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Experiments and observations in macro

Photo examples taken with a Canon EOS 30D

These photos have not been taken to show skill. The settings as much as possible have been kept the same and the aim is to show the different types of macro methods and magnification you can achieve using them. Many of the shots were taken using the coke can diffuser.

The Canon EOS 30D has an Advanced Photo System type-C (APS-C) sensor. This has a multiplier factor of 1.6x. For more detail refer here. This means 5x Mag with the lens is really an equivalent of 8x Mag. If I use the Bellows at 150 mm with a EFS 18-55mm lens with the lens at 55mm, I have a magnification of 150/55 (about 2.7x) but due to the multiplier factor, this is really 4.3x.

 

Type Normal photo Lens Canon EFS 18-55mm Focal Length 55 mm Aperture 5.6 Depth of field Great Working distance 36mm Light Helps but flash is reasonable Magnification None AF Yes Ease of use Easy (but not macro) Macro effect N/A Exposure Time 1/250 ISO 400 Sharpness Good Earwig approx 1.4 cm in length, head approx 1.5 mm. This is the control photo.

Type Cameras built in Macro mode Lens Canon EFS 18-55mm Focal Length 55 mm Aperture 10 Depth of field Great (Easy to control) Working distance 10 cm Light Helps but flash is reasonable Magnification   AF Yes Ease of use Easy (no tripod needed) Macro effect Not great Exposure Time 1/250 ISO 400 Sharpness Good The macro magnification is not great, the DOF is better and the working distance has decreased.

Type Tele/Zoom Lens built in Macro switch Lens Canon EF 70-210mm Focal Length 210 mm Aperture 5.6 Depth of field Terrible Working distance 90 cm Light Light sources needed Magnification   AF Yes Ease of use Not easy, use a tripod Macro effect Not great Exposure Time 1/500 ISO 320 Sharpness Not good Difficult to do as you need to have a large working distance. Maybe better outdoors looking across at an object ?

Type Macro Lens Lens Sigma 105mm Focal Length 105mm Aperture 7.1 Depth of field Great Working distance 26 mm Light Flash is ok Magnification 1:1 (1x) AF Yes Ease of use Very easy (Tripod) Macro effect Good Exposure Time 1/250 ISO 400 Sharpness Ultra sharp This could easy survive a 100% crop. A great lens for images that you want to crop later.

Type 150 mm Bellows Lens Canon EFS 18-55mm Lens Focal Length 55 mm Aperture N/A Depth of field Terrible Working distance 1 cm Light High amount needed Magnification Approx 3x (150/55) AF N/A Ease of use Very difficult to achieve Macro effect Fantastic Exposure Time 1/60 ISO 400 Sharpness Great where focused The bellows is easily the best bang for macro buck (unless you have lots of money). Try not to stab at the subject at this range

Type Fish Eye, Macro adaptor Lens Canon EFS 18-55mm Focal Length 55 mm Aperture 8 Depth of field ok, not great Working distance 4 cm Light High amount needed Magnification   AF Yes Ease of use Very easy Macro effect reasonable Exposure Time 1/250 ISO 400 Sharpness Great where focused It's ok, but not fantastic

Type 3 stage extenders tube (65mm) Lens Canon EFS 18-55mm Lens Focal Length 55 mm Aperture N/A Depth of field Terrible Working distance 2 cm Light High amount needed Magnification   AF N/A Ease of use Very difficult to achieve Macro effect Fantastic Exposure Time 1/60 ISO 400 Sharpness normally as sharp as the bellows Try not to stab at the subject at this range

Type Reverse lens adaptor (Prime) Lens Canon EF 50 mm Focal Length 50 mm Aperture N/A Depth of field ok (Not great) Working distance 8 cm Light Turned lights off Magnification   AF N/A Ease of use hard to find subject Macro effect ok Exposure Time 1/400 ISO 400 Sharpness ok (I would not crop) Working distance is good, light easily overexposes, subject hard to focus

Type Stacked Lens Lens EF 90-300 and EF 50 prime Focal Length 90 mm and reverse 50 Aperture 4.5 (90mm) Depth of field Paper thin Working distance 2 cm Light High amount needed Magnification   AF N/A Ease of use Terrible Macro effect great Exposure Time 1/60 ISO 400 Sharpness Terrible It is hard to hold two lenses together and take a photo. Try not to stab at the subject at this range

Type Reversed lens/stacked Lens EF 90-300 and EF 50 prime in reverse Focal Length 90 mm and reverse 50 Aperture 5.6 on 90mm Depth of field Terrible Working distance 2 cm Light High amount needed Magnification   AF N/A Ease of use Terrible Macro effect great Exposure Time 1/200 ISO 400 Sharpness Terrible It is hard to hold two lenses together and take a photo. Try not to stab at the subject at this range

Type Macro Lens Lens Canon MP-E 65 Focal Length 65mm Aperture 5 Depth of field Awesome Working distance 10 cm Light Little light needed Magnification 1:1 (1x) AF N/A Ease of use Very easy Macro effect Great ! Exposure Time 1/200 ISO 400 Sharpness Awesome Easily my best purchase for getting this close and it has reasonable working distance

Type Macro Lens Lens Canon MP-E 65 Focal Length 65mm Aperture 4 Depth of field ok Working distance 2 cm Light You need lots Magnification 1:5 (5x) AF N/A Ease of use Hard to use Macro effect Huge !!! Exposure Time 1/60 ISO 400 Sharpness great where focused Try not to stab at the subject at this range

Type Macro Lens Lens Canon MP-E 65 Focal Length 65mm Aperture 4 Depth of field ok Working distance 2 cm Light You need lots Magnification 1:5 (5x) AF N/A Ease of use Hard to use Macro effect Huge !!! Exposure Time 1/60 ISO 400 Sharpness great where focused Try not to stab at the subject at this range

100% crop of 1 mm section of the above photo

Still to be done

 

Type (Tested on Canon EOS 30D)	Lens	Focal Length	Aperture	Depth of field	Working distance	Light
150 mm Bellows	Sigma 105mm		N/A
150 mm Bellows	Canon EF 70-210mm		N/A
150 mm Bellows (Prime)	Canon EF 50 mm		N/A
3 stage extenders tube	Sigma 105mm		N/A
3 stage extenders tube	Canon EF 70-210mm		N/A
3 stage extenders tube (Prime)	Canon EF 50 mm		N/A
Fish Eye, Macro adaptor (Prime)	Canon EF 50 mm
Tele-converter/extension
2 stages of 3,  extenders tube
1 stages of 3,  extenders tube