I had this lens when I shot Canon. It’s just over your $1000 limit. Maybe you can find a used one. It’s probably the best you’ll get for doing trichs. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/183199-USA/Canon_2540A002_Macro_Photo_MP_E_65mm.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=CjwKCAjw2ZaGBhBoEiwA8pfP_iiLSD_cv321C9wcnzaf4ZCFFcXMZaDCzCwRZYi5q0_t3xZYSaCoYBoCZAAQAvD_BwE
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I have an older Canon T3i. When I got it I was mostly taking pictures of animals around the farm or concerts. I picked up lenses for those purposes and never snagged a macro. Now you’ve got me thinking I should get one!
I’ve got a 17-55mm f2.8 and a 70-200mm f4 for zooms. My sharpest lens is a 135mm f2.0 prime, plus I have the thrifty fifty, and a 40mm pancake.
I haven’t been using the camera much during the pandemic since I wasn’t going anywhere. Fortunately I dusted off the rig last week to shoot a live music performance. It was a corporate gig, outdoors, in the muggy afternoon heat, but it was fun to shoot again.
Edit to add a pic from the show. The artist is Halle Kearns, an up and coming singer-songwriter based in Nashville.
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That’s awesome! What better way to document the events in your life than with pictures. It looks like you have a very decent collection of lenses @BarefootAndBlazed a good macro lense would definitely open up a whole new world of photography.
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I actually started with the hobby of making audio recordings of live music performances, which led me to photography. After a while, I figured that it could be fun during the show, after the audio rig was dialed in, to wander around taking pictures. You can see my rig (two stereo pair which run into a 4-channel recorder and are later mixed together) at the stage lip in this shot:
When I think back on all the concerts I’ve attended… well, I don’t have to think hard because I can revisit the experience with audio and photos to help fill in the gaps of my memories!
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Weird. Never been a country fan. Suddenly really interested in Halle Kearns.
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Look into macro tubes for closeups. I picked up a set at a flea market for my old 35mm Canon AE-1s and haven’t got around to even trying them yet. They are basically hollow lens extensions you put between the lens and body. Still can use the auto functions tho there aren’t a lot of them with these almost 50 yo darlings. I keep forgeting to pick up some 100ASA film if our local drugstore even has it. Probably just 400 but I want something with a tighter grain. I used to have my own darkroom and could print pics up to poster size. That was 45 years and another life ago. 
You can use them with a standard 50mm lens or whatever you have. At least you can just delete the shots that don’t turn out and not have to wait 2 weeks and pay a bunch of cash to see how they turned out.
Fist thing I’d do if I win the lotto is walk into a camera store and make somebody’s year. Tackle shop next.
Here’s what I’m talking about and with the money you save you can get other gear like a sturdy tripod which is indispensable for closeups or long shots with a telephoto lens.
PS: Check to see if the camera you buy has a manual white balance feature so you can calibrate it to take normal photos under any grow light. My little Nikon CoolPix L32 20.1mp digi cam has that.
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I bought a set of extension tubes for my Fuji camera. I haven’t done much with them yet, but they seem to work really well. The camera has a focus stack feature I’m going to try out sometime. The depth of field for macro shots is so shallow, I think the focus stacking will be a great thing.
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I just purchased a set of extension rings for my camera to play with until I decide on which macro lense I will get. I might even be able to combine them together.
I’m more of a portrait guy than a macro or landscape photographer. I love shooting bands and doing character portraits. Cosplay, pinup etc.
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Macro is just something I’ve never done before. Portrait is my thing. And looking at the trichome shots here on the OG just got me inspired to explore macro.
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First, I was looking at the cameras that would do the auto focus stacking but didn’t find any under 2 grand… so they are outside my budget… 
I’m beginning to think that I need to start by selecting the macro lens and then pick the body to go with that. Of course, I don’t have a clue… 
Cheers
G
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Look around for used gear. Camera stores and camera depts in places like Shoppers Drug Mart often have used stuff at decent prices and offer at least some kind of warranty.
I got my Canon AE-1 at a Shoppers then a year later my sister gave me dad’s so I ended up with two. Have a few more lens and some filters tucked away in the camera backpack I keep that stuff in.
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That’s awesome.
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That’s the same phone I have. Lol
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I haven’t tried this but I’m considering it. If you have an iPhoine — APEXEL Professional Macro Lens for Smartphone HD Macro Lens Smartphone Compatible with iPhone, Pixels, Samsung Galaxy, Huawei, Xiaomi and Most Mobile Phones: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo
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