Try to use spot-metering when shooting closeup shots in combination with very low f-numbers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metering_mode

Also try to shoot in RAW if you are not doing that already.
As for a macro lens. I have heard nothing but good things about the EF 100mm Macro and Canon offers instant rebate from time to time so it is a quite affordable option.
http://www.thecamerastore.com/products/macro/macro-lenses/canon-ef-100mm-f28-usm-macro

Use a tripod and manual focus + liveview with zoom. I do that when making macro.

Ah, the movement of the flowers! I have had that before. It'll do much better when it's not moving, don't be disappointed yet with the lens ! looking forward to the other photos once you get them up!



Oh yes I've started shooting in RAW a long time ago!

Oh... you mean Marie

^This, meter off the white petals and give it +2/3 to -1 stop of EV so it doesn't have that greyish look to it.

lol I know you shoot RAW in fact you started long before I did, I think. I believe didn't start doing that until after I bought my very first expensive lens in October last year and I really really wish I did it sooner though but oh well

hmm it is hard to believe it was the wind that made it blurry or out of focus because I think she used a quite fast shutterspeed of 1/800s

This post was edited by Futurama on Jul 16 2010 12:51am

I almost wonder if the lens is better for still shots... you know... portraits ... etc. They won't be movin' around.

i used to use demecrakey firefox mod at work wheen i worked at radioshack a few years back, bypassed all the blocking on the computer because its a flash drive based browser using a proxy server

When shooting flowers i would suggest buying a reflector so that you can manipulate light onto the flower in a way that suits your final outcome, they are also very handy because you can use them to block the wind also spice up flower shots by adding water, take a spray bottle out with you, as for a macro lens i recently bought a tamron 90mm 1:1 f2.8 and its fantastic, it also doubles as a fantastic portrait lens too

Well that lens is certainly not for action photography because of the very slow autofocus and together with the not so sensitive outer AF points of Canon Digital Rebels would make it very hard to get sharp images of moving objects.
If you want to shoot action then the 85mm f1.8 USM would be much better mostly because it has USM focusing motor.



Those are some very good advice
btw I couldn't help but laugh at what you put under your signature... It sounds more like what those Catholic priests would want to do

This post was edited by Futurama on Jul 16 2010 01:20pm

omg I just love all the p osts you guys/girls have!!
All those wonderful advice!!
One day I'll buy a macro lens... not being able to get 2 inches close to a bug.... really 'bugs' me
Also, what do you mean by slow auto focus? find it is so much faster than the kit lens
I mean, I hear it going click click click instead of click.... click..... click.. (don't laugh.... it's the only way I can put it in English )