10-30-2013, 11:04 AM
Hi, BC-
It would seem you are preparing for some extreme macros?
I have to start by saying I'm not much of a photographer. My first DSLR was the Rebel XTi, which I replaced about 3 years later with the Rebel T1i. The came with a total of 3 kit lenses, an 18-55mm, and 18-55mm IS, and the 55-250mm IS. You'll know I'm not a great photographer, because I actually like all three of them! But my particular thing is seeing closer, and farther than the eye can see, so I got the Tamron SP 90 for macros, and Sigma 70-300mm for telephoto. I started picking up Tamron SP adaptall-2 lenses, because after you have the adapter, you can just pick up the lenses pretty cheap. These were supposed to be pretty good lenses in their day, and yet just as I was starting out, circa 2007 many professional photographers were saying things like, "the worst modern lens is better than the best old manual focus lens." Supposedly because of AF and computer design of lenses. I don't know enough to take a stand on that, but at least I can try different types of lenses by getting old lenses. One of my favorite old lenses is the Tamron SP 500mm f/8 mirror lens. I know all about the bokah issuses, but this is a pretty sharp lens that is a 500mm prime and only about 4 inches (~95mm) in total length! I have several more that share the same theme. Maybe they are not great by today's standards, but they can do things that my new lenses can't come close to.
Another novelty I have is an attachment to my 28mm lens that makes it into a fisheye. It works surprisingly well. It came in a big box of filters and teleconverters and adapters that I bought for $50. It is strange, and interesting. It has a 67mm thread on the outside, and it funnels down to about 49mm on the part that attatches to the 28mm lens. It is in two parts. if you use only the small side it acts like a very powerful diopter. If you use both parts it becomes a fisheye.
So basically, I fool around with a lot of different lenses, and there seems to be a million more I'd like to try!
It would seem you are preparing for some extreme macros?
I have to start by saying I'm not much of a photographer. My first DSLR was the Rebel XTi, which I replaced about 3 years later with the Rebel T1i. The came with a total of 3 kit lenses, an 18-55mm, and 18-55mm IS, and the 55-250mm IS. You'll know I'm not a great photographer, because I actually like all three of them! But my particular thing is seeing closer, and farther than the eye can see, so I got the Tamron SP 90 for macros, and Sigma 70-300mm for telephoto. I started picking up Tamron SP adaptall-2 lenses, because after you have the adapter, you can just pick up the lenses pretty cheap. These were supposed to be pretty good lenses in their day, and yet just as I was starting out, circa 2007 many professional photographers were saying things like, "the worst modern lens is better than the best old manual focus lens." Supposedly because of AF and computer design of lenses. I don't know enough to take a stand on that, but at least I can try different types of lenses by getting old lenses. One of my favorite old lenses is the Tamron SP 500mm f/8 mirror lens. I know all about the bokah issuses, but this is a pretty sharp lens that is a 500mm prime and only about 4 inches (~95mm) in total length! I have several more that share the same theme. Maybe they are not great by today's standards, but they can do things that my new lenses can't come close to.
Another novelty I have is an attachment to my 28mm lens that makes it into a fisheye. It works surprisingly well. It came in a big box of filters and teleconverters and adapters that I bought for $50. It is strange, and interesting. It has a 67mm thread on the outside, and it funnels down to about 49mm on the part that attatches to the 28mm lens. It is in two parts. if you use only the small side it acts like a very powerful diopter. If you use both parts it becomes a fisheye.
So basically, I fool around with a lot of different lenses, and there seems to be a million more I'd like to try!