Canon Rebel EOS 650 + Macro = ?

[JectigatingScript]

Okay, so, I've been lurking around this site for quite some time, and I finally decided to sign up and be a pesky 16 year old :]

I recently found photography to be something i enjoyed a lot and I'm trying to get better. The camera I currently have is about 20~ years old, and came with a 35mm-105mm lense. Not exactly ideal for my style, but for $80, I couldn't pass it up.

So, basically, what would be the best lens I should try to track down for Macro photography? I'm pretty new, and I don't have a large amount of spare money floating around.

Any help is appreciated!


*Yes, I know this is a digital photography site, and well, I can't afford to get the DSLR I want right now. Hopefully, by the end of January I'll have a Nikon d80!*

[aramil]

First of all welcome to DPS. I do not think anyone here is elitist enough to think that film shooting is all done now and it is digital or nothing.
As I do not shoot macro, I am not incredibly uself here, however, you are shooting Canon right now, and are planning to get a Nikon. In which case there are two suggestions.
If you just want a lens to play around with go to an old camera store and pick up an older lens. Metering and other things will not work perfectly, but you would still be able to play around with it.
However, if you are planning to get a D80 in teh new year, I would wait and get a macro lens with it at that point. Remember, Nikon lenses can still be mounted on a Canon with a coverter, but Canon cannot be mounted on a Nikon.

[wulf]

I agree with aramil - if you have a new camera lined up in the near future and the lenses won't be cross compatible, wait until then. Otherwise the lens (and the cost of all the film you will burn through trying to get to grips with macro work) will only push the DSLR purchase (and the faster learning curve that comes from instant feedback) further back.

If you are really impatient, you could get a clip on macro adaptor. I don't use my Raynox DCR-250 so much now because I normally do macro work with my Vivitar 90mm lens but it still comes out from time to time. It clips onto the front of the lens and thus is brand neutral.

Wulf

[JectigatingScript]

Mm, I was really considering a Canon DSLR instead for those reasons, but I don't really know what the equivalent-ish of the D80 would be. I'll be looking around in a little bit, though. Any suggestions?

[inkista]

The D80 sits between the XXXD and XXD lines on the Canon side (i.e., it's between an XTi and 40D, all are one generation back from the current models which is generally the sweet spot bang-for-the-buck-wise). But the biggest reason to get the D80 is because it doesn't have the focus-motor issue of the D40/D60 entry-level bodies (which only autofocus with AF-S lenses). On the Canon side, this is a non-issue. Even the lowly XS can autofocus with all EOS lenses.

On a budget but looking at the latest models, you're probably looking at either an XS (1000D) or an XSi (450D). Kitted with the 18-55 IS, the XS goes new on Amazon for $480. The XSi for $635. The D80 kitted with an 18-55 goes for $650. The 40D body (no lens) goes for $800 new on Amazon, ~$700 on the used market.

I'd say getting an XTi/400D ($570 with 18-55 kit) might be the best bang for the buck, unless you desperately need the extra features of the 40D (metal body, higher frame rate in burst mode, interchangeable focus screen), or feel more comfortable getting the latest model in the line.

As for the best macro lens for your current camera? Probably the $450 EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro. The EF-S 60mm Macro won't mount on a film camera, and the 50mm Compact Macro is only 1:2 magnification, not 1:1.

However, I'd actually advocate getting the non-macro EF 50mm f/1.8 II, and adding a set of extension tubes. The tubes can still come in handy after you've bought a macro lens, and won't degrade image quality because there aren't any glass elements (they're just hollow tubes with mount contacts). The Pro Optic set is $85 at Adorama (when they have them in stock), and the 50mm f/1.8 is about $85 on Amazon.

You won't have much framing capability (you can only focus at a specific distance from the subject), but you can get very close:



And the 50mm f/1.8 II is a good portrait/available light lens as well as being the lowest price lens Canon offers.