macrophotography with Canon dSLRs

see also:

• macrophotography
• macro_flash
• lenses for macrophotography

• Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro hybrid IS L lens
  • announced Sept 2009 - see here
  • probably the best option for most people who can afford it as easiest to use with AF, good focal length and image stabiliser at last.
  • 3 position focus range limiter; 67mm filter; 1:1 macro at 0.3m.
  • excellent sharpness although a little soft towards edges wide open. MUCH sharper than the old Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro
  • $US1049
  • see dpreview.com's review
• Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro USM $A999
  • minimum focus 0.31m for 1:1 on a full frame but 1.3:1 on 1.3x crop
  • 600g - perhaps the best option if you cannot afford the new IS version
  • Canon EF-12 extension tube $A159 gives 1.5-0.16x
  • Canon EF-25 extension tube $A279 gives 1.81-0.34x
  • http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/canon_macro.shtml
  • see dpreview.com's resolution chart
• Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 compact macro $A509
  • minimum focus 0.23m 0.65x magnification
  • 280g but consumer quality only;
  • optional LifeSize Converter for 1:1 $A440
• Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L macro USM $A2699
  • minimum focus 0.48m for 1:1 on a full frame but 1.3:1 on 1.3x crop
  • internal focus; very sharp; 72mm filter
  • probably a bit too long for medical work and heavy (1.09kg)
  • AF a bit slow for mainstream telephoto work especially if it has to search (4-5secs), help it by MF to the correct range then let it AF, action photography is possible, eg. birds in flight.
  • very shallow DOF, bokeh not so good at f/5.6 or smaller when you need it
  • really need a monopod or tripod for macro work given its weight but hand held can be fun
  • more difficult to use than the 100mm macro but the longer working distance is better for live bugs, etc
  • compatible with tele extenders eg. 1.4x TC on a Canon 1D gives an effective 328mm f/4.5 lens with 1.8x macro
  • http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/eos/EF-lenses/EF180mmf35LUSM/index.htm
  • http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=48&cpage=1&perpage=15&cat=2#poststart
  • http://www.canon.com.au/products/cameras_lenses_accessories/macro_lenses/ef180mmF35lMacroUsm.aspx
• Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM:
  • 335g; inner focusing; 52mm filter; closest focus 0.2m; 0.20-1.28x mag with EF-12 II;
  • $A749
  • Digital Picture review
  • Photozone review
• Tamron SP 60mm f/2.0 1:1 Di II Macro for EF-S:
  • http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09032401tamron60macro.asp

• Canon MP-E65mm f/2.8 1-5x macro $A1750
  • minimum focus 0.24m but MF only
• Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L tilt shift macro lens
• Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L tilt shift macro lens
• Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L tilt shift macro lens
• Canon EF TS-E 90mm f/2.8 (tilt shift lens) $A2319
  • minimum focus 50cm 0.38x magnification
  • Canon EF-12 extension tube $A159 gives 0.56-0.18x
  • Canon EF-25 extension tube $A279 gives 0.78-0.40x
• Laowa 15mm f/4 wide angle 1:1 shift macro full frame lens
  • +/- 6mm shift for APS-C cameras
  • 110deg FOV; manual aperture ring; 14 aperture blades; 12 elements in 9 groups; 77mm filter; 410g; $US499
  • http://gilwizen.com/laowa-15mm-lens-review/
• Nikon lenses:
  • AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D
  • AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D
  • Nikon manual focus lenses (see under macrophotography with Nikon dSLRs)
• Olympus OM lenses:
  • see macrophotography with Olympus OM lenses
  • using the OM bellows on Canon EOS:
    • http://www.acapixus.dk/photography/EOSbellows.htm
• Cambo Ultima35 view camera adapter:
  • http://www.cambo.com/Html/products_photo/set01/english/internet/Item610.html
• Cambo X2-Pro view camera adapter for Hasselblad, Mamiya or large format lenses:
  • http://www.cambo.com/
• Irix 150mm f/2.8 1:1 macro
  • Nikon F or Canon EF mount with electronic control of aperture; 11 blades; 77mm filter;
  • MF tension ring, lovely MF throw for macro work
  • nice build; weathersealed;
  • tripod mount; 128mm long;
  • may have some trouble mounting on the Sigma MC-11 adapter - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYOCtBCQFsQ
  • sharper across the frame than the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L macro
  • nice bokeh, minimal CA; some flare and ghosting into the sun;
  • $US595
• many others

• see flash units for macrophotography including ring flashes and twin flashes
• Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite
  • announced Aug 2017, adds RT radio wireless TTL flash control; $US989
• Canon macro Twin Lite MT-24EX $A1600
  • attaches via 58mm filter thread (and optional 72C adapter for 72mm filter threads such as the EF 180mm macro)
  • wireless control of another flash for background lighting by assigning it as a slave in Group C (Groups A & B are reserved for the twin flashes).
  • E-TTL but not E-TTL II.
  • Each head also features a focusing lamp, activated from the control unit, for situations in which you need just a bit more light to pull critical focus.
  • The depth-of-focus check button (on the 1D Mark II and 10D) activates a modelling flash burst from the heads (as it does with the 550EX) to enable you to check your shadows and ratio.
• Canon macro Ring Lite MR-14EX $A1150 ($A749 new Ebay)
  • attaches to the EF 100mm F2.8 Macro USM, EF 50mm f2.5 compact macro, MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x and also the EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM (with adapter ring 72C)
  • GN 14;
  • the ring has separate left and right flash tubes, and the light level can be set independently for each up to a 6-stop range. This permits creating modelled lighting effects.
  • it has incandescent modelling lights built-in activated by pressing DOF preview button
  • This unit can act as either a wireless slave or a master flash in a multi-flash system.
  • E-TTL but not E-TTL II.
• Sigma EM-140DG Macro Ring Flash - see macrophotography with Nikon dSLRs