need help with t2i and close up pictures

i work in a quality lab and need to take picture defectives product.

i have a stock T2i with a 18-55 lens. I'm getting good pictures but a lot of times I'm waiting on camera to focus.

i used to have a canon G12 and it did much better unfortunately  i broke it.

what advice can you give me? should i get a led light , manual focus? different lens?

thanks fred

Hello...

gromit95 wrote:

i work in a quality lab and need to take picture defectives product.

i have a stock T2i with a 18-55 lens. I'm getting good pictures but a lot of times I'm waiting on camera to focus.

I think IMHO - buy the Nifty Canon 50 MM lens. 

i used to have a canon G12 and it did much better unfortunately i broke it.

what advice can you give me? should i get a led light , manual focus? different lens?

thanks fred

gromit95 wrote:

i work in a quality lab and need to take picture defectives product.

what advice can you give me? should i get a led light , manual focus? different lens?

thanks fred

Fred,

Here's a web site that offers tips and tricks to get close-up shots with your T2i

https://www.cameratips.com/t2i/take-great-macro-photos-canon-t2i

As Sue Anne suggested, and as the article mentioned, a 50mm STM lens would not be a bad idea.

They run about $150.00

Narrowing your aperture might help some too.

Steve Thomas

Hi,

your samples have various problems. For example #1 has too shallow depth of field, smaller aperture could help.

As to focusing: try to setup the central focusing point.

Move the subject closer to the window. Cost effective pro solution for your bussiness is two lamps setup. Anything else, except of a circular macro flash will make unlikely shadows.

The 50/1.8 lens gives you more speed, as it has bigger max aperture, on the other side you loose unlikely much of the depth of field, when full open.

Additionally, it is not wide enough for your usage. It is no way to go, IMHO.

All in all, your lens is fine, bring more light and use f/8.

guinness2 wrote:

The 50/1.8 lens gives you more speed, as it has bigger max aperture, on the other side you loose unlikely much of the depth of field, when full open.

Additionally, it is not wide enough for your usage. It is no way to go, IMHO.

How about the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM?

Twice as wide angle-of-view as the 50mm.

Sells for £150 new in the uk. Cheaper used, obviously.