Pretty amazing macro shots Phil! Exceptional detail and clarity with the RF lens. The detail on the flower/weed was amazing. You’ve really got steady hands to have done all those shots handheld! Anxious to see more as you keep practicing with the new lens. 👏
Nice purchase Phil. You’ll be having a lot of fun with that lens for years to come. Some amazing results you got. Thanks for sharing the video. How cool was that fly 👍🙏
Thank you, Adrian! I was perfectly happy with the Nikon F mount 105 2.8 but I did want a macro lens for my R6 and the fact that this one goes to 1.4-1 instead of just 1-1 was the icing on the cake. I've had the lens for a good while now and haven't really used it that much. So far there are not a lot of insects around though that is changing right now and the spring warbler migration is going on so really it's birds season here in Tennessee. Soon the dog days of summer will be here and hopefully, I'll get more use out of this new lens.
I have the RF 100mm Macro and really like it OOB, but wanted more for the ultra close. Was thinking of these extension tubes, really glad too see they work, much cheaper than buying another lens dedicated for the higher magnification.
Yeah, finally you got it! 😀 That lens is optically superb! Looking fwd to seeing more macro from you down the track. Nice video Phil! Hope you’re having a nice weekend:)
Thank you, Peter! I have a lot to learn about up close insect photography. Right now the spring warbler migration is going on so I haven't used this lens much. Soon though!
Yeah, that lens works superbly well. I think the extensions tubes did a better job too. Nice technique too. A lot of people just getting into macro don’t fully understand the need to be stable. Bug photos are hard… I gave up on that a while back. 😂📸 I liked the video. Well done Phil.
Thanks, David! I have a lot to learn about getting really close to insects. I have been studying Peter Virag and a couple of other RUclipsrs' work and trying to learn all I can. Hopefully, I'll get some decent insect macros later this summer.
I really want that rf 100mm macro lens. I think it will work well with the R7 also. I have a Sony and a 90mm macro lens but the canons have that focus bracketing feature that I think's gonna make it much easier to get good deep focus. Once the R7 arrives I may sell my R6 and get that 100mm lens. I've been getting back into macro with a speedlight and diffuser. Every shot is teaching me more about using a Flash and about the exposure triangle. It's fun looking for the tiny insects and subjects and then learning to control the brightness of the background and the subject. I'm finding staying slightly further back instead of getting at the minimum focusing distance is allowing me to get a lot more of the subject in focus with a single shot. I can't wait to use that focus bracketing also and see how that does. Right now I'm shooting macro with the Sony so I don't have that feature. I'm gonna try some extension tubes at 1st with the rf50mm 1.8 until I get a Canon macro lens. Take care and happy shooting!
Awesome lens! I've always been interested in macro photography. Thanks for the comparison between the Raynox and the extension tubes. I have my eye on the Nikon 105mm z lens. I've always wanted to take better snowflake photos.
I’m really happy with this lens so far and I think it’s my favorite of my three macro lenses but I still wonder if maybe I should have bought the Laowa 85 mm 2X Macro. I guess we always second-guess ourselves after a purchase. It’s not that I don’t like this lens it’s just that 2X is more than 1.4x. Of course, with the extension tubes or the DCR250 I am probably getting 2X or maybe even more. This lens of course is much more versatile with its stabilization and autofocus. Thanks for watching, Stephen!
I use autofocus for macro, as my back cant cope waiting in position to long trying to focus.. I got the rf100mm because its autofocus systen is known to be so fast. But when i tried it doung macro using af focus system and after just a day , it had to go back as focus shift made it unusuable for me.
That is this sizes I would think. The longer the tube, the closer you can get to your subject. Different lenses work better with different extension tubes lengths. Some trial and error and needed to figure that out for yourself.
I learned that trick from a brilliant macro photographer from Australia, he makes beautiful images with that combo. I have learned that I prefer the lens alone or the lens with extension tubes more, not from a sharpness point of view but from an ease of focusing point of view. Thanks, James!
I recently got RF 100 macro and Raynox Dcr-150. While taking photos with lens alone in a park, I could reach 0.3x to 0.5x magnification, as I couldn't go closer to insects in natural habitat. Attached DCR-150 and it didn't focus at all. I am wondering, if extension tube will help in this case, for more magnification without reaching minimum focus distance. Also did you check what is maximum working distance with extension tube? Today's subjects were spiders and damselfly, which were found at a distance of around 1 feet from front of lens, on bushes.
