Finding the right equipment

[Tony51]

Hello my name is Tony and I hope someone can help me. My wife gave me a Canon XTI for my birthday. I know she’s wonderful.:D The lens that came with the camera is a Canon zoom lens EF-S 18-55mm. I like the lens and it takes great pictures. I have found that I enjoy taking extremely close shots of flowers, small animals, and insects. In order to accomplish this with my current lens I must get very close to the subject. More often than not the subject will fly/run away. If you take a look at my gallery you will see the kind of shots that I like to take. In the interest of taking a shot from across the yard I have been looking at a new lens, the Canon EF 70-300mm Telephoto zoom lens. With my limited knowledge of camera equipment I think this lens will allow me to stand back and still get the shot that I want. I would like to know what you think. Is there a better lens and or camera that I should be considering?
Thank You

[MOOSE]

For what it's worth, I have the Canon 75-300 telephoto with image stabilizer, used on a 20D, and I absolutely love it. One can hand-hold it and it is the equivalent of a 480mm lens.
Al

[robpendragon]

Just a helpful hint, try shooting in the morning (for insects) might be a consideration as they move slower & are not as likely to scurry off.;)

[crljean]

Lucky you! I have the original Canon Rebel which does everything I know how to do and a whole lot more. I love it. I have the 70-300 zoom lens (without the IS, alas) and I really like it. My 2 cents for what it's worth.

[Not4wood]

Well, to answer your next question if you don't know already. The XTI like my Nikon D80 has a range of percentage that is slightly different from the normal 35mm. In my case its a 1.5x and I think yours is a drop more. My 70-300 lens ends up being a 450mm on my camera. Shooting bugs with this in my opinion maybe a bit too small and you will want to go the Macro way. Getting too close to bugs is the only way to get something that will look half way descent. BTW, the 70-300 is great for birds but the problem you will find is that you can't get close enough to focus when you want to get real close to the bugs.

[Derry]

Canon makes a close up lens that is rated very high (I have one:)) a D500,,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=0&shs=canon+d500&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=jsp%2FRootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t

they screw on the front the same as a filter,, very high quality and sharp,, does allow some distance from the subject and more useful in the 10mm and up,, also a D250,,

if you do not go for a pure macro lens this is a great alternate,,

Derry

[ljameso1]

You cannot focus close enough for the type of shots you want to make with that lens. Suggest you look at either the 100mm or 180mm macro lens depending on your budget.

[lowbone]

The 70-300mm lens without IS is not a good lens being soft particularly at the longer end. The 70-300mm IS (image stabilized ) lens on the other hand is an excellent lens and even contains a UD ( ultra dispersion ) glass element usually found only in the high end Canon L series lenses. The 70-300 IS lens replaced the 75-300mm lens. In addition to having excellent optical quality it is also very light weight compared to other lenses of that focal length. I use mine allot for travel when I don't want to carry my heavy super telephoto lenses. You appear to be looking for a do everything telephoto lems and I think you will be disappointed with that train of thought. The 70-300mm IS lenses is O.K for shooting birds if they are feeder type birds and you are shooting from say no more then about ten feet. A lens of 400mm focal length is generall;y considered mnimal for bird photography. At its closest focusing distance the 70-300mm IS lens will shoot a subject about five inches wide, so on that score I guess you could say it is good for flower photography. Generally speaking the strong point of this lens is anywhere from flowers to medium to large sized mammals. An earlier thread mentioned the Canon 500D two element closeup lens. I own 500D and it works well on certain lenses but it is extremely difficult to use on a long lens like the 70-300mm IS lens and I recommend that you don't get it. I think you will experience what we all do when we start out wanting to do everything with limited equipment. I would recommend buying the 70-300mmIS lens and then if you continue to have an interest in shooting insects buy a dedicated macro lens.

[Chuck S.]

You cannot focus close enough for the type of shots you want to make with that lens. Suggest you look at either the 100mm or 180mm macro lens depending on your budget.

70-300 mm lens close focus point is reportedly 41 inches (105 cm). Magnification at 300mm end is 0.26x. Not sure how that would work as a close-up lens; not a macro, strictly speaking.

[Tony51]

Thank you for your help. I am taking your advice and picking up the 70-300 image stabilizing lens for now. I am also looking at the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens to buy at a later date. My question is can you suggest a good portrait lens? Thank you again for the help.

[GaryK]

Tony

I think Canon makes a 60mm (or there abouts) macro, that might work well as a portait lens.:)

[Not4wood]

A Portrait Lens is a baby Telephoto.

So, the 60mm Macro or the 105mm Macro will both be very good.

[lowbone]

Thank you for your help. I am taking your advice and picking up the 70-300 image stabilizing lens for now. I am also looking at the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens to buy at a later date. My question is can you suggest a good portrait lens? Thank you again for the help.

The 100mm f 2.8 is an excellent choice for Macro photography. It is also very good for head and shoulders portraits. If you shoot in a decent sized room you will not feel limited by it at all. Actually in my experience I find that my subject is less self concious when they don't have the camera shoved in their face. Fashion photographers will often use 300mm lenses for portrait type shots. The other lenses mentioned above will work as well but the 100mm f 2.8 can serve double duty untill you have the money for another lens. By now you have probably figured out that there is no end to this. If it isn't a lens it is an accessory or software. Always something to keep your wallet warm.

[ljameso1]

My 100mm macro does do excellent double duty as a portrait lens. I think it's safe to say that most of us work to support our photo habit-at least it's a legal addiction!:D