Plumbago Macro - Kit Lens

[cmpool]

This is my first critique post so please be gentle! lol!

I'm fairly new here so hello to everyone. I really like the DPS forums. there are a lot of really talented people here and I'm learning a lot reading through the posts.

This shot took me about 23 tries to get this result. Hand held with my EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens and I still didn't get all the petals in focus like I wanted and keep the background out of focus. Am I wasting my time trying to use this lens for macro? There is not much PP on the image at all except for changing wb to shade. I'm considering getting the EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens (very economical but good I hear) for indoor low light no flash shots. How is it for macro shots? Would you have taken time to pose the petals or remove the web before shooting? I guess I would have if I'd thought of it. Phew!, I hope this isn't too many questions.


Camera Model Canon EOS 40D
Firmware Firmware Version 1.0.8
Shooting Date/Time 6/16/2009 6:48:20 PM
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/200
Av( Aperture Value ) 4.5
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Focal Length 50.0mm
Image Size 3888x2592
Image Quality RAW
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode Manual focusing
Picture Style Standard
Sharpness 3
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space sRGB
Long exp noise reduction 0:Off
High ISO noise reduction 0:Off
Highlight tone priority 0isable
File Size 11048KB
Dust Delete Data No
Drive Mode Single shooting

[kencaleno]

get an old SLR 50mm 1.8 lens ($20?) and a reversing ring to fit your kit lens filter thread and the 50mm lens reversed, and you will have a very good macro lens. ken

[cmpool]

Wow, I was just playing around with my old Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm 1:1.7 (22) Lens. I wonder If I could make it work. I'd have to find some way to hold the aperature lever open and find the right reverse ring I guess. Any ideas on where I should start looking?

Thanks for the tip Ken, I'll start researching it!

[kencaleno]

You need a reversing ring that will connect both filter threads, or if you have some old filters of the right diameter, knock the glass out and Araldite them back to back-then you can link the two lenses in that way-regards, Ken