Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ii | Telephoto Lens for Macro Photography

[@bilcarter]

Have a look at the Vanguard Alta Pro tripod. It allows you to extend the center bar off to the side, upside down, etc. You can also hyper-extend the legs to get the camera very low to the ground.

[@jamesstewart553]

The mother of invention, the alternative use of tripod, ball and lens ring.The photos came out very well ! Thank you.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@jamesstewart553]

@@EspenHelland I have just bought a 100-400 owing to the rotten weather over the past week no opportunity to use it , hopefully later this week.

[@tammymellertphoto]

Oh HOLY MUSHROOM HEAVEN! Those woods are a dream location. Love the images you got.

[@EspenHelland]

I know! Amazing mushrooms! Thank you 🙂

[@shademanirvanipour6870]

I got the canon 70/300mm F4/5.6L and is got macro setting for close up photography and I use is a lot and give good results

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

That moss looked like a dream, wonderful location. Loved the mushroom images! I occasionally use an extension tube on my 300mm, so it might give a similar effect.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Paul :) Hope you're keeping well

[@paulinefollett3099]

Great to see you have my setup with the Canon 7D Mk 2 and the 100-400mm lens. I have also had success with macro images. I have taken closeup flowers and fungi.

[@EspenHelland]

It's a great setup :)

[@Rajupkd]

Blend of mind and body of a dedicated Photographer. I salute you man !! Simply superb. Love from India.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Sathyameva :)

[@AllinSorenson]

Reversing the center post. Brilliant! Thanks for the great idea. Wonderful video.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much :)

[@rolfsimonsson736]

As always a great video by a diligent photographer. Thank you Espen! A tip for the bean bag: I used to have rice in mine too but then I came up with the idea of using little plastic balls normally used for stuffing pillows and such. The advantages are their minimum weight and their ability to stay dry.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Rolf :) I wouldn't mind a bit less weight, but I find those to be a bit too lightweight and not give enough stability to my lens. Especially when I use the beanbag in the window of my car.

[@KarenVaisman1]

Espen you switched from bean bag to tripod. Which do you prefer and why?

[@sammysatsangi7754]

lovely macro shots. loved your video. thanks a lot

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Sammy :)

[@yellowcrocus]

I've been torn between getting macro or telephoto lens for my micro third four camera as a beginner with a lot of interest in wildlife and mushroom photography. Thank you Espen, I am convinced to get a tele now! Those mushroom shoots are cool!!

[@bofirelevenprojects7795]

wonderful forest, I use 55-300mm for macro photography. Thank you Epsen, this video inspired me.. Good Job!

[@yukonica4560]

Interesting idea that I'll have to try. Ten years ago I captured 63 varieties of fungi (I'm not a mycologist) while walking my 10 hectare boreal forest home. I have a series-i 100-400 that has been sitting because I always felt the images were soft. With current software filters it may be time to reconsider that older gear. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@scriptosaurusrex]

Great stuff. You should bang on some extension tubes for a closer min focusing distance. The ones from Kenko-Tokina tend to be considered the gold standard. Nice to combine with a 1:1 macro lens as well to get greater than 1:1 magnification. Not that you needed more for this. Very lush imagery.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks, good tip!

[@klackon1]

My Sony 100 - 400mm G Master had a really brilliant minimum focusing distance, very close to my old Canon 100 - 400mm I believe. It was a really brilliant lens for shooting skittish butterflies and dragonflies, or other, larger insects too far away for my 90mm macro lens. I now use a Sony 200 - 600mm for the same purpose but it has a minimum focusing distance of 2.4m. I sometimes use an SEL14TC or Kenco extension tubes with it, so I don't miss the shorter minimum focusing distance.

[@EspenHelland]

Nice! I tried aiming at a dragonfly yesterday, but it just wouldn't stay still for a second! 😅

[@klackon1]

@@EspenHelland. I managed to get a few decent ones of dragonflies in flight a couple of days ago at the RSPB hide at Marshside, Southport. I do find it capturing them in flight somewhat challenging, even with an A9 and 200 - 600mm. It's similar to capturing Swallows taking a drink in a stream - hard work.

