Photographing bees on flowers?

1 year 11 months ago #736768 by Photo Amigo
I don't need a macro lens to photograph bees on flowers right?  OR should I get a lens that is made for "macro"?  I always thought you use what you have and what works.  I was shooting with an 85mm lens, however another photographer came up and stated I really should be using something like a 100mm macro.  

If the 85mm works, why do I need to get 100mm macro lens?  15mm extra focal length?  


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1 year 11 months ago #736782 by CharleyL
There are lens extension sets of three sizes and you can choose one or several between your camera and existing lens. Though maybe not the ultimate solution, they do work quite well. There are also filter lenses, that you can add to the filter threads of your existing lens to do macro work, but keep in mind that these are adding layers of glass to shoot through, so not quite as good, but both are way cheaper than buying another specialty lens, and may be the way to go if you just want to take a few macro shots. I have, and use, the lens extensions. I do not yet own a macro lens, since I rarely shoot macro.

Charley


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1 year 11 months ago - 1 year 11 months ago #736860 by Screamin Scott
I shoot a lot of macros. Besides being an extra 15mm longer, a "true" macro lens focuses a whole lot closer. Zooms with a "macro" setting won't get you as close and will not be as sharp.. The tubes are better than the filter type add ons but both will have you losing infinity focus and the tubes cut your light, making you have to open up your aperture or slow down your shutter speed. That 100mm macro lens can double as a regular lens also, like for portraits. Shorter focal length macro lenses require you to be closer to your subjects, although they are just fine for close-up images and are better IMHO than tubes or add-on filter type magnifiers. You need to be careful with the add-on filters as well. There are several types. The cheapo 3 in a set models are just that, cheap, single diopter units that are only sharp in the center and have loads of abberations. The pricier dual diopter ones are a lot better but you still lose infinity focus, meaning they are only for closer in shots until removed. You might want to check out a recent post of mine of a sleeping bee. It was taken with a true 105mm macro lens from the mid 1980's

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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1 year 11 months ago #736862 by Nikon Shooter
The longer the focal length, here 15 mm, is, when added to the
closer focusing distance, only part of the benefits.

I also own the 200mm macro and that give me more distance
from the subject so I have less chance to block light that could
come into the scene.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
Photo Comments
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1 year 11 months ago #736863 by Nikon Shooter

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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1 year 11 months ago #736864 by Screamin Scott
Is this what you want to capture?

img\def
Augochloropsis metallica-Metallic Green Bee #2 by Scott , on Flickr

Or this?

img\def
Bee crazy by Scott , on Flickr

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

Photo Comments
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1 year 11 months ago #736889 by EtherArts
In most situations, f/10 is my go-to aperture for bees. It is the sharpest aperture for my main lenses, and gives me a great depth of field without having to increase the ISO too much.


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1 year 11 months ago #737049 by Photo Amigo
SOOOOOOO cool!  Love the bee shots, super motivated guys.  Now let me ask you this, did you take those with 100/ 105mm?  Seriously a 200mm macro?  Could the same thing be accomplished with a 100mm with extension tube on it?   


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1 year 11 months ago #737051 by Nikon Shooter

Photo Amigo wrote: SOOOOOOO cool!  Love the bee shots, super motivated guys.  Now let me ask you this, did you take those with 100/ 105mm?  Seriously a 200mm macro?  Could the same thing be accomplished with a 100mm with extension tube on it?   


Mine was taken with  the 105 macro. Given situations require some
safety distance from the subject (rattle snakes!) while others more
distance so you don't trow shadow on the scene (sometimes both)
then the 200 mm is the needed tool.

Extension tubes will not increase the focal length but rather shorten
the MFD —minimum focusing distance — for even closer takes.

Have a good time! :P

Light is free… capturing it is not!
Photo Comments
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