300mm f/4 L IS - max. magnification

[sundaram_venkatachalam1]

The specs at Canon website doesn't list it. Does anyone know what the max

magnification is for this lens without accessories? With a Canon 500D, will it

come close to 1:2 magnification?

 

Thanks,

Venkat

[dave_trayers]

By itself it's at 1:0.24

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<a href="http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/EOS/CanonEF30040LISUSM">http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/EOS/CanonEF30040LISUSM</a>

[awindsor]

I don't have the information for the 300/4 IS + 500D but it will certainly be higher than 1:2. The old 300/4 + 500D gives .7x magnification at close focus and the IS model focuses significantly closer (1.5m vs 2.4m, .24x vs .13).

 

Using Julian Loke's lens calculator I obtain that you get 1:1 at close focus (now .38m) with the 500D.

[lester_wareham]

It's 0.24, you have to download the data chart or get the Eyes of EOS book to find it out.

 

I don't use closeup filters but do use the 300mm with extension tubes. I have an experimental derivation of magnications with tubes at this link http://www.zen20934.zen.co.uk/photography/Macro_Equipment.htm#Extension%20Tubes

 

So using 68mm of tubes the magnification ranges between 0.22 and 0.58.

[bobatkins]

See http://www.lensplay.com/lenses/lens_data.php?lensID=28

 

0.24x alone, 0.3x with the EF 12, 0.37x with the EF 25.

 

With a 500D you'll certainly get better than 1:2 (0.5x), probably something around 0.85x. A very simplistic calculation suggests 1:1, but that doesn't take into account things like the fact that most internal focus lenses change focal length when close focused and you can't really use the thin lens approximation for multi-element lenses.

 

You should easily hit 1:1 with a 500D and and extension tubes though.