[@NickHansonPhotography]

Really nice video, Espen, with some really nice images to go with it. You mention towards the end about using mirror lockup, saying you couldn't use it when using live view - when using live view your mirror is locked up.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Nick! That makes sense, thanks :)

[@NickHansonPhotography]

@@EspenHelland Not that it matters now that you've gone mirrorless ;)

[@markattardo]

Awesome! I've been using a 55-250 with tubes a lot lately. Sometimes 1-1 is bigger than the sensor.

[@EspenHelland]

That's brilliant! Thanks :)

[@markattardo]

@@EspenHelland 👍

[@ChrisBaitsonPhoto]

Watched this last night, kind of gave me the idea to go out and do it for myself for my latest video. Thanks for sharing - watching you really helped me with this. First time i've tried mushrooms and had a blast doing it.... once I found them!

[@EspenHelland]

Awesome to hear!

[@GlenDomulevicz]

I tried something similar without the success you had. I plan to do that again and learn from you. Really enjoyed the images. Thanks for sharing.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Glen :) I only show the decent ones ;)

[@LieslHuddleston]

Great episode, Espen! Such beautiful lush woodlands where you are, you're so lucky to have a variety of fungi too, and you got some amazing photos! I love this lens, I usually shoot with a macro lens, but this lens can get so close-up, you can have the best of both worlds!

[@EspenHelland]

Absolutely! I should get a macro lens eventually. Thank you :)

[@eugecoscarelli9745]

Wow Espen, just shows how versatile this lens is. Great to see you experimenting with it to see what it is capable of. Nice photos and vlog as usual. Look forward to the next one. See you out there!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Euge :) Really appreciate it!

[@juggler1200]

Always an inspiration, great real-world photography, I have loved all of your videos that I've seen so far. Although I've always been interested in taking “pictures”, I have only just come to DSLR photography and in my research for a good wildlife combination, your info was the deciding factor 7D mk ii 100 400 f/4.5-5.6 and have used some of your settings as a base line. Masses to learn but some good results very happy with macro shots of a grey dagger moth caterpillar in my garden the other day. Thanks for all of your help.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Tony that's great hear! Hope you're happy with the setup. Would be interesting to hear what/if any topics that may be a bit harder as a beginner wildlife photographer, so feel free to give me some topics for videos :)

[@johnstafford8405]

Thank's I need to get out with this lens more often.

[@EspenHelland]

Cheers John! Get out there :)

[@GingerPhotographer]

Cracking job Espen, love my 100-400. Swivel lcd will come in handy for those low down compositions!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you! I take it the 90D has that?

[@GingerPhotographer]

@@EspenHelland yep 👍

[@Emuspaul]

or view on smartphone

[@brucetrue]

You should try an extension tube with the telephoto!

[@stephenbarlow2493]

Lovely video. I'm struggling to find good fungi spots in the area I live now. Just a few tips as macro photography has long been my thing. Yes, the 100-400mm and other similar lenses are good for close-ups like fungi, especially for the OOF background, but don't neglect other focal lengths. The 100-400mm mk2 will actually focus closer than 98cm at less than 400mm. I haven't calculated exactly at what focal length it focuses closer, but certainly by 300mm. Where it will go to about 75cm, although again I've never measured it. Reversing the column on the tripod is great for getting low. A geared head gives millimetric perfect composition. I've long used the Manfrotto 410, but it's so heavy. The Benro geared head is much lighter, just as good and takes Arca Swiss plates directly. Reflectors are good for mushrooms especially fill in under the cap. The best are small cake boards. Being square they don't roll away. You can get some that are silver on one side and gold on the other. Lots of Thornton's cakes are on that sort of board. Eat the cake and get yourself a great reflector. The gold warms up the shadows. It's handy to carry a stiff bristled brush for fungi to brush off the soil that gets splashed up when it rains.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Stephen! This is some great advice, love the Thornton's cake idea 😃I haven't used much reflectors at all, but I can see it's definitely something I need to add if I want better lit subjects.

