How close will the Canon 500D let me go ?

[fireman]

Alright,

I need to stay in good terms with the CFO so I better go easy on my "investments" for a while. I've got nice glass in my bag but still no way to take macro shots. I should probably say close-ups as I don't intend to do 1:1 shots but rather close-ups of flowers and stuff I might want to sell on eBay. I have been thinking of getting a 77mm 500D close-up lens in order to add this possibility in my bag of tricks.

As I said, I don't want to go into the 1:1 territory but I have very nice but small flowers - like an inch wide - that I'd like to photograph and I was wondering if it will permit it. I will use the 500D with my new 70-200 VR and I might add a 1.4 Kenko TC if need be.

If someone has examples to show me and other Cafe members, go ahead, it will make my life easier we decision time comes.

 

[Gale]

I don't know either, but i am going to use it on my 80-400vr with tc....lololol
I just haven't tried it yet
Hear it works good:>)))

 

[sqphotography]

I have not tried it but I know Moose Peterson recomends it for the 70-200 vr, check his website to see if he mentions it on-line, I read about it in one of his books. It's been on my B&H wishlist for a year, just have not gotten to it.

best regards

 

[Pa]

I think you would be quite pleased with this combo. I use a 500D with my 18-200VR and get some very good results. You can't get to 1:1, but for general wildflower photography you don't need that.

Here are some examples:

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[Gale]

Thats great Pa,
Thanks
Boy really sharp to.
Pretty flowers

 

[Chris101]

I don't have the Canon lens, but I do have some close-up lenses. I use them on my 24-120vr and 35mm lenses. They perform really well. Here are a couple shots with the 24-120vr (at 120mm) with a B+W +3 close-up lens attached:

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Since the Canon lens is an achromatic doublet, it will be even sharper.

 

[Pa]

Thanks, Gale.

In fact I am so pleased with it that I just bought a Canon 250D in the 52mm size so it will work with the 50/1.8 and 35/2. It just arrived this afternoon and I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet.

 

[Gale]

wow I would be interested to know how it works on the 50mm

 

[Pa]

I forgot to mention that the first two shots were hand-held. The VR really helps in this type of photography.

 

[Gale]

Wow Chris those are purdy

 

[rvink]

The focal length of the 500D is, logically, 500mm. That means it focuses 500mm in front of ANY lens it is attached to, when the primary lens is focused at infinity. Obviously, the combination will focus closer when the lens is focused close.

The magnification is the ratio of focal lengths:
lens focal length / filter focal length

When the 70-200 is zoomed to 70mm, focused at infinity the magnification will be: 70mm / 500mm = 1:7.1.
Zoom to 200mm and you get: 200mm / 500mm = 1:2.5
which is nearly into "macro lens" territory. I guess when the lens is focused close you will be around 1:2 magnification. Overall the 70-200 with a closeup filter gives you a versatile macro zoom.

 

[Gale]

Thank You
Well thats pretty cool:>)))

 

[fireman]

Thanks everybody for all the informations. Once again, the members of the Cafe come forward to help a lost soul. Boy am I glad I found this place ! Not sure about the CFO though. She might have preferred I found happyknitting.com or something similar. Would have been easier on the inter office relations...

Gotta find myself a good spin doctor or at least a few more shots taken with the 500D.

 

[snownow]

Well, Post more pics please!

 

[Philippe Roger]

Here are a few of a 500D on a 17-55DX lens, shot at 55mm and f/2.8. The 500D is not supposed to be the best close up lens for short focal lengths (the 250D is better suited), but it will do, in a pinch! The 17-55 shares 77mm threads with the 70-200/VR and the 300/f4, so this was more of an experiment...

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