Best products from r/macrophotography

So it can be a great tool in photography, for instance if you want to separate your subject from it's background. Think of perfect focus as a plane in your image where it is at it's optimal focus, in front and behind that is an area of acceptable focus. As you move closer or optically zoom in towards your subject that area of acceptable focus gets smaller and smaller. It might be something you want, or in the case of macro photography it's a challenge to work around.

As you are very close with macro photography this area can be hair thin, stopping a lot of your subject from being in any sort of focus. The only way to increase that area of acceptable focus is to turn up the f stop, As the aperture gets smaller so does your shutter speed to get a well exposed image. This either requires a tripod for still images or the better option of increasing the light, this will more often than not require an off-camera flash if you are not in bright sunlight (which will require a very steady hand.) The flash on top of you camera looks terrible but off camera flashes will turn an okay image in an outstanding one with vibrant colours and pin sharp focus. I understand htis might not be an option at the moment but hang in there and add to your kit as and when.

Now you're probably not going to get most of your subject in focus but always remember this rule - focus on the eyes. If you're focused on the eyes then the image will always look great - like in this picture.

Have a look at this book: Close-up and Macro: A Photographers Guide. I read this when I first started out and it will explain technical details in a lot more depth and far more eloquently than I can. It's a little out dated but the information and delivery is top notch - better than most I have seen. I would get the extension tubes as they will give you more versatility but your next big buy should be a dedicated macro lens. Then get an off camera flash and look at other people's home made macro flash brackets. By this point your skills will be at a point where you can make the most of your new gear. Unfortunately as you have found out trying to cut corners with kit just ends up with you spending more money.

If money is an issue then the best way to improve your images is to learn and get out there and take photos of everything, not just macro. Spend a lot of time researching images and analysing them, ask yourself why you like this picture and spend lots of time learning about composition. Always have your camera in your bag. If you're like me then try and get over that 'people are staring' phase quickly and you'll soon develop a massive lack of consideration for other people and zero concern for your safety to get that image :P

Putting a ten dollar extension tube on a 300 dollar lens on and off every day is good way to be shoppping for a new lens in six months. People say the air in between the camera and lens doesn't have a brand. That's true, but the electrical connectors do. If your electric contacts get overworn, then your lens might not focus, or expose correctly.

Another option is sell the 60 and get a used 100 mm, on a crop factor you'll be going from 90 to 150 ( effective focal length ) that'll help a lot more than extension tubes.

All that said I use a 25mm canon extension ring, and have had bad experiences with at least 3 different non canon brands

For focus stacking a 4 way thing like this

Cat 6 Ethernet Cable 50 ft (at a... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009SJ7UWU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share.

And a huge block of time and patience in post