I got Kenko RF extension tubes (10mm + 16mm) today to test it myself. It is able to auto focus fast till 47cm working distance. It gives probably 30-40% magnification at MFD. But nearly half meter maximum working distance will allow to walk around for macro with extension tubes. In Raynox, maximum focus distance is to less. All my tests with autofocus in R5. Looking forward to test it in the field over weekend.
@@PhilThach Update Phil, I got theses extension tubes to use with my R6, RF adapter and EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens, and I'm over the moon with the extra magnification whilst maintaining the image quality. Thank so much for making this, and all your other videos, I'm loving the bugs from work ones. All the best.
I like a ring light and have one, not a ring flash but a light. It works nicely on things that are not very reflective but on bugs, I'm learning that is not the best way to go. A flash and diffuser are turning out to be a better choice. Soon I will get a lot more into it I hope but right now I'm concentrating on the spring warbler migration. Thank you, Leon!
Hi Phil. I have the R5 and EF 100 f2.8 Macro lens, combo, could you please confirm whether step up or down rings are needed if using the Raynox DCR 250. Or does it safely clip on the front element.Thanks.
Focus stacking can be done with any lens. The extension tubes will work on the 100-500. Of course you loose infinity focus on the 100-500. You also loose infinity focus on the 100mm macro when the tubes are installed.
@@PhilThach When you focus stack the camera has to be in auto focus mode though, so have you found that it still works. Also it uses the electronic shutter, so no flash, only LED lighting .
No issues so far. Since I made this video I have changed to using a diffuser which attaches to the end of the lens and it works well. Thanks for watching!
I did not do any focus stacking in this video. I think what I want to concentrate on the most is photography of live insects which will be moving a little bit so focus stacking, while possible, might not be the way I go. I’m not going to rule out doing focus tacking on some subject with this lens in the future but live insects and wildflowers are my main goals. Thanks for watching as best as you can with a two year old to also look after! It’s been 16 years since I’ve looked after a two-year-old but I remember it being a full-time job.
@@kore996 thank you! I certainly plan to. Macro photography is definitely not my number one genre but I do enjoy it so there will be macro videos here on the channel from time to time all summer and maybe even some in the winter too.
I don’t have the exact measurement for you but if you watch nickel photography I am the exact same distance from the fly as I was from the nickel in the very last shot where I was using the lens plus the DCR250 and the extension tubes. I know this because I was turned all the way to closest focus and I focused by moving the lens and camera forward and backwards until the subject was in focus so the distance will be the same as that nickel shot. Thanks for watching, Mike! I hope you are doing well!
Pretty amazing macro shots Phil! Exceptional detail and clarity with the RF lens. The detail on the flower/weed was amazing. You’ve really got steady hands to have done all those shots handheld! Anxious to see more as you keep practicing with the new lens. 👏
Thank you, Bill! I'm not sure about the steady hands though. I take a bunch and usually only a few are sharp! :) Persistent hands! LOL
Nice purchase Phil. You’ll be having a lot of fun with that lens for years to come. Some amazing results you got. Thanks for sharing the video. How cool was that fly 👍🙏
Thank you, Adrian! I was perfectly happy with the Nikon F mount 105 2.8 but I did want a macro lens for my R6 and the fact that this one goes to 1.4-1 instead of just 1-1 was the icing on the cake. I've had the lens for a good while now and haven't really used it that much. So far there are not a lot of insects around though that is changing right now and the spring warbler migration is going on so really it's birds season here in Tennessee. Soon the dog days of summer will be here and hopefully, I'll get more use out of this new lens.
I have the RF 100mm Macro and really like it OOB, but wanted more for the ultra close. Was thinking of these extension tubes, really glad too see they work, much cheaper than buying another lens dedicated for the higher magnification.
Thanks for your video.
Yeah, finally you got it! 😀 That lens is optically superb! Looking fwd to seeing more macro from you down the track. Nice video Phil! Hope you’re having a nice weekend:)
Thank you, Peter! I have a lot to learn about up close insect photography. Right now the spring warbler migration is going on so I haven't used this lens much. Soon though!
@@PhilThach 👍👍
Phil you always look so happy when you get new stuff. Like a kid in a candy store. 😆 It’s the little things I guess. Life is good. 😁
I was particularly happy to get this one because I had waited all winter to order it for tax reasons I wanted to wait until 2022. Thank you! 🤓
I just got the same lens today! Amazon was nice enough to leave it on my porch. Luckily my neighbors arent criminals.
