Old EOS lenses for EOS 30D

[PixelSmith]

Hi All,

Just a quickee:

You'll probably note my previous post regarding a Macro lense for my EOS 30D. On a slightly different note, I've just realised that I've got two lenses left over from my EOS 300V camera - an EF28-105mm f/4.0-5.6 USM and an EF75-300mm f/4.0-5.6III USM. Both of these have a Macro symbol on them (the 75-300mm has the little flower symbol with "1.5m/4.9ft" next to it on part of the lense barrel) - what exactly does this mean? ...can I use these lenses with my new EOS 30D? I've been told by a friend that using film lenses with the new digital SLRs means that the numbers shift slighly due to the CMOS sensor being slightly smaller (or larger?) than the conventional 35mm film plane... what do you guys recommend re: legacy lenses from conventional SLRs?

Cheers


Pixel Smith

[Max@Home]

Hi PixelSmith!

Originally Posted by PixelSmith

You'll probably note my previous post regarding a Macro lense for my EOS 30D. On a slightly different note, I've just realised that I've got two lenses left over from my EOS 300V camera - an EF28-105mm f/4.0-5.6 USM and an EF75-300mm f/4.0-5.6III USM. Both of these have a Macro symbol on them (the 75-300mm has the little flower symbol with "1.5m/4.9ft" next to it on part of the lense barrel) - what exactly does this mean?

This means, that both lenses allow you to obtain a focuslock at a 'closer distance than you would normally get' for the given focal lenghts,
the 75-300 can obtain focuslock from 1.5m/4.9ft.

...can I use these lenses with my new EOS 30D? I've been told by a friend that using film lenses with the new digital SLRs means that the numbers shift slighly due to the CMOS sensor being slightly smaller (or larger?) than the conventional 35mm film plane... what do you guys recommend re: legacy lenses from conventional SLRs?

...you ARE a newbie! nothing wrong with that, we all started somewhere and sometimes!

Due to the smaller than 24mmx36mm sensor, your 30D has a 'cropfactor' of 1.6x.

This means, that a 28mm-105mm will give you the 'look' as if you used a (28x1.6=)44mm-(105x1.6=)170mm lens. It 'looks' more 'tele',

The 75-300 will become a FoV 115mm - FoV 480mm.

Most of us (including me) will recommend to use the lens with the focal lenght(s) that *YOU* prefer, be it an EF-S (specially made for the 1.6x crop camera's) or an EF ('full frame') lens

Trust this will help some *my* €0.02 worth...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[PixelSmith]

Thank you Max - I did say I was a newbie, but thank you for pointing it out for me (I feel like a newbie even in the newbies section now).

I work in the print and publishing trade so I'm used to being slightly down-line from image capture - I'm taking up photography because I've always liked snapping with my compact digital camera and this seems a natural next step. I do know a few of the technical details and underlying theories (though they're somewhat hazy in my mind), but have just about zero practical experience! I expect a lot of you guys are pro or a lot further fown the line than me in terms of hobby - you're right though, you've got to start somewhere and here seems a pretty good place to me. I could take up becoming a couch potato instead but have decided after much thought that photography would be more worth while.

Cheers

Pixel-the newbie-smith.

[PixelSmith]

Just been shooting with my 75-300 EF lens - that gets in pretty close to the detail - will it be as good as a 100mm macro?

[Max@Home]

Hi again, Pixel Smith,

The EF100mm F2.8 Macro USM is a zillion times better: sharper, contrastier, gets you closer, is more exact focussable, and, because it is F2.8, you have way more 'creative possibilities' with regard to DoF. Also, because of the F2.8, the AutoFocus (although seldom used shooting 'true macro' from tripod ) is more exact and faster than the AF of the 75-300.

As an answer to your earlier post: as I said, nothing wrong with being a 'newbie', 'creative photography' ('beyond snapping') is so divers (and, as you will soon discover, so challenging and rewarding ), that there is always something or some field in which you are a 'newbie' .

Thanks to digital, with it's instant detailed feedback, it is very easy to 'grow' immensely in a short period in a specific field as photographer, if you are determined and willing and able to invest the time to learn and practice.

To get you up to speed with the technical terms, Canon has made a special website for 'DSLR-newbies'

http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/enjoydslr/index.html

It explains 'the basics' in simple words and with lots of good pictures or drawings. Very worth your time to go there!

And if you have questions about lenses and are looking for 'lens reviews' this site http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Default.aspx covers the most commonly used ones.

And always remember: it should be FUN practicing and learning (as long as you do this as a passion/hobby and not profesionally) !

FWIW, *my* €0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[PixelSmith]

Thanks ever so much for all your help Max, I'll check out those links you sent me.

I'll work my way through the basics before using up more forum bandwidth I'm afraid also I'm going to have to harm a few trees by printing off these two threads so I can keep them to hand

Thanks once again,

Pixel