Toys and figures, which lens?

[iheartmaid]

I'm interested in photographing my toys and figure, it's my primary reason for getting my 500D as I found that I was reaching the limitations of what I could do with my point and shoot (an Ixus 75).

I am after results similar to the ones found in the following link: amiami examples

below are a few examples of what I've done with my p&s:









My question is what type of lens should I be using to get the results in the first link? Compared to my shots they're certainly sharper.

Can I do this with the nifty fifty (Canon 50mm F1.8 EF Mk II)? I don't want to really invest in a macro lens if it's not suitable for this purpose and it doesn't seem like I need the magnification I've seen in the macro shots found here.

[teaking]

I dont know the numbers and figures for alot of lenses but I would think what you would be looking for is a lens that can focus over its full focal range from a close distance alot of lenses the more you zoom the further away the focus point gets. Some lenses are able to focus through there full focal range from 1m check the figures on your lens then you will get some idea of what you can get from it.

Thats why alot of people get spe******t macro lenses as there designed to do this.

[inkista]

I think you may want to reconsider getting an actual macro lens.

The 50/1.8, according to the Canon website has a minimum focus distance of 1.5 feet. You get any closer than that to your subject, and the lens cannot focus. You can make this distance smaller with extension tubes, but then you won't have much choice on framing, as this kind of setup will only focus at very specific subject distances.

Macro is one of the few things that a P&S camera does more easily than a dSLR, mostly because the tiny sensor and equally tiny focal lengths mean you can focus closely without needing a special macro lens, and you'll get more depth of field, even on macro shots.

I will say that the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro is the sharpest lens I own. And I have three Ls in my bag.

[iheartmaid]

What about magnification filters?

[teaking]

You mean like teleconverters?

They do enable extra magnification so if your maximum focus range was 50mm at 1ft you would get an extra 1.4x or 2x magnification a 2x would give you a 100mm lens giving the effect of being closer so they do work but not as well as a macro lense.

Bear in mind a teleconverter will increase the apreture by its magnification i.e. 1.4x on F4 becomes F5.6 so fast lenses are better and use a tripod as they also magnify movement.

The cheap way is to crop your image close in, but it isnt as good a result over the teleconverter and restricts the size of your prints so weigh up the pros and cons and see which suits you best

happy macro christmas

[iheartmaid]

Thought I would provide an update:

Didn't get a macro in the end, I thought I would prioritise and get a more versatile zoom. In the mean time I did get the 50mm 1.8:

Tsukasa's new toy on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I also took a few with the 18-50 kit:

Ringo on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Ringo on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Quite happy with using them for now. Thanks for all the advise given above.

[Athas_orm]

If you were to buy a lens for this type of work what would be recommended? Camera is a canon.

[MSidPhoto]

Hey!!!
I was interested in a similar type of photography, only that my subjects were a bit smaller. I use a Sony A300 and to take such shots i used my Asahi Pentax 50mm f4 Super Macro Takumar which is a screw mount lens. I got pretty good results with it. So I'd recommend something like a 50mm. If you DO have a flash (especially wireless one) then i guess an f4 would do just fine. But if you don't have a prominent light source then get something like f1.8.

Check out these pages of my flickr photostream.
Flickr: MSidPhoto's Photostream
Flickr: MSidPhoto's Photostream

All the toys have been shot with the lens I have mentioned above.
Hope this helps

[RichardTaylor]

@ Athas_orm

Any of the true macro lenses will be fine - not a "macro zoom"
Longer focal lengths like 90-100mm will give you more working distance and make lighting a bit easier.


Which one to get will depend on your budget and your working distance to the subject.
I am happy with my Tokina 100mm F2.8 however I have seen good reports on the Tamron 90mm F2.8 and the Canon 100 F2.8 Macro and excellent reports on the Canon 100mm F2.8 IS L macro as well a the Canon 180mm F3.5 L Macro.

See here:
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 L USM Macro Lens Review

[trudslev]

I have the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro lens. I really love this lens, both for close-up photography and for portrait work, and can really recommend it.

This picture is taken with that lens: