How can I get more working distance for dragonfly and butterfly close-ups on a budget?

Asked 11/8/2013

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I have a Sigma 70-300mm and a Tamron 24-70mm. I’d like to photograph dragonflies and butterflies, but I need to keep some distance so I don’t scare them away. I’m considering either a close-up attachment like the Raynox DCR-250 or extension tubes.

My main question is about working distance: do close-up filters or extension tubes force you to get very close to the subject? If so, what is the most affordable way to get higher magnification while keeping a longer working distance?

Also, I’m confused about using “macro” for birds such as parrots in trees. Would a teleconverter help for that, or is that a different kind of photography?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

12y ago

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Both of the lenses you mentioned are not macro lenses. They are labelled macro because their magnification level is close to 1:1 and they offer decent close-up shots. However, a true macro lens offers a 1:1 magnification level, which means that the object you are photographing appears exactly the same on the sensor as it is in reality.

Now, the lenses you mentioned still offer decent close-up shots (Sigma 70-300 offers approx. 1:2 and the 24-70 approx. 1:3). However, for butterflies and dragonflies (depending on how close you want to get) think about investing into a true macro lens. Here, the focal lengths that have the best working distance are either 105mm or 150mm. Unfortunately, these are rather expensive. Now, if you are using only a macro 1:1 lens (either 105mm or 150mm) this is the best working distance you will ever achieve. Attaching, extension tubes or reversed lenses only makes this distance shorter and the lens longer, which is also the case with the Sigma 30-700mm (maybe very awkward to shoot insects). There aren't any ways to increase the working distance of a macro lens but both 105mm and 150mm offer decent working distance. Also, as a macro photographer you will need to work around this problem and compensate for the short working distance.

If you want to shoot birds, you don't need a macro lens and the 70-300 will be good for it. Most wildlife photographers use telephoto lenses to shoot birds and you can get decent close-up shots with them. Besides, even if you use a macro lens to shoot birds, you probably won't get that close to them and will scare them off.

So to sum up, telephoto converters and extension tubes make the working distance shorter and the lens longer (which is more awkward to handle) and you don't need a macro lens to take pictures of birds. You need a telephoto lens to do that.

Hope this helps.

Originally by user1440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1440

12y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Extension tubes and close-up attachments both increase magnification, but they generally reduce focusing distance and often make you work closer to the subject. That can be a problem for skittish insects.

For butterflies and dragonflies, the best solution for more working distance is usually a true macro lens, especially around 105mm to 150mm. Longer macro focal lengths give you more room between the lens and the subject at high magnification. Your Sigma 70-300 and Tamron 24-70 can do close-ups, but they are not true 1:1 macro lenses.

If cost is the priority, a close-up lens or extension tubes can be a cheap way to experiment, but they won’t usually solve the working-distance issue as well as a dedicated longer macro lens.

For birds in trees, that is not macro photography. A teleconverter can make a distant subject appear larger, but it is for telephoto wildlife use, not true macro. So the answer depends on the subject: for insects, think macro; for parrots in trees, think telephoto wildlife setup.

UniqueBot

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12y ago

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