Canon macro lens....

[specialman]

Just putting together work budgets for kit - need advice in the above.

I don't need true 1:1macro, just the ability to get in close in thing like baited hooks and rig components. We have some 100mm macros but the working distance ain't great so thinking 60mm ef-s but noticed there's also a 50mm macro.... any good? What other options are there with a close working distance?

 

[MatBin]

Just putting together work budgets for kit - need advice in the above.

I don't need true 1:1macro, just the ability to get in close in thing like baited hooks and rig components. We have some 100mm macros but the working distance ain't great so thinking 60mm ef-s but noticed there's also a 50mm macro.... any good? What other options are there with a close working distance?

Supplementary lenses, extension tubes, reversing rings, close focusing "normal" lenses, all depends on what you want/can afford. Are you saying a macro lens takes you in too close when you fill the frame? If so tubes might be your answer.

Matt

 

[squishy]

The canon 50mm is 1:2 (there is a "life size converter" available for it, which I think is just a matched extension tube of precisely the right length), and I've heard it's image quality is very good, so that could be perfect as a lower budget option.

If you want really close working distances though, there is the tokina 35mm macro. Might be easier to work with because it can double as a standard lens for slightly larger stuff as well?

 

[specialman]

Supplementary lenses, extension tubes, reversing rings, close focusing "normal" lenses, all depends on what you want/can afford. Are you saying a macro lens takes you in too close when you fill the frame? If so tubes might be your answer.

Matt

The 100mm puts you too far away so handheld there's all sorts of things like shake and narrow DOF to consider. The guys using the lenses aren't full-on togs. I use 60mm on my Nikon gear and its perfect but not being up in Canon, I'm not really sure if what's out there. Also, extension tubes are too much of a faff for the journalists I'm buying for - they want quick and easy.

The canon 50mm is 1:2 (there is a "life size converter" available for it, which I think is just a matched extension tube of precisely the right length), and I've heard it's image quality is very good, so that could be perfect as a lower budget option.

If you want really close working distances though, there is the tokina 35mm macro. Might be easier to work with because it can double as a standard lens for slightly larger stuff as well?

That's a good shout on the Tokina. One of the main problems we have is we're limited on space to shoot because often were in enclosed swims. Shall look into that

 

[HoppyUK]

Just putting together work budgets for kit - need advice in the above.

I don't need true 1:1macro, just the ability to get in close in thing like baited hooks and rig components. We have some 100mm macros but the working distance ain't great so thinking 60mm ef-s but noticed there's also a 50mm macro.... any good? What other options are there with a close working distance?

I'm a bit confused as to why you want to get physically closer? You're not confusing distance with magnification are you? Things like shake and DoF etc are the same at a given magnification.

Edit: but the obvious answer to the question as put is the EF-S 60mm - fab little lens. The Canon 50mm macro uses a dedicated extender to get down to 1:1, which I believe is petty much a 1.4x telecon.

 

[specialman]

As above Hoppy - often were shooting right over someones shoulder and the 100mm is just too tight on crop format and they're often at the lens' minimum focus... with a wider/shorter lens there's a bit more room for shooting with a bit more space around the subject and cropping in in PP. The shots are generally printed no bigger than 5x5cm.

 

[flashp]

The 60mm EFS Canon lens has good performance and is good value for money.

 

[woof woof]

The Canon 50mm f2.5 is indeed a very nice thing even if not a true macro and it makes a nice general purpose lens too

Could always take a look at a close focusing zoom like the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8, that'll focus at 27cm, whilst the Siggy 17-70mm will focus at 22cm, closer than the 50mm f2.5 which will focus at 23cm.