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Hi and welcome to EPZ.
I think you will need two separate lenses. Ideally a dedicated macro and a mid to wide angled zoom. If you give an idea of your budget then it is easier to make sensible recommendations. I suspect though I don't do macro myself that you will probably need a reasonably long zoom for butterflies and dragonflies and they tend not to be cheap.
Dave
Well I use the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4.5. (approx 27-112mm 35mm eqivalent). I shoot a lot of landscapes, and find the range pretty good for most of my shots - wide enough for those sweeping landscape shots, and long enough to focus in on detail.
It also performs pretty well as a macro - giving a respectable 1:2.1 at 70mm. I was actually suprised how close you can get with the lens - and that may be a problem for your insects etc - to get that 1;2.1 you have to ve very close to your subject!!!
I got mine second hand from Misfuds for about £160.00 last May, and can't fault it.
Hi Kath,
What lens do you have at present?
Tricky, as warrierpoet says 2 lenses is ideal.
For Macro (true macro lens have a 1:1 measure sensor size = image size)
The best seems to be a Tamron 90mm listening to the last 2 years of reviews but i think its about £300, i've got a Sigma 70mm but would like a longer lens maybe the Tamron for even a sigma 105mm (all f2.8).
Some lenses say macro, and do an OK job for larger subjects - such as many of the 70-300mm from sigma or canon for about £150.
Hopefully you have the 17-55mm kit lens typically sold with the 400D, this will be fine for landscapes at the 17mm end. Often you want a smaller aperture for greater depth of field so no need for an expensive F2.8 version of this lens.
Echo - roll on the summer, summer = more light and more interest.
If you getting really close to your macro subjects then the extension tubes as Chris suggests and the 50mm 1.8 would be a good combination. The 50mm is a fantastic lens for the price, actually a fantastic lens for at least twice the price.
Funnily enough most of my butterfrly/bird and other wildlife shots are taken with my Canon300mm f4 IS USB lense. That way you don't have to get too close and risk scaring them off! I doubt you'd get close enough to most butterflies with a macro lens!
There are a few of my pics here:
link
Errrrr - a senior moment! Obviously should read USM! Well spotted coleslaw (Had some for lunch today!) At least it shows people actually take the rouble to read these posts!
Thanks
You have trouble "withe" keyboard?? You'd better believe that I am typing this VERY carefully!!
While on here, back to the original post, obviiously the Canon 300mm f4 that I said I use hardly qualifies as a "budget" lens but it does do a brilliant job of close-ups! (again typing very carefully in case steve is watching).
Quote: obviiously
obviously not that carefully
On a slightly more helpful note if you use something like Google toolbar in your web browser it comes with a spellchecker which I find is useful for checking thread postings (if I remember to use it!). Bugger got me at it now having to check for any typo's to avoid "people who live in glass houses" syndrome!
Another vote for the Sigma 17-70mm Macro as a walk around lens and good for landscape work and I believe there's an IS version out now. You could look at the Sigma 70-300mm Macro lenses, again I think the latest version has IS and they are good value but having upgraded to a Canon 70-200mm f4L a few years ago its a far better lens with much better image quality.
Simon
And google chrome as a browser has a built in spell checker for all text entry. but i still prefere too youse IE.
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