#2 All the gear – what’s your idea?

#2 All the gear – what’s your idea?

Every now and then, we get a little bit excited. Like, Christmas when you’re a kid excited. The reason for this – camera gear!

We’ve got a good set of Canon camera bodies (currently a 6D, a 6DII and one of the new mirrorless range – the EOS R) to help meet our client’s demands. These are camera bodies that operate superbly well in low light, capture fast moving images, fantastic slow mo video capabilities … so what gets us a little bit excited, are the opportunities with lenses.

There’s so much to choose from … wide lens, long lens, portrait lens, tilt shift lens… macro lens! Macro lenses have fascinated us ever since we first saw an uncomfortably close up shot of Nick’s eye ball taken by Rich on a state-of-the-art (at the time) FujiFine Pix digital camera back in about 2002.

We’ve been doing a fair bit of photography and filming for clients that has involved close up detailed shots, for which we’ve been putting to work the impressive 24-105mm L lens by Canon with more than satisfactory results. But it wasn’t quite what the detail we strived to capture. So investing in a macro lens was a natural choice to fill the gap in our lens line up alongside our 35mm, 50mm prime lenses and 24-105mm and 70-200mm focal lengths.

After completing the obligatory research on forums and YouTube, we decided that the only real way to go was to purchase the Canon Macro 100mm L. Canon always provide great glass that we’ve come to rely on, with solid builds & with this lens, a built in stabiliser for those extra smooooooth shots.

Once it arrived, Nick was out in the garden, capturing rain drops on flowers after a typical UK summer downpour. Early lessons were the role that the tripod would have to play if using manual focus, due to the amazing depth of field this f-2.8 beast allows for.

A week after having the lens, it had its first outing with Nick at a 1940’s event at nearby Chasewater Railway. Over 1000 people in attendance, all enjoying the choirs and activities and 40’s garments, with proceeds going towards the upkeep of the railway line and trains.

We have quickly found the 100mm macro lens to be a versatile piece of glass – great for portraits as well as the usual detailed macro shots. Check out some results below.

So, we’re fully equipped and ready to photo or video your portraits & close up jewellery/food/drink etc. shots. Which will it be? Both – ok, even better! We’re now taking on commissions for over the summer onwards so give us a shout if you’re in the mood for macro!

You can get in touch via Facebook, Instagram or email us on hello@twintreescreative.co.uk