Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to buy a macro lens for a cannon 50d and was curious what others are using and if you have a recommendation. It will be primarily for taking pictures of my snakes but my wife is a semi-professional photographer so it would be nice if it was something she could use too. I've looked at a lot of them and I think I've ruled out the larger lens that require a tripod.

Any advice would be appreciated.

-----
Mark Huntley
Sand Boa Morphs
3.1 Rufescens East African Sand Boas
2.1 Albinos EASB
0.1 Dodoma EASB
0.1 Egyptian Normal (yellow) SB
0.1 Normal (orange) SB
2.5 Anery SB
0.1 Snow SB
0.1 Splash Albino SB
1.0 Splash Anery SB
1.0 Orange Stripe 100% Het Anery SB
1.0 Orange Stripe SB
1.0 Yellow Stripe SB
0.1 Orange Tiger SB
1.2 High Orange SB
3.2 Boston Terriers
0.2 Sooners
8.30 Rhode Island Reds
X.X Tropical Fish
0.1 Moody Wives
1.1 On the fence in-laws
2.1 Rug Rats

I have all 3 canon macros, for snakes either the 50 or 100mm would probably work the best with the crop sensor. I actually thing the 50mm is a hair sharper.

Hope this helps

Kevin

I actually like the third party macro lenses as much as the brand names. The Tamron 90mm macro is an excellent lens and can be purchased for less than the Canon 100. You would be hard pressed to notice a difference in image quality between the two of them.

Same could be said of the Sigma 70mm or 105mm macro or the Tokina 100mm macro.
-----
Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Do they work ok with the Canon? My wife is a bit of a 'lens snob' and 'only' buys Canon. I on the other hand could careless if I can get some good shots for less then great.

What type of 'studio' set up do you use for the macro photography of herps?
-----
Mark Huntley
Sand Boa Morphs
3.1 Rufescens East African Sand Boas
2.1 Albinos EASB
0.1 Dodoma EASB
0.1 Egyptian Normal (yellow) SB
0.1 Normal (orange) SB
2.5 Anery SB
0.1 Snow SB
0.1 Splash Albino SB
1.0 Splash Anery SB
1.0 Orange Stripe 100% Het Anery SB
1.0 Orange Stripe SB
1.0 Yellow Stripe SB
0.1 Orange Tiger SB
2.2 High Orange SB
3.2 Boston Terriers
0.2 Sooners
8.30 Rhode Island Reds
X.X Tropical Fish
0.1 Moody Wives
1.1 On the fence in-laws
2.1 Rug Rats

>>Do they work ok with the Canon?

They work as well with canon bodies as canon lenses do.

>>What type of 'studio' set up do you use for the macro photography of herps?

I use a variety of things. I have some black (brown) plastic cafeteria trays and some larger plastic sweaterbox lids that I use to hold substrates for my "setups". Gravel, leaves, rocks, sand, moss, etc. Whatever I have on hand or bring with me and seems appropriate.

For Sandboas, I find that they bury so quickly in loose sand that a better solution was needed. So I invented the "sandboard". I simply took a piece of flat wood (or cardboard) and covered it with spray adhesive. Then I sprinkled sand on it to give me a flat, smooth burrow proof sand base. Then let it dry and put some more loose sand on it to make it more realistic. The snakes can't burrow and it looks like sand.

You can get sandboas to cooperate on loose sand with some patience.

but you end up with a lot of photos like this -

Each of these is a fake studio shot taken on a table or tray -

(The last one in a small "photo" aquarium.
-----
Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Those are some great ideas. The results are amazing. I've been trying to put a heat pad under the spot where I want them to stay to encourage them to stay put with out much success. You have any tricks you use to get them to cooperate better. If I was honest I don't think heating the site has made much of a difference. There are ones that stay and the majority move regardless in my experience.
-----
Mark Huntley
Sand Boa Morphs
3.1 Rufescens East African Sand Boas
2.1 Albinos EASB
0.1 Dodoma EASB
0.1 Egyptian Normal (yellow) SB
0.1 Normal (orange) SB
2.5 Anery SB
0.1 Snow SB
0.1 Splash Albino SB
1.0 Splash Anery SB
1.0 Orange Stripe 100% Het Anery SB
1.0 Orange Stripe SB
1.0 Yellow Stripe SB
0.1 Orange Tiger SB
2.2 High Orange SB
3.2 Boston Terriers
0.2 Sooners
8.30 Rhode Island Reds
X.X Tropical Fish
0.1 Moody Wives
1.1 On the fence in-laws
2.1 Rug Rats