about 4-6 inches from the front of the lens. 

I focused in One Shot mode witth manually selected center AF point.  I used Back Button Focus to pre-focus inside of a particular flower and waited for a bee to land inside of it.  They were everywhere.  One landed inside of a flower, while another did a touch and go with a flower.

Both of the posted photos were cropped about 50%, and had exposure adjustments in LR.

[fatcat]

Oh ok, I thought I read at the bottom of the photo that you used the "S" lens, sowwy.  I like that approach you used, I will have to try that in the fall.  I have a clematis that the bees LOVE and hover all day.  I was too slow today, had a hummingbird and a monarch butterfly....I planted a bunch of stuff to attract them this yr.  So wish me better luck next time. lol

I love the hovering bee, he's so fat looking.  You really did good to catch that touch and go!!!.  I will learn from this, the technique to focus on ONE flower and just wait.  We have 2 kinds of bees, the honey bees and big black bumble bees, plus wasps, but I avoid them if possible.  So Wad, thanks for that tip.  Do you like the 100mm lens?  I get about as close with my set up, but the magnififcation could be better.  Trying to figure a way to get close w/o getting too close (bigger magnification w/ greater distance) and w/o spending 1k to get there.  I realize this is a daydream, but one can dream.

Thanks for that great tip, I forgot about that lesson.  My other problem is getting out the tripod in time to catch it b/4 it's gone.

cheers,L.

[Waddizzle]

Liz,

I use Back Button Focus.  Depth of Field is shallow, at these distances.  It must be 1/4 inch at most, probably less.  If I lock focus on the inside of the flower, then the outer leaves will likely be out of focus.  I haven't decided which is better, One Shot or AI Servo.  My keeper rate is so low, <33%, with either approach that I cannot form an opinion

And so, I do refocus on the bee if it lands on the flower.  Many times I do turn my attention to a flower with a bee already poking around inside of it.  You have to work fast.  Using BBF allows the camera to shoot faster, because it doesn't take the time refocus when the shutter button is pressed.  I have settled on using AI Servo most of the time, though.  I can press BBF and release it to acquire a "one shot" focus, or I can hold the button depressed and track in AI Servo mode.

I also use continuous shooting mode.  I run off several shots in a row.  My keeper rate with the T5 is pretty low because it is hard, at least for me, to keep the center AF point on the subject.  I use continuous shooting because the DOF is so shallow.  A small move by the bee can put most of its' body, or very little of its' body, in and out of focus. Continuous shooting is how I captured the "touch and go" bee.

To make a long story short.  I'm having FUN.

[diverhank]

Here is one I just took a few days ago...this wasn't exactly a "macro" shot.  This goes to show that any lens can double duty as a macro lens of sort.   I took this with a Canon 5D Mark III and Tamron 150-600mm @ 600mm, 1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 1000...sorry Canon, the Tamron is my one only non-Canon lens I own...I wish Canon would make one (150-600mm f/5.6), I'd buy it in a flash...

[ebiggs1]

Careful what you wish for.  There is good indication Canon will offer a  EF 200-600mm f/4.5-5.6 IS zoom lens.

Probably before years end!  I guess a non-L in the $1700+ price range.

[diverhank]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

Careful what you wish for.  There is good indication Canon will offer a  EF 200-600mm f/4.5-5.6 IS zoom lens.

Probably before years end!  I guess a non-L in the $1700+ price range.

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I do hope it's true :)...I love portability and being able to walk for miles in the reserve hunting for birds...I hardly use my 600mm f/4...it just is too unwieldy...

[Waddizzle]

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@diverhank wrote:

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

Careful what you wish for.  There is good indication Canon will offer a  EF 200-600mm f/4.5-5.6 IS zoom lens.

Probably before years end!  I guess a non-L in the $1700+ price range.

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I do hope it's true :)...I love portability and being able to walk for miles in the reserve hunting for birds...I hardly use my 600mm f/4...it just is too unwieldy...

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Exactly.  Portability when you're hiking.  I love my 100-400mm for that exact reason.  It's identical in size to the 70-200mm.  If Canon made a 200-600 that same size, too, they would set a new standard of excellence.

[ebiggs1]

" If Canon made a 200-600 that same size ..."

The EF 200-600mm f/4.5-5.6 IS zoom lens is sure to follow the same design as the 100-300 and 100-400mm.  Of course it will need to accommodate 600mm.

[shutterhack]

I had just purchased the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens. 

Taken August 27th at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum Butterfly exhibit. Perfect overcast cool morning.

Canon EOS Rebel T5, ISO 600, 1/125sec. f/5.6