This time I decided to compare three different camera/lens combos for (near) macro photography. The three setups used were:

1. Olympus C-7000 (7MP) at supermacro setting. 2cm minimum focusing distance, pop-up flash will not function at this setting.
2. Canon 30D with Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di at 75mm. .33 meter minimum distance, on-camera pop-up flash.
3. Canon 30D with EF 300mm f/4L IS USM w/ EF 1.4TC (420mm). 1.5 meter minimum distance, on-camera pop up flash.

I would have liked to have used better equipment (true macro lenses, ring flashes, etc), but this is all that I have at this time. The subject was a still grasshopper. Below are the original images, edited versions, and 100% crops, all resized for the web. The results proved interesting. The Olympus offered the maximum magnification, due to it's incredibly close focusing distance. However, flash is not possible with this setting and lighting is tricky given that the camera is so close. Also, there is considerable barrel distortion. The Tamron allowed relatively close focusing which provided ample, yet rather harsh, light from the camera flash. This allowed a smaller aperature for more depth of field and better overall resolution, despite the decrease in magnification. The Tamron lens casts a shadow when the flash is used in this manner, but it did not interfere with the image of the grasshopper, fortunately. The 300mm f/4L with extender provided more magnification than the Tamron, but the flash was less effective at the greater distance required, precluding further decrease in aperature, and providing less resolution than the Tamron. However, the 300mm lens image exhibits more a more diffuse backround (nicer bokeh) due to the narrower fov with this lens.