Which Dslr

[earthgraham]

I'm thinking of buying a Dslr camera and Macro Lens to improve my pictures of insects and flowers,I want to keep price under £1000, any advice would be appreciated.Thanks in advance.Graham

[Geoff F]

How serious are you about macro photography?

If you want to get really involved in macro insect work I would advise saving a bit longer then get something decent for next Spring.

Flowers can be done with smaller and cheaper lenses but even then £1000 is going to be difficult for body and lens if you want top quality. And do you currently have a good tripod or will this be an extra?

Alternatively, some of the modern 'Bridge' type cameras can take reasonable macro shots in good conditions and would come well within your budget.

Or try the secondhand market.

Just as a starting guide; I would recommend a lens around 100 mm for flowers and larger insects but go to 150 mm if you want reliable shots of the smaller insects. Particularly the nervous types which run away as you approach.

My kit is a Canon 40D with 180 mm macro lens, often plus a 1.4x converter, and a Manfrotto tripod. A Speedlite flash unit is another extra which will prove useful.

Remember the warning: Macro photography is addictive and can seriously damage your wealth.

[earthgraham]

Thanks Geoff F for your input just what I wanted,looks like I might have to spend a bit more as I would like a quality picture,thanks again Graham.

[squishy]

I think you could get a very nice macro set up for £1000

Even the cheapest macro lenses available in the kind of focal length you would want (like the tamron 90mm/sigma 70mm/sigma 105mm) are razor sharp, pretty much any macro will be especially stopped down.

You could easily get a second hand canon 40D/50D or nikon D200/D300/D90 etc type of body or a newer entry level body if that OP would prefer that + a nice second hand macro or one of the cheaper ones new for under £1000 with money to spare for a flash and/or tripod.

A good bargain for insect macro at the moment is the sigma 180mm f/3.5 macro, it was discontinued not to long ago and goes for under £400 used which is exceptional value.

Or you can go with an older body (which means less newer features) and an even more expensiv

You can definitely get kit capable of superb quality macros for under £1000

[earthgraham]

Thanks Squishy,the more information I get helps me make my decision,thanks again Graham.

[Alan Hewitt]

I would also factor in a good quality focussing rail if you are doing some still life macro.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by earthgraham

I'm thinking of buying a Dslr camera and Macro Lens to improve my pictures of insects and flowers,I want to keep price under £1000, any advice would be appreciated.Thanks in advance.Graham

Get a Canon or Nikon - everyone else does. They're the 'Ford and Vauxhall of cameras', popular and well supported.

Having said that, I don't own either, and have never owned either make of car!

Jim

[John D]

Not quite 'everyone else' Jim. Although I have Canons (and a Ford) I know a number of people who have either Sony, Pentax or Olympus.

I would have agreed if you had said 'most have Nikon or Canon.

John D

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by John D

Not quite 'everyone else' Jim. Although I have Canons (and a Ford) I know a number of people who have either Sony, Pentax or Olympus.

I would have agreed if you had said 'most have Nikon or Canon.

John D

I used 'everyone' in the general sense, as in 'everyone is going to watch the Olympics next year', or 'everyone has two arms, hands, legs and feet'.

Jim

[Tringa]

One thing to consider with Pentax is that virtually every K mount lens from the mid seventies onwards can be used on current Pentax DSLRs. You will lose some or all of the auto functions, but that may not be important. Also the IS is in the body of the cameras, so any lens is an IS lens.


Dave