[@junglelifekh7448]

Hi

[@hypnoraythompson5824]

thank you for posting. Great video, and love your enthusiasm.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you :)

[@andrewyeates7717]

Great pics. Love the one of the two orange coloured ones that are stacked. Must try this with my zoom lens. Only ever used the macro for fungi. One tip would be to use a reflector to bounce some light into the underside of the fungi. Really makes the frills pop

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Andrew :) Yes, reflectors are definitely something I should start using, I'd love to make those frills stand out even more!

[@andrewyeates7717]

@@EspenHellandI always carry a small 8 inch one around with me for my macro work. Very handy. Great images anyway.

[@JohnFormstone]

Some cracking shots Espen. Fungi make great subjects to photograph. 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much John :)

[@craighoward-cofield6849]

Brilliant video again. I've used my tamron g2 150150-600mm for macro that turned out really well too

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Craig! I hear the Tamron g2 is really sharp as well, I had the first version, but didn't like it as much.

[@lysspreder]

what if you use extension tubes then you can get closer? Of course you lose light, but then you just turn up the iso, which most newer cameras are good at handling, as well as a photo editing program can also help.

[@torstenschmid7415]

Thank you for this great video. 👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@susanfirth2279]

Hi Espen: just came across your channel. Great video. I have the same lens and didn't think about using it for "macro" shots but I will be trying that this spring when the snows melts. Great images.

[@EspenHelland]

Good to hear it! Thanks Susan 🙂

[@Pagan093]

Cool tip with the tripod and works with my Manfrotto. Thank you.

[@steverich_photography]

Thank you Espen, you have given me some cool inspiration.

[@EspenHelland]

Glad to hear it, thanks Rich!

[@south409]

Great video. I have this lens and will certainly try the macro function. Watched a number of your videos and always learn something. Many thanks for including the camera settings on shots. Would be very helpful if you could leave these on screen foe a little longer.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Jeffry! Really cool to hear that you're learning some stuff 🙂 I'll keep that in mind for my next videos about the camera settings, in the meantime just hit pause 😉

[@CamillaI]

Its a great ruse I use the Sony 100-400 for butterflies and dragonflies on hot days when differcult to approach

[@EspenHelland]

Absolutely 👍

[@gonewild1220]

Yes mate that was great seeing your techniques here!!!! Thanks 👍📸👣

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Jodz 🙂

[@Harmonrok]

Hello Aspen, really enjoyed this Vlog, as I do with all of your Vlogs, I use my 7D II with EF L 500mm II, the only thing is I have to be at lease 15 feet away but get some nice shots. Look forward to viewing more of your work.

[@EspenHelland]

Sorry must have missed some of these comments. Yeah 15 feet is a bit far away, but I'd much rather have the 500mm ii 😅

[@dougdavis5808]

Hi I just found your channel, I am liking what you do. I am new to photography and I bought a Canon SL2 with kit len and nifty fifty 50mm and a sigma 18-300 macro lens I am learning some new techniques from your videos keep up the good work.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you! Good luck

[@vilson.farias]

Lovely photos!! I've just bought a second hand 100-400 II and suddenly realized I can do some nice macros too :)

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Vilson :)

[@danielrobles228]

Hey Espen, thank you for the tip! Greetings from Mexico!

[@touchedbynature5445]

Brilliant, Great Photos. Many Thanks for sharing.

[@EspenHelland]

Cheers Paul :)

[@RRNaturePhotography]

Great video , some great ideas. I’ve used my 100-400 for insect photography and landscape. it’s a great versatile piece of kit, I agree. Thanks for sharing this. 👌

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Rich! Insects next ;)

[@kriscta]

beautiful videos. what is opinion about 100-400mm with 1.4iii TC for bird photography. I never got sharp pics. do you have some tips to get pics with the combination i mentioned?

