closeup/ macro advice

kodiak-99 wrote:

I am a long time follower of DPreview so coming here first..... Birds/wildlife have been my main attention; but have dabbled with closeup some with disappointed results.... Just have been reading a lot about using flash and am reenergized and waiting for spring (flowers & insects)... Have not got the flash yet; and the other gear I have is Canon 60D, 7Dmk2, canon 70-200 f4 L IS, canon 100-400 mk2, and new lens canon 24-105 f4 L, Kenko tubes, & canon 500D closeup.... So my question is regarding flash advice (which one ) and which of these lens to start off ( the 70-200 vs 24-105) ??? Yes I know try both but looking for encouraging photo's to start with............ not looking to go beyond 1:1 for now....... however amazed with results other masters have done...... Flash & diffuser advice..... Thank You

It will probably be easier to start with the 70-200 with extension tubes, especially with flash.

Just leave the lens at 70mm and work your way up from one tube to the next. Then, you can get used to the working distance and adjust the flash accordingly. The procedure is very similar to using a macro lens.

I like using a TTL Speedlite that I can use for everything and adapt it to macro with diffusers or snoots. I'm more concerned about having an all-purpose flash that won't go to waste.

If you're really serious about using flash (I prefer natural light whenever possible), consider a flash extension cord, and of course a ttl flash compatible with your camera - there are many.

An extension cord will make it easy to do off camera flash from the side, which should, especially with a diffuser, make your lighting appear to be more natural.  It also opens up creative possibilities like back lighting.

Your Canon 500D is a +2 diopter achromat close-up filter, producing far better quality than the cheap-o single element close-up filters.  It's 77mm filter thread will fit your 24-105, 70-200 and even the 100-400.  The way close-up filters work is that for a given diopter power, the magnification they provides increases with increased focal length.

On your 70-200mm lens at 200mm and its closest focus, magnification, M, will be 0.6X, covering a field-of-view of 37mm on your APS-C bodies..  That is just about the same field- of-view as 1X with a full-frame body.

Unlike using an extension tube, with that Canon 500D attached, you will have a very convenient, quick-to-change variable-magnification system, magnification going from 0.6X at the lens 200mm setting to about 0.25X at the 70mm setting.  At 200mm, working distance will be a very generous 13-inches.

I think you will find that using extension tubes is more cumbersome to change magnification, and the whole rig gets very long and unwieldy with enough tubes to get decent magnification at 200mm.   But with the 24-105, especially at the shorter focal lengths, I think you'll find them better than the close-up filter, although you will have  significantly less working distance.

For the 2-cents my advice might be worth, I would suggest starting with the 24-105 using the 500D diopter, with the lens between 50-105mm,  providing modest magnification.  If you want more M, switch to the 70-200 and use longer focal lengths.  You will find it's not easy to keep that big 70-200mm lens locked on focus.  Similarly, the 100-400 will provide over 1X at 400mm with the diopter attached, but the long focal length also magnifies your motion, and it will be a handful trying to hold focus.

As someone previously suggested, you might start out with available light, and don't go for the high-M stuff right away.  Lean on things for support if you can, or use a monopod, or a tripod, of course, is the best.

For sure, flash (with a diffuser) is a great option for handheld work.  Being able to remove it from the camera is a real plus to create interesting illumination.  I'm a fan of the many wireless flash options, eliminating that bulky coiled cord between camera body and flash.  I have made many successful close-ups, up to 2X, by handholding the flash in my left hand and the camera in the right hand;  the extremely short flash duration freezes any motion, and this allows me very quick flexibility in lighting placement.

Start out at modest magnifications with available light and you'll enjoy the journey.  Don't bother with 10X shots of insect eyes right now:-).  Before you go out,just play with the diopter filter and extension tube on your various lenses and get a feel for magnification and working distance.  It all just like photographing your birds, except the birds are extremely small and very nearby.

My photos improved drastically when I grabbed a diffuser.  This is the MK Diffuser that I bought through Facebook from a gentleman in Malaysia.

1. Thank you for the great responses.    Very helpful.  We are in a major snowstorm now.   

I bet you can find lots of stuff INDOORS to photograph.  Look in your refrigerator, your junk drawer, all around the kitchen.  Get used to handling the various lenses and close-up filter, and/or the extension tubes.   Eventually the snow will melt and you'll be ready to photograph the crocuses.   Indoors there's no wind.:-)

Practice in living room on cold day. light is natural with sun behind high clouds.... Using 60D with 24-105 f4 & canon 500D filter... Live view, monopod, sure hard to hold still for a old man to be stable..... This is encouraging for me.... Hmm wonder if pictures posted???? Thanks to all....

Norfolk Island pine

Norfolk Island Pine

Norfolk Island Pine

Norfolk Island Pine

Nicely done.  I especially like the second.

You done good, Mr. Kodiak,

Since you're inside, you will find a tripod far superior to a monpod.  You familiarity with a monopod probably comes from your past life as a birder, but for close-up work, a tripod can't be beat...unless you're chasing insects.

Thank You for the kind words........  since I've been taking pictures my whole life (as my career in Radiology) I find in retirement there's more to learn........ and that's good...