Using my equipment, how do I get macro shots?

[hotchilidamo]

Hi, I'm really keen to play around with Macros as I've never done it before.

Obviously I could buy a Macro lens, but most are not cheap and I'm still recovering financially from my recent lens purchase. So I was hoping to list the kit I've go and ask what is the easiest, cheapest way to achieve Macro shots:

Canon EOS 400D
Canon EF 85mm f1.8 Lens
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM

I'm aware that there are lots of accessories available which all claim to work but I'm really not sure what is best for low budget. Eventually I'd be happy to purchase a specific Macro lens but for now I just want to play

Any suggestions?

[Michael_2010]

I bought some cheap extension tubes recently and I've been having fun exploring the macro world. They are just plastic rings at various lengths that move one of your other lenses away from the sensor and shortens the lens' minimum focus range.

My camera doesn't much like them and gives me error messages saying I should clean the lens' contacts, etc. I can usually just turn the camera off and on then I'm back in business. I hope my camera is not suffering any long-term damage, because of these things. lol

Got to be the cheapest way to extend your existing equipment.

[daft_biker]

Originally Posted by hotchilidamo

Any suggestions?

A set of Kenko AF extension tubes should work a treat on your 85mm. Last I checked they were about £100 or so.

The reason I suggust those tubes is that the cheaper extension tubes (£20 off ebay kind of thing) don't have electrical connections to control the aperture or AF. Whilst AF might be of questionable value for macro having electrical connections to control the aperture of your Canon lens will be extremely useful. The other reason I suggest tubes on the 85mm is that I'd expect the image quality to be excellent and it should be capable of close to lifesize reproduction.....it should be nearly as good as a dedicated macro lens

[hotchilidamo]

Great stuff, thanks I'll take a look.

[Michael_2010]

I used one of the Pro Optic Budget Auto Extension Tubes ($47.95/set) and my nifty fifty to get the following shot. My subject lacks interest, but I think it came out pretty sharp. I don't use AutoFocus with close-up shots, but I have had no problem with setting the aperture. Most of my error messages come when I try to use more than one tube at a time.



This is just something I do, when I don't feel like getting outside. So, I didn't want to tie a lot of money up in a good macro lens or expensive extension tubes.

[wulf]

For a really budget approach, you can put one lens on your camera and hold the other in front of it, the wrong way round. It is a very ghetto approach and a bit haphazard, not least because you will get a lot of magnification, a tiny depth of field and the only way to focus is to move back and forward but it is feasible for well-lit, static subjects.

Wulf

[Michael_2010]

I'm having second thoughts about the cheap-o extension tubes. My camera is kicking back more and more errors today and it went a little wonky while I was trying to adjust the exposure. They work, but might prove to be more of a pain than they are worth.

[inkista]

Michael, have you tried cleaning the contacts on the tubes? Or re-stacking them in a different order? Also making sure that everything's fully seated both between the tubes and between the tubes and the lens and the tubes and the body.

I've gotten ERR01s before from a manual focus lens adapter ring where the chip on it wasn't seated exactly right. Usually remounting the lens worked to fix the error.

[daft_biker]

Originally Posted by Michael_2010

I'm having second thoughts about the cheap-o extension tubes. My camera is kicking back more and more errors today and it went a little wonky while I was trying to adjust the exposure. They work, but might prove to be more of a pain than they are worth.

FWIW my Kenko tubes have been in regular use since 2006 and have been trouble free.

Are your tubes within the warranty period? I'd be wanting to return them and hope the replacement is more reliable if you don't get anywhere cleaning connections.

Extension tubes can be great fun.....even my 24mm becomes a macro lens with tubes on...


....and you can never have enough macro lenses (we'll forget about getting nettle stings to the face getting that low and the working distance is so short it helps if the subject is backlit)

[Michael_2010]

Originally Posted by inkista

Michael, have you tried cleaning the contacts on the tubes? Or re-stacking them in a different order? Also making sure that everything's fully seated both between the tubes and between the tubes and the lens and the tubes and the body.

I've gotten ERR01s before from a manual focus lens adapter ring where the chip on it wasn't seated exactly right. Usually remounting the lens worked to fix the error.

What would be a good way to clean those contacts beyond wiping them off with a lens cloth? I've been a little hesitant to use any type of alcohol based cleaners on the plastic parts.