Lens and Camera settings

C

cjelley

Member
Hey everyone just wondering what kind of setups all of you are using to get good pictures of your chameleons. I am using a canon rebel t3i with the kit lens 18-55mm which doesn't provide the best close up shots.

I plan on buying a new lens around christmas and I would like to know what lens and what kind of settings you are using on your cameras.
 
I however am willing to spend money on quality things, I'd rather only buy once, and the right thing the first time.
 
I paid about the same for mine (Nikon though, but more or less the same). Maybe second hand? You might be able to save some money if you'd buy a lens without stabilization, but then you'd probably need an extra flash.
 
cjelley said:
Is there a cheaper way to go than this one?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/647011-USA/Canon_3554B002_EF_100mm_f_2_8L_Macro.html

Seems like its pretty well reviewed but that is a nice chunk of cash!
Click to expand...

That is the L-line 100mm Macro, which is Canon's best. They only came out with the 100mm Macro L recently. I have the non-L 100mm Macro (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194451-GREY/Canon_4657A006_100mm_f_2_8_USM_Macro.html). If you're going to get into macro photography, I also recommend looking into a good macro strobe. I have the MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/239656-USA/Canon_2357A002_MT_24EX_Macro_Twin_Lite.html) and I love it. They also sell a Macro Ring Lite (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194480-USA/Canon_2356A002_MR_14EX_TTL_Macro_Ring.html), which is less expensive and would work fine too.

Chris
 
As a Nikon user, i can hardly suggest Canon lens to you. However, i agree with the fact that you must buy a macro lens in order to get better chameleon pictures. On the other hand, i don't suggest using flashs with chameleons. I'd rather put my money on a photograph lamp because it is wayyyy less stressful to chameleons.

One suggestion i could give you, is to look for a used lens. The best source of high quality lens are photography forums, where 90% of the users are very cautious about their lens. In other words, most of them sell used lens that are basically like new, and you can save big time! ;) You can always try other used markets, such as Ebay and Kijiji, but this would not be my first pick.

Oh, and two important things: look for a macro that has only one focal (ie: 85mm, or 100mm, but not 70-200mm). In other word, a lens that has no zoom. Then, i'd look for the biggest aperture (F2.8 is bigger than F3.5).
 
morpheon said:
On the other hand, i don't suggest using flashs with chameleons. I'd rather put my money on a photograph lamp because it is wayyyy less stressful to chameleons.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree about the flash. All my chameleon photography is done with a flash and almost entirely with my Macro Twin Lite. I've also never met another photographer who consistently produces good chameleon photos who does not use a flash for the majority of their chameleon photos (Bill Love, Emmanuel Van Heygen, David Nothcott, etc.). I've never noticed that the flash itself is stressful in any way with any chameleon I've photographed. Some of the chameleons don't like me getting up close and personal with the camera and you could argue are slightly stressed by that, but I've never seen anything to indicate the flash stressed them in any way.

Chris
 
Chris Anderson said:
That is the L-line 100mm Macro, which is Canon's best. They only came out with the 100mm Macro L recently. I have the non-L 100mm Macro (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194451-GREY/Canon_4657A006_100mm_f_2_8_USM_Macro.html). If you're going to get into macro photography, I also recommend looking into a good macro strobe. I have the MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/239656-USA/Canon_2357A002_MT_24EX_Macro_Twin_Lite.html) and I love it. They also sell a Macro Ring Lite (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194480-USA/Canon_2356A002_MR_14EX_TTL_Macro_Ring.html), which is less expensive and would work fine too.

Chris
Click to expand...

I have the same lens and can never get good photos of my chameleon with my speedlite flash. I think it may be time to start saving on a macro flash :)
 
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