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My new macro lens .... the Canon 100-400 L IS! (1 Viewer)

This is groundbreaking news to me!! I have a 100-400 for birding and have been looking at various expensive macro lenses for insects and flowers, but these image samples are more than I would be happy with! I know a lot has to do with the person behind the lens but to see what can be achieved is very encouraging! Thanks for sharing Cactusdave. Although I cant see how you keep such sharp focus with handheld! Can anyone post links on good tubes for this purpose?
 
Excuse my ignorance. Would a 36mm tube do the same job as a 12mm plus a 25mm? I see on this thread that both combinations are being used? Would the results be the same because I can't see the point in buying two tubes when one 36mm will do.
 
John In Ireland said:
This is groundbreaking news to me!! I have a 100-400 for birding and have been looking at various expensive macro lenses for insects and flowers, but these image samples are more than I would be happy with! I know a lot has to do with the person behind the lens but to see what can be achieved is very encouraging! Thanks for sharing Cactusdave. Although I cant see how you keep such sharp focus with handheld! Can anyone post links on good tubes for this purpose?
Click to expand...

Hi

I've recently bought a set of Kenko Automatic Extension Tube Set DG - Canon EOS EF/EFS for £85.48 (incl postage) from Hong Kong via Cytoss (no problems there - good service).

I used the smaller two rings together on Saturday hand held with my 100-400 and was encouraged by the results. Will try and post an example later.

Need to get out there and practice - the images posted earlier are inspirational.

Paul
 
John In Ireland said:
Excuse my ignorance. Would a 36mm tube do the same job as a 12mm plus a 25mm? I see on this thread that both combinations are being used? Would the results be the same because I can't see the point in buying two tubes when one 36mm will do.
Click to expand...

I use a Kenko 36mm tube with my 100-400 and it's just fine, see post 14 for a rough guide of focusing distances.

One little quirk I have found is that below (about) 200mm zoom the camera (7D) over-exposes 1 full stop, above c. 200mm gives the correct exposure, it's no great problem if you remember to dial-in -1 EV to counteract it or better still shoot in manual exposure mode. I've no idea what causes this but try it out for yourself to see if the same happens with your setup.
 
Found this forum by through this thread from a google search. Love the discussion. I have a 100-400mm and love it. I have been looking into a macro extension. You people answered my questions before I even asked. Thanks. Lovely photographs.

Erich
 
Erich Gray said:
Found this forum by through this thread from a google search. Love the discussion. I have a 100-400mm and love it. I have been looking into a macro extension. You people answered my questions before I even asked. Thanks. Lovely photographs.

Erich
Click to expand...

Ah! .... Good! Welcome to BirdForum Erich! You will love it here!
 
What size filter thread does the lens have? Using extension tubes eats light, but if you use a screw in close up lens you lose no light. I have used a +1D lens on my 75-300 to good effect.
 
As I use 100-400 for birding I commonly find myself trying to photograph flowers and such with this lens, and it does a good job. My main issue is how far back you need to step to obtain focus sometimes. Thus for smaller insects and flowers I still carry around a macro for this purpose.
 
Silverwolf said:
As I use 100-400 for birding I commonly find myself trying to photograph flowers and such with this lens, and it does a good job. My main issue is how far back you need to step to obtain focus sometimes.
Click to expand...
That is the point of extension tubes - they decrease the minimum focal length of the lens so you would not have to step back as far!
 
Roy C said:
That is the point of extension tubes - they decrease the minimum focal length of the lens so you would not have to step back as far!
Click to expand...

I must admit I have never explored the potential of extension tubes before. Hmm. I'll have to look into that.
 
For several years I used a dedicated Minolta 200 macro lens, tripod mounted for photographing insects. The results were excellent but the syetem was clumsy and heavy (1862 grams without the tripod).

Last year I decided to try a 13mm extension tube on my existing Sony 70-300mm G lens. This lens has a MFD of 1.2 metres, but with the 13mm extension tube the MFD is reduced to about 30cm at 70mm and 80cm at 300mm. To my surprise the results were on a par with the minolta macro lens. The system is much lighter (1600 grams) and far more flexible than the Minolta macro; autofocus and IS continue to work well. I can obtain good quality images hand-held and carry the Sony camera/extension tube/lens in a shoulder bag for hours (unlike my previous set-up), I have been so pleased with the results that I sold the Minolta macro lens and have not regretted that decision.
 
I have the same Sony lens, Peter, and it's my walk-about lens. I've done some macro with it, but as you say, the minimal focussing distance can make this slightly frustrating at times. Could you say more about the extension tube you're using?

Thanks,

Andrea
 
Hi Andrea

It's a 13mm metal mount Sony A fit AF extension tube similar (if not identical) to the 13mm component of the Neewer macro extension set. I bought the 13mm tube separately but usually you have to buy a set.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neewer-Exte...2-fkmr0&keywords=13mm+extension+tube+sony+fit

The extension tube has a greater effect at shorter focal lengths (decreasing both the minimum and maximum focal distance to a greater extent at 70mm than at 300 mm.) At 300mm the MFD is only decreased from 1.2 metres to 0.8 metres by addition of the 13mm extension tube. However, at 300mm the maximum focal distance is about 10 metres; you can't focus at infinity. A 21mm extension tube will have a greater effect (decreasing the minimum and maximum focal distance even more) - it depends what you want to photograph. I find that the 13mm extension tube allows me to photograph butterflies and dragonflies (at about 200-300mm) but I can get in closer to hoverflies and bumblebees (at about 100-135 mm).

Hope that helps.

Peter
 
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