Photography: (Macro) Lenses

09.v.12 UPDATE: There is a cheaper, non-USM version of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens. Much cheaper but sometimes it gets stuck on the camera apparently. Yikes. Amongst those that had this problem, the general consensus seems to be spend a little more for the EF 50mm f/1.4

08.v.12 UPDATE: Another shout out for the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM over at Say Yes To Hoboken. She says that it "is gorgeous for portraits."

17.xi11 UPDATE: I received the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM as a gift. It is an amazing piece of equipment but I still need to learn to use it fully. It is very heavy but it can deliver some amazing results.

Now I am thinking about adding a EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, Standard & Medium Telephoto lens... not exactly a macro but look at this.

What do I need/want:

Aperture: ≤f/2.8
focal length: ≤100mm - longer means less chance of you blocking light ... or startling bugs
magnification: 1:1
IS Technology

Top Pick This Week (barring the $$$$ Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM): Tamron SP AF 90 F2.8 Di 272E

The candidates:
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM - $$$$ but has IS and faster autofocus than Tamron; heavier (not so good for handheld work).
Tamron SP AF 90 F2.8 Di 272E - good reviews here. Half the price of the Canon 100mm and only 10mm difference.
Sigma 70mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens
EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro - compact but is the focal length too short? Good as a portrait lens.
SIGMA 50mm f2.8 EX Macro 1:1 Lens for Canon SLR digital cameras

Explanations and Examples:
Macro Photography 101 at Metafilter - Jedrek suggests the EF 100 f/2.8; he also suggest this book.

Excellent explanation of macro equipment by Ken Rockwell.

Chookooloonks tells you how to choose a lens. The macro stuff is at the end.

Good ol' Wikipedia has a pretty good explanation of macro photography.

Smitten Kitchen uses Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens. Food, miniatures ... kinda the same. This is available at Amazon. Or you can rent it at BorrowLenses.com (It only has 1:2).

Things to remember:
Ken Rockwell: This seems silly but it's very important. You need at least a foot or so between your lens and the subject so you don't block your light or scare your subject. You usually want the longest macro lens you can afford.

Chookooloonks: The smaller the aperture number, the more desirable the lens generally is, and therefore it will be priced accordingly. My general rule is that you should always buy a lens with the smallest aperture number you can afford.

Magnification matters. I need 1:1 (not available with the 50mm but available with the 60mm).

Working or Focussing (thank you Renatta!) distance is how close you can get to your subject (e.g., 90mm)

Photography: Straps

Yes. Seeing as I am still in a dither over a camera bag, I need something else to obsess about for the new camera.

I have been using the in-the-box strap with a PhotoJoJo Strap Buddy. It lets the lens hang down at the hip in a slightly less touristy way than the usual belly-forward position. I am always tightening its screwed in connection at the tripod hole. It can work itself loose over time (shudder).

Does it need a less sticky (er, non-slip) strap, like one of these beauties from Capturing Couture?

Or is a wrist strap more in order?

SnapR's RS-7 has neat features but the pad on the strap sets my aesthetic teeth on edge.

This DIY Quick-Draw version, the R-Strap, of the RS-7 might be a workaround.

PhotoJoJo Strap Buddy.
Capturing Couture Boho COllection wrist strap
Capturing Couture Boho strap
SnapR RS-7
R-strap

Photography: Classes

Nicole Hill Gerulat’s Online Photo 101 Class (Thank you once again, Making It Lovely)
Nicole Hill Gerulat's Course Textbook: Photography 101

Photography: Nikon Glass on Canon Gear

Apparently the reverse is not possible.

Learn the dark art at Ken Rockwell's site.

Photography: Old Glass on New Gear

You can use older, manual focus lenses on dslr.
Why would you? It's cheaper.
Why wouldn't you: you have to fiddle with focus and other stuff a bit more.

Masses of detail at PhotoNotes.org

Photojojo's "How To."

Wired has a great article that flags how manual focusing can be trickier.

Arthur H. Bleich at DP Corner swears by Steven Gandy's more expensive adapters.