Yeah, that lens works superbly well. I think the extensions tubes did a better job too. Nice technique too. A lot of people just getting into macro don’t fully understand the need to be stable. Bug photos are hard… I gave up on that a while back. 😂📸 I liked the video. Well done Phil.
Thanks, David! I have a lot to learn about getting really close to insects. I have been studying Peter Virag and a couple of other RUclipsrs' work and trying to learn all I can. Hopefully, I'll get some decent insect macros later this summer.
@@PhilThach I have no doubt you will have amazing bug photos by then. You are a very skilled photographer and it shows.
I really want that rf 100mm macro lens. I think it will work well with the R7 also. I have a Sony and a 90mm macro lens but the canons have that focus bracketing feature that I think's gonna make it much easier to get good deep focus. Once the R7 arrives I may sell my R6 and get that 100mm lens. I've been getting back into macro with a speedlight and diffuser. Every shot is teaching me more about using a Flash and about the exposure triangle. It's fun looking for the tiny insects and subjects and then learning to control the brightness of the background and the subject. I'm finding staying slightly further back instead of getting at the minimum focusing distance is allowing me to get a lot more of the subject in focus with a single shot. I can't wait to use that focus bracketing also and see how that does. Right now I'm shooting macro with the Sony so I don't have that feature. I'm gonna try some extension tubes at 1st with the rf50mm 1.8 until I get a Canon macro lens. Take care and happy shooting!
I find myself using the Raynox DCR 250 and the tubes les and less. I may retire them completely when the R7 comes in.
Awesome lens! I've always been interested in macro photography. Thanks for the comparison between the Raynox and the extension tubes. I have my eye on the Nikon 105mm z lens. I've always wanted to take better snowflake photos.
I’m really happy with this lens so far and I think it’s my favorite of my three macro lenses but I still wonder if maybe I should have bought the Laowa 85 mm 2X Macro. I guess we always second-guess ourselves after a purchase. It’s not that I don’t like this lens it’s just that 2X is more than 1.4x. Of course, with the extension tubes or the DCR250 I am probably getting 2X or maybe even more. This lens of course is much more versatile with its stabilization and autofocus. Thanks for watching, Stephen!
Macro is so much fun! I have the Sony 90mm f2.8 along with my A7riiia and it's a great lens.
Sounds like a great combination! Thanks for watching, Martin! I hope to get more into macro soon.
Cool stuff Phil....
Thank you!
I use autofocus for macro, as my back cant cope waiting in position to long trying to focus.. I got the rf100mm because its autofocus systen is known to be so fast.
But when i tried it doung macro using af focus system and after just a day , it had to go back as focus shift made it unusuable for me.
Hello Phil. Nice detailed video. I have got one question please. What is the difference between 11+18 vs 13+18 extension tubes.
That is this sizes I would think. The longer the tube, the closer you can get to your subject. Different lenses work better with different extension tubes lengths. Some trial and error and needed to figure that out for yourself.
@@PhilThach Thank you for your response. Yes, need some hands-on I believe
Phil! How about test light RF 100-400 with raynox on R7 ? I think it will be super close-up with good image q
That's an interesting combination that I hadn't thought about!
@@PhilThach try it and make a video about it ! Thank you !
Hi Phil. James again. Why put a raynox in front of rf macro lens .surely it would make image softer. Best regards to you and Heather. Keep clicking.
I learned that trick from a brilliant macro photographer from Australia, he makes beautiful images with that combo. I have learned that I prefer the lens alone or the lens with extension tubes more, not from a sharpness point of view but from an ease of focusing point of view. Thanks, James!
I recently got RF 100 macro and Raynox Dcr-150. While taking photos with lens alone in a park, I could reach 0.3x to 0.5x magnification, as I couldn't go closer to insects in natural habitat. Attached DCR-150 and it didn't focus at all. I am wondering, if extension tube will help in this case, for more magnification without reaching minimum focus distance. Also did you check what is maximum working distance with extension tube? Today's subjects were spiders and damselfly, which were found at a distance of around 1 feet from front of lens, on bushes.
You have to get closer with the extension tubes than without, same thing with the Raynox.
