Canon XT

[thirty5]

I have a Canon XT love the camera, I have the stock lens and also a Sigma lens (non macro).

Seems that the focal lenght for the camera is pretty long. Is that set by the lens or the camera? I got as far back as i could with the lens and then zoomed in all the way and still could not get a very tight shot on zoas.

Will a macro lens be any different??

Thanks for the help
Anthony

 

[EmilyT]

focal length is set by the lens. macro lenses typically have shorter focal lengths.

 

[EmilyT]

P.S. if youre thinking of buying a macro lens, i would go to a store instead of buy it online so you can test it out and see if you like the minimum focusing distance

 

[marki24]

go to the store test it out and then buy it online

 

[EmilyT]

yeah i like that idea better. the stores tend to be a bit pricey

 

[thirty5]

I got my camera at BH Photo in the City. They had the best price around, and i actually got my sigma lens there also, they only sell USA stuff, not the overseas stuff with like no warranty.

The tokina i was looking at has almost a 12 inch focal lenght. seems pretty far away. For a macro. i think i can get closer with my stock lens.

The Canon has 5.9" focal length, much much better. and only like 35 bucks more.

Any ideas if there any with any better focal lengths out there? Yes i know that i can find it out. Just asking if anyone has a MACRO for the XT that they really like...

 

[Phyl]

The 12" is actually the minimum focus distance, which is very very different than your focal length. My 105 macro lens (105mm is the focal length) may only let me get as close as 12" focus distance (which works out to be about a 6" working distance), but it produces a 1:1 photograph of the subject, which is what you're looking for in a macro lens. The sigma lenses produce a very nice result. The 105 is good for items close to the front glass, the 150 would get you great photographs of some of the things further back in the tank.

Personally I prefer Nikon

 

[thirty5]

Phyl,
You hit the nail on the head u used the wrong term. I was speaking about the distance from the subject. THe canon Macro Lens 100mm has a focus distance of 5.9 inches. Which is nice and close.

 

[Phyl]

The longer the focal length, the further the subject must be from your lens, but the up-side to this is that it is taking 1:1 reproductions of things more than 6" from the front glass. This is actually desireable for us because most of my tank is more than 6" from the front glass.

Say you have a 6" min focus distance and a coral 12" deep in your tank. You're not going to get a 1:1 reproduction of that item at that distance, because the 1:1 reproduction is at the min focus distance.

With a min focus distance of 12" (or longer for the 150), you may have to move back from the glass more... but that isn't a problem. Try getting closer than 24" to the back of a 24" deep tank and your camera will be wet!

Don't confuse min focus distance with "close up shots". A 200mm macro lens is going to be able to take the same 1:1 reproduction of an item (just allowing that item to be further away from the lens when you take it). This is often a good thing.

Your best bet would be to visit with some folks who have the various focal lengths and see the resulting image possibilities. I ran a photography workshop this past weekend at the NJRC meeting, which would have been a great time to see a variety of lenses in one place. Our next north meeting is in January.

 

[thirty5]

I guess i will have to goto the store to look at them. Just sometimes people in the stores know less than i do. I am not looking to take pics at a distance of 24 inches. I have nothing in my tank that far away.

I guess i will just have to play with it.

Phyl, (if you read this)
where is the meeting going to be, the ones in south jersey are just usually too far away.

 

[Phyl]

I guess i will have to goto the store to look at them. Just sometimes people in the stores know less than i do. I am not looking to take pics at a distance of 24 inches. I have nothing in my tank that far away.

A min focus distance of 6" gives you a working distance of (guesstimated) 3-4", which means that with that lens, anything further back than 4" will not be the 1:1 reproduction that you're looking for, IF you can bump up against the glass (not possible with an externally focusing lens, ie: the sigma). If you can't bump up against the glass then that distance drops even more.

Phyl, (if you read this)
where is the meeting going to be, the ones in south jersey are just usually too far away.

December is in Bridgewater, that's our Holiday party.
January is in Pittstown
April is in Sussex

 

[EmilyT]

whoops by him saying focal length i thought he meant focusing distance and forgot to distinguish the two :teeth: