Jim & Jim,
Frankly, I've never had a bad 50 since I began shooting in 1969. Having said that, I adopted the old Nikon 46-83 Zoom as my prime lens in the 70s and opted for convenience over image quality. I guess that use of a standard zoom has stuck with me over the years. But when I want the best image possible, I go with primes and my 50 is a really nice alternative.

The fact that it slows you down is not all bad. You do have to think about composition and angle more. You do have to move around more. But I feel more connected to the session when I use my primes. It's hard to explain but sometimes photography should be work! I think it makes you value the results more.

Jim

James,

Quote:

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Can you show some samples where you have done this as a macro?

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Here's one with the 50 and a 12mm tube. I'll try to get a few more with the combo of tubes and telextender and share them.



More later,

Jim

Yes, slow down and working the comp is very satisfying. I've only got one zoom , 3 AF lenses and another 12 primes that are manual focus and adapted to my EOS bodies. I feel I am doing the best work ever now with those slow old primes.

It really does depend on what you're doing: when I shoot dog shows, speed and flexibility are essential. I don't have the luxury of taking my time. It's all about timing and capturing the moment.

However, when I'm shooting just for my own personal pleasure and vision, taking my time is really an enjoyable change from the hectic action in the ring. It's why I love to shoot macro. Manual focus and several angles and different lighting -- it's really fun to experiment.

I read an article from a really outstanding landscape photographer (no, not Roman, but it could have been) and he was describing the painstaking details of setting up, locking the mirror, leveling the tripod, framing oh so carefully. And the results certainly prove the process -- just gorgeous images.

That's not the way I shoot when I'm working. But it's a style of shooting that I'd like to master. After 40 years as a photographer, I can honestly say I've never shot mirror-up . So, maybe it's time to try that too. When I'm shooting just for me, slowing down is truly a pleasure.

Jim

Hey Jim,

The macro shot is really cool. I look forward to seeing more samples as you get them. I did not know that it was possible to convert a lens like the 50 so easily. The extension tubes are pretty affordable as well, yes?

James

James,
you ought to see them with the 85! My Kenko tubes cost about $170 for a set of 3. A friend was wondering what to get her daughter who is graduating, has Canon digital gear and really loves photography and loves to get close to things. We discussed the macro lens options then I suggested the extension rings as a low-cost option now so that if she really wanted to go whole hog with macro, she'd have the option of buying a dedicated lens later. She decided that was the right answer.

Clearly, you get sharper images overall with a dedicated macro lens. But when you combine a good, sharp prime or zoom (like the 70-200) with moderate tubes, you can get some really cool images. Here's one I took of my neighbor's Bird Of Paradise with the 70-200 and a 12mm tube.



I find that things like extension tubes and telextenders let you "extend" (pun intended) the range of your lenses and capture images that you would not be able to capture otherwise. A few months back, I tested the 100 macro against the 85 for portraits with the added benefit that it would do great macro. It's a wonderful, sharp lens. But I decided that I really needed the speed and OOF image quality of the 85. Now, when I use the 85 with tubes stopped down to F11, I find that it's a really sharp combination on its own.

BTW, I've blown both of those macro images up to 16X20 and display them in the studio. They look awesome.

Jim

Yes, the shoot situation does dictate equipment used. That why I have the few AF lenses I have. I actually need to get a standard range AF but keep putting it off.

I have a tendancy to use MLU pretty much anytime I'm on a tripod. Even yesterday while shooting some 135mm and a 180mm on a tripod with speeds probably no lower than 1/500. I fugure with MLU and a remote I eliminate any chance of movement and those should get images plenty sharp for large printing. I also use a two-axis bubble level that slides into my hot shoe to level the body. This lets me frame tighter without having to leave room to rotate and crop an image to level it.

I think the fun in slowing down and really working an image is what drove me to manual focus gear a few years back. It gave me more of the feel I enjoyed shooting my MF gear. Now with the manual focus lenses and stop down metering needs with what I am shooting today, it is that same pleasant experience.

I like the self assignment idea. I did it when I first bought a DSLR and shot only with the Canon 50mm f1.4 for a few months.
I purchased an 85mm f1.8 a few weeks back and took it on a stroll through downtown Utica NY while my car was fitted with a new windsheild. Here are a few of the shots:



I let the shutter speed drop in a few of these.
The first is the new chandelier in the Stanley Theatre, and the next is a path at a church, shot through the fence.

Nice, Jim. How are you liking that 85?

Jim

I like it. Great lens as far as I can tell.