*markbarton

Oh, well that's why...

You have this huge piece of hardware while all I'm using is a Canon XTi Rebel with a 50 mm Macro and 300mm Zoom...

*skulks away*

*walks back*

What type of lense(s) do you use or switch between to get these pictures. I need to find another because my Macro will not get THAT close...

is your lens *actually* a macro lens? when you want to get a macro lens you dont wanna look for the word "macro" which is now meaningless. You want to look for the phrase "1:1 meaning that the object in the focal plane in the frame is the same size as the sensor - that is the true definition of "Macro".

I have the Sigma 105mm Macro which is 1:1 at minimum focussing distance. Then I add extension tubes behind the lens which works it up to 2:1 (twice life size) by allowing me to focus much closer.

Monday I'm changing my setup by replacing the extension tubes with a 3X Kenko teleconverter which will mean a 3:1 magnification

hope that explained something or other

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My shots in order of popularity [link]

Neat.

I'm not really complaining. It takes nice close ups, and it came with the camera... so... *cough*

Yeah, I'm looking for some lenses from Canon, let me grab the links...

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The MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo: [link]

and

The EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM: [link]

Which would you pick, or is there another which is better than these?

Thanks a bunch.

Btw, your pictures are astounding, keep up the good work!

just a tip before you buy one, the lower length macro lenses will require you to get *really* close to your subject and still fill the same part of the frame, eg the Sigma 150mm lens lets you take (pretty much) the same picture as my Sigma 105mm lens but about 10 or 15cm further away. I find the 70mm ones are a bit too close for comfort.

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My shots in order of popularity [link]

Alright. I getcha. I might find a lense like yours. Least I can find it for is $342, but it's good, especially with work and birthday coming up.

Oh, and one more thing. Is shaking a big problem with the lense? My Rebel XTi doesn't have the anti-shake.

anti shake is built into the lens usually i think, it makes them very expensive, mine doesnt have it. basically it boils down to - can you provide enough light with your flash system to allow you to use ISO 100, a high f-number and still be able to keep your shutter speed faster than 1/200 seconds. any slower and you may start to notice motion blur.

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My shots in order of popularity [link]

Oh yeah. The Close up function in my Rebel causes a great deal of good with the aperture in my 50mm, and it's hella bright out by us, especially for summer. ISO won't be a big problem.