anyone using 50mm canon macro?

[sanblas]

so I found the vivitar/phoenix lens locally and got it yesterday, tried it a bit.
attached is the best pic Ive taken so far with it.

drdrew, any pointers on using it? do you use the 'filter' that comes with it?
I tried using macro mode on the 300d, but it always wants to use the flash. I then tried manual settings and bumped up the ISO and that seemed to help, but Im having a really hard time with the focusing and depth of field.

any tips appreciated and thanks for the advice. I have tried turning the pumps off and cleaning the glass and that helped. Im sure a tripod would help a bunch too

 

[sanblas]

couple other decent pics, starting to get a little better, I put it in aperture priority, at 6, then bumped the ISO to 400, seems to be giving me better pics..is there an optimum aperture setting for macro shots?

 

[Craig Manoukian]

Faulous pics sanblas!

 

[drdrew]

you will need a tripod. the reason being that in macro photography, you want to get your f-stop up to increase your depth of field...put the camera on a tripod, set it to Av mode, set the f-stop to f16 or up to f/22. get a remote shutter release. shoot perpendicular to the glass. the exposure will be too long to hand hold. also turn off the pumps.

 

[ReefLady]

Pretty impressive!

There is no optimal aperture setting for macro shots, the depth-of-field at any given aperture changes depending on magnification.

However, make frequent use of your "depth-of-field preview" button (see manual) - it's one of the most important features of an SLR, and makes a big difference.

 

[drdrew]

but Im having a really hard time with the focusing and depth of field.

travis is right, but i was responding to this comment.

 

[sanblas]

hey thanks guys, appreciate it, Im going to borrow a tripod today and try it out.

Im attaching a pic I took saturday at a fellow reefers house, it was taken with the kit lense, makes me want to keep seahorses, very photogenic

 

[ReefLady]

Sweet! You're getting some great shots... the force is strong with this one.

 

[drdrew]

agreed. nice seahorse shot!

 

[sanblas]

thanks the seahorse was a lucky shot, I was moving around bumping into things and saw him right in front of the glass and took 3 quick shots, that one was the best.

travis and drdrew, what ISO do you normally shoot at? supposedly the 300d doesnt show much if any noise at 400 so should I bump the ISO as far as I can go without noise to decrease shutter speeds?

thanks for all the advice, appreciate it

 

[sanblas]

borrowed a tripod from work so am using that today, definitely helps
here are a few interesting ones

 

[mps9506]

you are getting those shots without a tripod?!!?!? Sheez, you must not ever drink coffee

 

[drdrew]

i like that first shot...looks like gulf rock.

experiment with the iso and see what you get!

 

[Barnacle Dave]

craig- avg price for that lens

 

[Craig Manoukian]

The 100mm macro lens I've found for around $460 on-line.

 

[Barnacle Dave]

The 100mm macro lens I've found for around $460 on-line.

After shipping 490. That about what the local store has it for.
Saw one on ebay for 350 or so.