I got Kenko RF extension tubes (10mm + 16mm) today to test it myself. It is able to auto focus fast till 47cm working distance. It gives probably 30-40% magnification at MFD. But nearly half meter maximum working distance will allow to walk around for macro with extension tubes. In Raynox, maximum focus distance is to less. All my tests with autofocus in R5. Looking forward to test it in the field over weekend.
Impresssive shots Phil. I too have an R6 and wonder which extension tubes you used please?
Thank you! I'll put a link in the next comment.
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1502602-REG/meike_mk_rf_af1_for_canon_mirrorless.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=CjwKCAjwx46TBhBhEiwArA_DjHTrURnyWBHVJVy6ucQwJuvhTpNzkig6F-e-Fn65SIyEbrrGtlIfchoCLsEQAvD_BwE
@@PhilThach Thanks Phil, much appreciated.I'll see where they sell them in the UK.
@@PhilThach Update Phil, I got theses extension tubes to use with my R6, RF adapter and EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens, and I'm over the moon with the extra magnification whilst maintaining the image quality. Thank so much for making this, and all your other videos, I'm loving the bugs from work ones. All the best.
@@marktaylor9579 awesome!
Great stuff, Phil. Any thoughts on a ring-light flash for this macro stuff?
I like a ring light and have one, not a ring flash but a light. It works nicely on things that are not very reflective but on bugs, I'm learning that is not the best way to go. A flash and diffuser are turning out to be a better choice. Soon I will get a lot more into it I hope but right now I'm concentrating on the spring warbler migration. Thank you, Leon!
Hi Phil. I have the R5 and EF 100 f2.8 Macro lens, combo, could you please confirm whether step up or down rings are needed if using the Raynox DCR 250. Or does it safely clip on the front element.Thanks.
It comes with everything you need to use on the RF 100 Macro. The EF should be the same.
@@PhilThach Thanks for the promt reply.
why no tripod in your tests! it makes a difference, especially on such a nitpick for the focus area
That's a good point. My plan was to get good at free hand insect macro in the wild. So I went handheld for these shots to practice.
He might be like me, i dont like using tripod, i do everthing handheld
Great video, thanks. Is focus stacking possible with extension tubes or the Raynox? Also, can the extension tubes be used on the RF 100 500 please?
Focus stacking can be done with any lens. The extension tubes will work on the 100-500. Of course you loose infinity focus on the 100-500. You also loose infinity focus on the 100mm macro when the tubes are installed.
@@PhilThach When you focus stack the camera has to be in auto focus mode though, so have you found that it still works. Also it uses the electronic shutter, so no flash, only LED lighting
.
Hi nice video.. I see that lens is longer in length... Did you have any issues with flashlight being blocked when you are at close range to subject??
No issues so far. Since I made this video I have changed to using a diffuser which attaches to the end of the lens and it works well. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Does the ef dcr 250 fit on the RF? Everywhere I look the dcr 250 only says ef mount.
Thank you! It just mounts on the filter threads so I would say yes.
Not sure if I missed it with my 2 year old running around but did you mention or try the focus stacking feature in the camera?
I did not do any focus stacking in this video. I think what I want to concentrate on the most is photography of live insects which will be moving a little bit so focus stacking, while possible, might not be the way I go. I’m not going to rule out doing focus tacking on some subject with this lens in the future but live insects and wildflowers are my main goals. Thanks for watching as best as you can with a two year old to also look after! It’s been 16 years since I’ve looked after a two-year-old but I remember it being a full-time job.
@@PhilThach hope the lens works out the way you want it to and hopefully you’ll keep sharing your experiences along the way.
@@kore996 thank you! I certainly plan to. Macro photography is definitely not my number one genre but I do enjoy it so there will be macro videos here on the channel from time to time all summer and maybe even some in the winter too.
How close were you to the fly? Looks good.
I don’t have the exact measurement for you but if you watch nickel photography I am the exact same distance from the fly as I was from the nickel in the very last shot where I was using the lens plus the DCR250 and the extension tubes. I know this because I was turned all the way to closest focus and I focused by moving the lens and camera forward and backwards until the subject was in focus so the distance will be the same as that nickel shot. Thanks for watching, Mike! I hope you are doing well!
Hola, creo que el uso de los tubos de extensión mantienen la calidad óptica del lente y el Raynox le hace perder calidad en la nitidez de la foto
Eso es posible. He visto a fotógrafos spme obtener excelentes resultados con el Ranox.