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Krishna, I did a recent review of that exact setup. I've struggled a bit with it as well, especially birds in flight. Some people have suggested to calibrate my lens.

[@danieljohnston5306]

Like a kid in a candy store...lol. Around here its a psychedelic store....😜😜. Awesome video, I just love this lens, so sharp and versatile, it almost never leaves my camera! Some extension tubes might be something to play with if you’re interested!

[@EspenHelland]

Absolutely 🍬😃Thanks Daniel! Extension tubes or macro lens :)

[@bords0sn]

Love your videos and music

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Steve 🙂

[@Rudy60426]

Great Video , awesome photo's en tips

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Rudy :)

[@AlexisOGrekos]

Hey Espen I liked a lot your video and if I am right I think that you are the type of photographer who wants to achieve the best possible result in one single frame, correct me if I am wrong. Do you think that you could have achieved an even better result with photo stacking post processing technique? What I mean is to use the biggest possible apperture and take photos having the focus on different depths at the mushroom in order to have the same object perfectly in detail at the end with correct photoshop editting stacking. What do you think?

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Liuon! Yes, I actually did focus stack this time, but I didn't take the images with the intention of focus stacking so I only had two images that weren't even perfectly lined up when I focus stacked. I haven't done much macro, but next time I think I'll take even more images like you say to focus stack properly in Photoshop.

[@tombraiderartistry]

Finding your videos very helpful xxx

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Susie 🙂

[@williampaul236]

Cheers Espen,I’ve just started macro and close up photography,so this was very useful keep up the great work 👍📸

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks William, good to hear :)

[@lucineiaherzog]

Gostei do seu tripé, onde acho pra comprar? Interessante ele segura a câmera baixa.

[@tombraiderartistry]

Love the music in your videos who is it ? Xxx

[@EspenHelland]

Sorry I can’t remember, it’s been so long. It’s all from epidemicsound

[@junglelifekh7448]

The pictures are really pretty

[@EspenHelland]

Jungle Life KH thank you 😃

[@bamsemh1]

Which one do you like best? This setup, or om-1 with oly 100-400mm? For the same purpose 😊 Tele macro

[@EspenHelland]

II prefer the OM-1 with my 300mm and 1.4x, I don't have the 100-400

[@SimonWantling]

Nice video Espen.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Simon :)

[@guilhermeteixeira3841]

i already use my 150-600 mm for macro photography and the results are brutal

[@EspenHelland]

I hope that means brutally good ;)

[@guilhermeteixeira3841]

@@EspenHelland depends ahahah it's a bit hard due to the minimal focus distance, but the dragonflies looks amazing xD

[@ggwildlife]

fantastic video thank you for sharing *subbed*

[@EspenHelland]

ggwildlife thank you very much 🙂

[@williambakkernl]

Nice video again Espen! This lens is the next lens on my wish-list (to replace my current Tamron 150-600), especially for wildlife/birdphotography. Have you ever tried the 100mm f2.8L MACRO from Canon? It really is a great lens, if you can borrow one for a couple of days, give it a go!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much William! That's the lens I used to have, it's a good step up after the Tamron. I've just ordered a 1.4x extender to get that extra reach as well. Not tried the 100mm macro no, but I'm very keen to :)

[@JPLamoureuxsTravels]

I use mine for a lot of close up work too when I’ve not got my 100 mm macro lens with me, it’s such a versatile lens for wildlife photography 👌👍 ... fab video buddy, fungi and photography I mean what’s not to like! 😎🤙 I’ve got a 5D mk4 and the 80D but I’m upgrading to the 90D looks to be a fantastic camera for all round wildlife photography, I was waiting for the 7D mk3 but I’m doubtful canon will do one after seeing the 90D 🤔

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much! I'm hearing more and more people talk about the 90D, I'll have to check it out. I think a full-frame will be next for me though, need that higher ISO :)

[@JPLamoureuxsTravels]

Aye buddy this 5D mk4 is the business in lower light, I’m in the new forest now and it’s doing great in the dappled light of the forest floor 👌

[@briceping8045]

Bonjour je suis passionné par vos vidéos pouvez-vous me dire quel trépied utilisez-vous pour faire votre macro champignon

[@EspenHelland]

brice ping parlez vous anglais?

