Well done Ben, a huge improvement over 100mm - your images are looking great, and as you say, a big part of that is understanding your subject and their actions. Loving the images you're posting!
Thank you Gordon, much appreciated and thank you for helping me spend my money as always. I joke, but not everyone knows a Gordon with all the answers. Annoyingly I had already edited and published this video by the time I created some of my best images with this lens (stacking images and slightly better compositions). But I will follow up this video with a tutorial on focus stacking when I get the chance. I think I have captured some of my best macro images this year.
@@benharveyphotography definitely, and you also now know about the first IS lenses. It'll be interesting if Canon ever makes another 100+ macro lens, as it's been a long time. I remember the Canon and especially Nikkor lens catalogues in the 80s had so much variety.
Having been out on location with you while shooting butterflies, I am as impressed with that lens as I am your ability to spot the critters. Buttery backgrounds certainly enhance the outcomes enormously. Thank you for letting me have a go too… great video and smashing shots Me H 👍
Thank Louise, I remember you seeing the photos on the back of the camera with the water droplets on the butterflies eyes and your jaw was on the floor. Its a pretty impressive lens, and I don't know how I am so good at spotting butterflies, its my super power!
Great video as usual, it sort of inspires me to jump back in to macro photography again. As an aside, I've own the 200 mm Micro Nikkor and it is, without a doubt, the sharpest lens I've had on my Nikons (and that includes my 55mm Zeiss Otus). I took it with me to the Galapagos Islands in 2012 and I shot probably 80% of my photos with it. You are giving me a reason to dust it off.
Yes absolutely. Dust it off. Depending on what macro subjects you have available to you, I shoot a lot of insects etc in the spring/summer and then switch to water droplets, autumn mushrooms etc and then if I am lucky some frozen bubbles and snow flakes in the winter months. If the Nikkor lens is manual focus then I am planning on making a focus rail/manual focus stacking tutorial in the near future also.
I didn’t tackle focus stacking in this video, but since I have been stacking with this lens using my Canon R8 and getting some fantastic results. I can imagine the resolution from the R5, stacked with the 180mm would be amazing!
For larger insects, like butterflies, dragonflies etc. I really like the R7 + 100-500 combo, doesn't even need extension tubes 😁 although most of my macro I do with R7 + 90 mm laowa for the 2:1
I can certainly see how using a cropped sensor camera is going to benefit here. It’s also good to see that camera companies are creating telephotos with closer focusing capabilities - making them more versatile tools.
I've looked at getting a second hand 180mm macro lens some time ago -- although it was probably one of Sigma's variants. However, it would have to be adapter on my Fuji camera and that would probably mean the AF would not be quite as good. For these kind of shots as you've been showing off in this video, I'm better off with my Fuji 70-300mm zoomlens! And perhaps a macro extension ring on it. It's light, small, stabilized, and it can give me wonderfully smooth backgrounds when I pay a bit of attention to the environment. And it gets reasonably close while having a good working distance.
Hi Tim, my extension tubes don’t allow autofocus - if your do and they are reliable then that might be a better option that adapting. Lots of options luckily!
@@benharveyphotography Mine do, fortunately, but it did cost me for buying brand native ones! All relative of course, cheap when compared to a lens but expensive when compared to the cheaper alternatives. And of course not every lens works well with extension rings.
Great shots! Thank you for reviewing this lens, I came across it when I was searching macro len's but wasn't sure about it. I'll have to keep my eye out for one, how was the auto focus?
Hi Kat, the autofocus works really well. No problems with it at all. I have used it on my 5D mark 3 as well as adapt it onto my Canon R8 and it performed on both of them really well. I created a focus stack using the Canon R8 with in camera stacking and the lens managed to keep up with the cameras 30 frames per second shooting and focusing speed! Check out MPB for a second hand version, they might have one in now. Make sure you get one with the tripod collar as you really need to keep the camera as still as possible.
I managed to find a second hand one from MPB and surprisingly they make different model numbers for different lenses and it is really difficult to find online which ones are compatible. It looks different to my 100-400 collar and I use them both so often that I would be so mad at myself if I turned up on location and I forgot one and couldnt mount it on a tripod!
Nice one Ben and for the price you paid, I think you have made a great investment and will get a good return over time as the lovely images from your video demonstrated
Cheers Jim, you might have seen the images that I posted recently; which were actually captured after I finished this video. I am starting to get some results that I am really happy with.
That must have been a tough decision. I checked on MPB in June/July and they didn’t have a single one in stock! Luckily Parks Cameras had one used. I get the whole purging of gear, it is necessary sometimes. I am not sure if Canon will make a new version of this, but I know they will charge an arm and a leg for it!!!
Well done Ben, a huge improvement over 100mm - your images are looking great, and as you say, a big part of that is understanding your subject and their actions. Loving the images you're posting!
Thank you Gordon, much appreciated and thank you for helping me spend my money as always. I joke, but not everyone knows a Gordon with all the answers. Annoyingly I had already edited and published this video by the time I created some of my best images with this lens (stacking images and slightly better compositions). But I will follow up this video with a tutorial on focus stacking when I get the chance. I think I have captured some of my best macro images this year.
@@benharveyphotography definitely, and you also now know about the first IS lenses. It'll be interesting if Canon ever makes another 100+ macro lens, as it's been a long time. I remember the Canon and especially Nikkor lens catalogues in the 80s had so much variety.
