settings for 60mm macro on 350D

[samui13]

do i need to have my camera on the macro setting when using a 60mm macro lens or am i just being silly asking.

 

[Mike Veitch]

slr cameras do not have macro settings like compact cameras. with slrs the "macro" is from the lens, the 60 you have is a macro lens and therefore will allow you to focus very closely and get 1:1 reproduction.

there is a swith on the lens, the limit switch, you want to set that to the lower number of the two, that will allow you to focus closer...

have fun, great lens

 

[samui13]

i have a 350D canon and it does have a macro setting on it
it doesn't seem to have the switch you are refering to either. it has AF/MF switch thats all and then obviously you can turn the lens to focus. it is a canon 60mm EF S USM

 

[Chris Bangs]

i have a 350D canon and it does have a macro setting on it
it doesn't seem to have the switch you are refering to either. it has AF/MF switch thats all and then obviously you can turn the lens to focus. it is a canon 60mm EF S USM

Mikey must be thinking of the 105 micro which does have a limit switch.

anyway, the Macro setting on your camera most likely is a preset for macro exposure control, I would guess that it selects a small aperture and balances all the other stuff based on that.

CB

 

[Mike Veitch]

gotcha Chris... yes, the little macro dial on top! haha.. never thought of that.

Its for exposure control as chris talks about.

I would suggest using full manual underwater as opposed to that macro preset.

Try bracketing your shots from f11-f22 f11 when about 2 feet away and up to f22 when you get super close...

The Canon 60 doesn't have a limit switch? interesting.. the Nikon 60 does....

 

[alcina]

I use the 60mm macro all the time. I personally like the results best when I use f13 and smaller (to f22). I also don't mind f8-f11 for certain things when I want to experiment a bit with DOF.

There is no limit switch on this lens - it will focus almost onto the port

If you don't already, get a Woody's dioptre, too!

 

[Mike Veitch]

aha... i like the way you spell dioptre...

you are learning.. you are becomin centred....

 

[alcina]

Colour me blushing

 

[samui13]

cheers guys, thanks for all the advice. off to the maldives in 6 weeks so need as much advice as i can get being new to dslr photography.

 

[alcina]

Put it in the housing and practice. Heck, practice out of the housing.

Know thy buttons.

Does your camera allow you to change the focus lock to the back? I changed mine (the other option, default, is half press trigger) and won't go back. I've experimented and personally find the half-press shutter terrible to use. Others are the opposite. But it's one simple thing that made a world of difference to my enjoyment of dslr! And something that no one really made that big of a deal about when I first started using my 20D.