[@briceping8045]

@@EspenHelland vous pouvez me répondre en anglais il y a pas de problème merci et bonne journée

[@tonymoua1058]

Gr8t! And u didn't even try to sell the tripod, but now I'm sold on getting that type of tripod that I've been debating on sometime now.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Tony, it's a good travel tripod. Though I'm thinking of getting a heavier one with a gimbal for wildlife.

[@perjensen6396]

Great video and I will try to take too take some macro photos with my 100-400mm it looks interesting, normally I use a 80mm macro lens. What is the name of your tripod ?

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Per! I think I should invest in a macro lens at some point it's good fun :) It's a meFOTO tripod, a good travel tripod. There's a link on my gear's page if you want to know the exact one: www.espenhelland.com/my-photography-gear/

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Great video and images. I sometimes use a zoom lens for close up shots instead of my macro lens. Works well.

[@EspenHelland]

Cheers Steve :)

[@bbqkid8]

As the years passed by I did less and less macro photography so I sold my 100mm F2.8 L macro lens. #regrets I am thinking about getting it back after seeing this video :)

[@scriptosaurusrex]

There are lots of very good third party 1:1 lenses out there. So if you don't do it much, but want quality glass, it doesn't have to be the expensive L glass :)

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Brian! I think I may need to get that lens as well :)

[@dannydanquah3681]

8:29 I wish my Manfrotto tripod center column could do that.

[@joshuadxlee]

the Befree range can

[@dannydanquah3681]

@@joshuadxlee I have the 190XPRO4 but saw a review of the Befree 3-Way Live Advanced yesterday and man, looks awesome. Thank you so much, I will check it it out.

[@joshuadxlee]

@@dannydanquah3681 👍

[@richn1751]

Enjoyed that

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Rich!

[@fingerstylefan]

First time watching your channel and I enjoyed it. Great editing and content. Too bad you didn't focus stack more of that photo at 14:30 to include that bug on the stem. Oh well still a great shot.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much! I know the bug bugged me as well! I didn't actually think I was going to focus stack when I was in the field, I'll know for next time :)

[@benpulletz]

What tripod is that

[@EspenHelland]

MeFoto: www.espenhelland.com/my-photography-gear/

[@assaf987654321]

you are goooooood

[@ameliaauguste1676]

I would like to have a lens 100-400mm

[@skydiverbob1]

Amazing!!! :-)

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks!!

[@cillyede]

Very good, danke.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you :)

[@PunjabiGymBeats]

i wish 7d mark ii would have flippy screen

[@bearnnature3291]

Nice video

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you :)

[@Shorttube147]

9:2 perfect click

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Bibek 🙂

[@LostParadiseFarEastPrimorye]

wow ...

[@Dewabarasunderan]

8:32 that’s a standard tripod feature😂

[@bibekkumar7118]

Hello sir

[@EspenHelland]

Bibek Kumar hello 🙂

[@adamsmith6594]

Skip to 2 minutes to avoid the vomit inducing walking and talking motion sickness experience.

[@richieflesfadar6893]

Just a pity its not really macro though

[@RogerZoul]

Close-up photography, not a macro lens. Even if you use extension tube to bring down the 93 cm, it is still not a good as a true 1:1 macro lens. Why can't you just say close-up photography in the title? Is something wrong with the phrase "close-up?"

[@EspenHelland]

Fair enough, guess I didn't think of it when I was naming the video.

[@darth_patzer]

lol, this big mushroom photo is not macro