Love this! And I learned something - I did not know Nikon made a 200mm f4 Macro... been playing with a Sigma 180 all this time 😵💫
Having been out on location with you while shooting butterflies, I am as impressed with that lens as I am your ability to spot the critters. Buttery backgrounds certainly enhance the outcomes enormously. Thank you for letting me have a go too… great video and smashing shots Me H 👍
Thank Louise, I remember you seeing the photos on the back of the camera with the water droplets on the butterflies eyes and your jaw was on the floor. Its a pretty impressive lens, and I don't know how I am so good at spotting butterflies, its my super power!
@@benharveyphotography it surely is 🙏
Great video as usual, it sort of inspires me to jump back in to macro photography again. As an aside, I've own the 200 mm Micro Nikkor and it is, without a doubt, the sharpest lens I've had on my Nikons (and that includes my 55mm Zeiss Otus). I took it with me to the Galapagos Islands in 2012 and I shot probably 80% of my photos with it. You are giving me a reason to dust it off.
Yes absolutely. Dust it off. Depending on what macro subjects you have available to you, I shoot a lot of insects etc in the spring/summer and then switch to water droplets, autumn mushrooms etc and then if I am lucky some frozen bubbles and snow flakes in the winter months. If the Nikkor lens is manual focus then I am planning on making a focus rail/manual focus stacking tutorial in the near future also.
Great vid👍. I love my 180mm on my R5. Really hoping some day Canon will make a RF version of it👌
I didn’t tackle focus stacking in this video, but since I have been stacking with this lens using my Canon R8 and getting some fantastic results. I can imagine the resolution from the R5, stacked with the 180mm would be amazing!
@@benharveyphotographyfor stacking I use my MP-E65. And yes it's amazing
For larger insects, like butterflies, dragonflies etc. I really like the R7 + 100-500 combo, doesn't even need extension tubes 😁 although most of my macro I do with R7 + 90 mm laowa for the 2:1
I can certainly see how using a cropped sensor camera is going to benefit here. It’s also good to see that camera companies are creating telephotos with closer focusing capabilities - making them more versatile tools.
Kool! Nice images. Looks like you're going to have some fun for a while. How come Gordon never joins you? Happy hunting!
He never invites me!
@@cameralabs I think the "Gordon and Ben" channel could have some legs ;-)
I assume that most normal people don’t want to have their day started by a 3:45am alarm clock - but you are welcome to join me. Bring the Aeropress?!?
@@benharveyphotography ha ha, you know me, I'm more a sunset than a sunrise person!
I've looked at getting a second hand 180mm macro lens some time ago -- although it was probably one of Sigma's variants. However, it would have to be adapter on my Fuji camera and that would probably mean the AF would not be quite as good.
For these kind of shots as you've been showing off in this video, I'm better off with my Fuji 70-300mm zoomlens! And perhaps a macro extension ring on it.
It's light, small, stabilized, and it can give me wonderfully smooth backgrounds when I pay a bit of attention to the environment. And it gets reasonably close while having a good working distance.
Hi Tim, my extension tubes don’t allow autofocus - if your do and they are reliable then that might be a better option that adapting. Lots of options luckily!
@@benharveyphotography Mine do, fortunately, but it did cost me for buying brand native ones!
All relative of course, cheap when compared to a lens but expensive when compared to the cheaper alternatives.
And of course not every lens works well with extension rings.
Great shots! Thank you for reviewing this lens, I came across it when I was searching macro len's but wasn't sure about it. I'll have to keep my eye out for one, how was the auto focus?
Hi Kat, the autofocus works really well. No problems with it at all. I have used it on my 5D mark 3 as well as adapt it onto my Canon R8 and it performed on both of them really well. I created a focus stack using the Canon R8 with in camera stacking and the lens managed to keep up with the cameras 30 frames per second shooting and focusing speed! Check out MPB for a second hand version, they might have one in now. Make sure you get one with the tripod collar as you really need to keep the camera as still as possible.
@@benharveyphotography Thank you for all the info, as I would be adapting it to an R6.
In terms of a lens collar mount for the 180mm macro, have a go and see if the lens collar mount off your 100-400mm lens fits?
I managed to find a second hand one from MPB and surprisingly they make different model numbers for different lenses and it is really difficult to find online which ones are compatible. It looks different to my 100-400 collar and I use them both so often that I would be so mad at myself if I turned up on location and I forgot one and couldnt mount it on a tripod!
Nice one Ben and for the price you paid, I think you have made a great investment and will get a good return over time as the lovely images from your video demonstrated
Cheers Jim, you might have seen the images that I posted recently; which were actually captured after I finished this video. I am starting to get some results that I am really happy with.
A few months ago I sold my Canon 180mm macro lens to MPB when I cut my macro lens collection down from 4 to 1. I hope that you are loving using yours.
That must have been a tough decision. I checked on MPB in June/July and they didn’t have a single one in stock! Luckily Parks Cameras had one used. I get the whole purging of gear, it is necessary sometimes. I am not sure if Canon will make a new version of this, but I know they will charge an arm and a leg for it!!!
@@benharveyphotography I must confess that I recently bought an f2 135mm prime.
@StephenCotterell another incredible lens. I have the EF version and love it.