Photography: Bag/Insert

I have been trying to find either a camera bag or case or insert for my new camera. I already haul around a big purse so I was leaning less and less towards a dedicated camera bag.

I stumbled upon Zakka Nouveau recently and was struck by her beautiful bento bags. She designed them for a friend to carry snacks. I ordered one almost immediately. It was a beat later that I wondered if it could serve as a camera insert.

The bag arrived yesterday and it seems promising. The little handle allows you to fish the camera out of your bag. It is a little bit snug to maneuver the camera in and out of the bag. And the camera might benefit from a bit more padding such as a layer of batting. But I am eager to give it a try. In any case, it will protect the camera screen from scratches (e.g., from keys, knitting needles, Blythe's head, Diet Coke can, ktl., ktl.).

And it is very, very cute!

Zakka Nouveau Bento Bags

Photography: Camera Bag

I am looking for a camera bag or case/cover that, while it can look like a camera bag, should not be as bulky as a camera bag.


Zing Wraparound Covers - somewhat Mapplethorpe-like; apparently the standard size would fit a Canon EOS T2i. You can find them at Amazon.

Luxirare's one of a kind for Nikon D90.
Stash on Etsy.
The Cloak - Luxirare wannabe
Acme made
Kelly Moore
Ona
Jill-e
Jo-Totes - "camera bags for ladies."
Emera camera totes
Shootsac
Epiphanie
Kettie - handbags for cameras
Photojojo's Sloop
Porteen on Etsy
Golla Bags - Sky looks comact but may be too compact.

DIY Camera Bag/Purse Tutorial at Tater Tots & Jello.

Inserts seem like a good, flexible route to take. Protect your camera in a wrap or pouch within a bag of your choosing. There do not seem to be many out there but I love the concept and this might be something to DIY.

I have a Bento Bag by Zakka Nouveau on its way - it might fit the bill
Strawfoot Handmade - very attractive rustic aesthetic
Ona's nice looking The Roma (Reviewed by Tech Mom).
Clik Elite CE510RE Capsule, Small (in red!) gets good reviews at Amazon.
So does Camaroo's Compact II DSLR Camera Insert.
Camera Cosies by Seaming Siobhan.
Wrappers and Cubbies by HippyBabe on Etsy.

DIY insert by Lil Blue Boo.
No tutorial but good girly inspiration at Trang Dam Photography.

Half cases by Luigi at Leica Time may not offer the same protection but, dang, they look great.

Photography: Aperture & ISO

Chookooloonks explains aperture and ISO - with diagrams!

Photography: Tara Gorman

Image by Tara Gorman
Miniatures + humour + mad photography skills.
I have always loved Tara Gorman's (a.k.a., Diastema) images.
You can buy some of them at Imagekind. I wish you could buy more!

Some Candidate Images:
o - orange octopus, green olives on blue ... and a favourite
Untitled - green seahorse candy on green
Untitled - lobsters and shells
Untitled - colourful tentacles
Adaptation - octopus, man, on blue
Untitled - red fish on a hook, on blue and green
Untitled - tentacles and EIGHT

28.i.11 UPDATE: Tara Gorman responded to my inquiry about her work; she plans to update her offerings on Imagekind. How exciting!

The Next Camera

I have this camera, in black, mind you.
I have been pleasantly suprised by and pleased with it. I (thought I) wanted a dslr but it has turned out to be a dslr with training wheels or, some might beg to differ, a dslr wannabe.This is significant since, when I bought it, I thought I wanted something like this camera but it was not within the budgetary constraints.

Now it has come to light that we have LOADS of reward points that could "purchase" one of these cameras. But which one?
Hours of research to follow!

It's also hard to justify since my current camera works fine. Usually I wait for my camera to break before I upgrade.

Travel: Photography

Art Wolfe Photography Tour

Blind or Deaf

Would you rather be blind or deaf?

I was listening to NPR.
As much as I like music I'd have to choose deafness ... I couldn't live without Flickr and its ilk.

Zumi

Photo by Photojojo

Photography

The Level Camera Cube by Photojojo.
Actually, I just want a couple of dozen in a bowl on my desk. So pretty ... like jellies.