Lens Help, Please

[Ags]

Typical newbie question, I know but would appreciate some advice before I take the plunge.
I am intending to purchase two new lenses one wide angle and one for macro shots.
I have a Canon EOS 500D and would appreciate advice on whether these two lenses will be suitable and compatible with my camera.
Sigma 10-20 mm f4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens and
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro.
Alternatively, if you feel that there are better, comparably priced lenses within £50-£100 I should consider please advise.
Awaiting your responses

 

[TCR4x4]

Both those lenses will work fine. You might want to look at a different macro lens, depending on the sort of macro you want to do. If its just flowers, then the 50mm will be ok, but if you want to shoot bugs and insects, you might want to look at a macro in the 100/105mm range as it gives you a little more distance from the subject, but still gives you true 1:1 Macro.
The sigma 105mm is a great starter macro lens.

 

[HoppyUK]

Your budget is the problem

Assuming you have an 18-55 kit zoom, then you might well get the macro results you want with a Raynox DCR-250 (for small bugs) or DCR-150 (flowers/butterflies) macro adapter. It's one of the few real optical bargains about.

See what it can do here http://www.flickr.com/groups/raynoxdcr250/ £40 from Amazon.

 

[RobertP]

Your budget is the problem

I read the budget as being within 50-100 of the price of the lenses listed.

I don't do macro now but I chose a 150mm macro lens as it gives you more distance between you and the subject.

 

[Ags]

Yes you are correct, meant to read as within £50-£100 of the guide price for the two cameras listed

 

[HoppyUK]

Sorry, misread the OP.

I still say look at a Raynox. It works a lot better than you might think for the price and many folks get one to have a go at macro and find it does all they need. Check out that Flickr link.

Alternatively, one of my favourite lenses used to be the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro. Lovely little thing, nicely made, and for sure one of the sharpest lenses Canon has ever made. And because of the way many macros focus internally, it has a similar working distance to some 90mm macros - £350-ish.

Having said that, I don't know of one poor macro lens out there. They're not hard to make optically and are generally amongst the sharpest lenses you can get. If you're serious about macro, you'll need to look at flash, preferably ringflash (eg Marumi is good value £120).