Canon macro lens: EF-S 60mm or EF 100mm - and which flash?

[michael_ransburg2]

Hi all,

 

I own a EOS 400D with Sigma 18-50mm and a Canon 70-300mm lenses. I don't

currently own an external flash. I now want to dive into macro photography and

I'm considering the Canon EF-S 60mm (crop sensor only) and the Canon EF 100mm

lenses.

 

From what I read in reviews both lenses are excellent, although the EF-S 60mm

gets 1:1 magnification at about 8,5 cm and the EF 100mm gets 1:1 magnification

at about 15 cm. As I also want to shoot insects, a larger distance is of course

better, so I tend towards the EF 100mm.

 

However, this (me wanting to shoot insects) brings us to another topic: I'll

most likely need a flash for macro photography in the wild if the conditions

are not ideal. There are dedicated macro flash units from Canon, i.e., the MT-

24EX and the MR-14EX. These are spezialized and expensive units which I would

like to avoid at this stage.

 

This brings us to the EF-S 60mm. In several reviews I have read that the

compactness of this lens lets one use a "regular" external flash (such as the

550 EX) or even the internal flash for macro photography without casting a

shadow. The results are then claimed to be compareable to those with the MR-

14EX ring flash.

 

As I do not currently own an external flash, it would of course be much more

attractive for me to invest into a general purpose flash and still be able to

use it for my macro photography than to invest into a spezialized macro flash.

 

So, I guess this brings us down to the following questions:

1) EF-S 60mm Macro or EF 100mm Macro, which one would you chose?

2) Can I really use a regular external flash (e.g., the 550 EX) with the EF-S

60mm and get similar performance to using a dedicated ring flash such as the MR-

14EX?

3) More generally, can I use a regular external flash to help me with my macro

photography, either with the 100mm or the 60mm macro, or do I need a

spezialized flash?

 

Many thanks for your insights,

Michael

[gtx2]

how about the 100mm (rated better than the 60mm in all reviews i've read) and a cheaper alternative for the MR-14EX?

[zackojones]

I have used both lenses and prefer the 100mm to the 60mm. I liked the extra working distance I got with the 100mm lens.

[omar_fernandez]

Before making a purchase I recommend that you pick up John Shaw's Close Ups in Nature (Amphoto). Although his book is from the days of film, his advise and techniques is excellent and carry over to digital. I adapt Shaw's techniques for close-ups with manual flash, which lately I have been favoring over E-TTL. The attached was taken with an MT-24EX in manual mode and similar exposures are possible with a single small inexpensive manual flash with Guide Number of 45 (ASA 100) mounted on a macro flash bracket. Using a single manual flash is a lot less expensive than buying a dedicated macro flash or a big gun like a 550 EX. Exposure was based on trial and error on a nearby flower, and powering down the flash output to 1/32, with one head at 1/64 power at f/16 and 1/60 shutter speed. If your flash does not have variable output, simply move your flash back away from the subject. Your LCD screen gives you instant feedback for any needed adjustments. This system is fully explained in Shaw's book, and which I'm favoring over E-TTL flash because results are more predictable. The photo is from this morning and is roughly edited (Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro, 25 mm extension tube, MT-24EX manual mode).<div></div>

[michael_ransburg2]

Hi all,

 

many thanks for your advice. I also prefer the 100 mm lens because of its longer working distance.

 

As I also need a general purpose flash, I will most probably buy a 420 EX or 430 EX and use it together with a flash bracket in order to get the light right. This seems to be a solution which many macro photographers facilitate.

 

The 420 EX seems to have adjustable power. Can I use the E-TTL to get proper flash exposure at macro distances?

 

Many thanks,

Michael

[jon_austin]

I don't shoot insects, but I get great macro flash results with my Sto-Fen OmniBounce diffused 420EX ... softens and spreads the light around nicely.