Beginners zoom lenses

[Mr E]

Apparently I was a good boy this year, as santa delivered a Sigma 70-300 APO to complement my utter lack of ability with a camera.

Had a little play, seems quite a nice lens, and excellent value.


Been playing a little with macro mode - any pointers to help me compose more interesting shots?

Additionally, this lens will replace a canon 55-200 F4.5-5.6 which I will probably sell and buy a flash. I could stick it on ebay, unless anyone has other places they would recommend to attempt a sale (avforums?)

[SamHH]

Do a web search for "macro photography" or look on a website like Flickr. There'll be loads of photos to give you inspiration. FWIW, you lens isn't a true macro lens in the sense that it can't focus close enough to make a subject of x size fill the same amount of space on the sensor (a 1:1 ratio). It's probably more like a 1:4 ratio. Some manufacturers add the word "macro" to their lenses to signify that it can focus closer than other comparable lenses, but still isn't a true macro lens.

As for selling your other one, eBay is good in that it gets massive exposure compared to most other places. There's a photography section in the PH classifieds but there's not much in it.

[Mr E]

SamHH said:

Do a web search for "macro photography" or look on a website like Flickr. There'll be loads of photos to give you inspiration. FWIW, you lens isn't a true macro lens in the sense that it can't focus close enough to make a subject of x size fill the same amount of space on the sensor (a 1:1 ratio). It's probably more like a 1:4 ratio. Some manufacturers add the word "macro" to their lenses to signify that it can focus closer than other comparable lenses, but still isn't a true macro lens.

As for selling your other one, eBay is good in that it gets massive exposure compared to most other places. There's a photography section in the PH classifieds but there's not much in it.

Thanks Sam - yes, it's not a proper macro lens, but it does allow me to play a little.

I think I read a thread here with people duct taping 50mm lenses inverted to a long zoom in macro mode. The results were....odd...



Ebay it is then - no bloody idea what it's worth - I'm guessing not much.

[Gemm]

Actually Sigma 70-300 does do more than a decent macro job (it's 1:2 magnification, 1:1 with a macro filter) if you don't have a dedicated macro lens. Have fun with it!

Edited by Gemm on Tuesday 30th December 11:16

[VxDuncan]

Gemm said:

Actually Sigma 70-300 does do more than a decent macro job (it's 1:2 magnification, 1:1 with a macro filter) if you don't have a dedicated macro lens. Have fun with it!

Edited by Gemm on Tuesday 30th December 11:16

Bloody good lens actually. The "macro is fairly resonsible and lets you play with bugs at a decent distance (ie 300mm fl). You can always crop afterwards. Easier to use with the beasties than a 60mm proper macro as everything's too close.

Good alrounder really, had a couple. One of the best consumer zooms before you get to the fast stuff.