Do you like advanced nature photography that focuses on incredibly small creatures, like insects, butterflies, and fern fronds? Using standard lenses--even supported by a tripod--you might cast shadows over your objects or compromise your focus by the extremely short focal length. Fortunately, you can turn to two great Canon Macro lenses to ensure top-quality photography every time--the 100 mm f/2.8 Macro USM and the Macro Ring Lit MR-14EX. Let's first consider the 100 mm f/ 2.8 Macro USM. You can focus internally and get really close to movable subjects, such as insects, since the lens doesn't necessarily get longer as you move towards your focal object. One idea to make your shooting slightly easier is to turn off your autofocus when getting close for Macro shots, so you don't accidentally over-magnify. In terms of the Macro Ring Lit MR-14EX, this lens provides additional advantages, such as Canon's E-TTL tech. You can separate light levels for interesting effects and use incandescence to model certain shots. This flexible system is compatible with a number of Canon EOS cameras, including the IV, the III, and the D-60. The ring light is especially useful, in that it prevents flash shadows from crossing your image and causing blurring. Of course, these two Macro lenses are costly. If you're doing anything less than serious nature photography, you may want to opt for some slightly less expensive and more versatile lenses. If you do decide to go with a Canon Macro, it may behoove you to shop around for precision tripods and other EOS accoutrements to supplement your shooting and prevent any potential image troubles. |
