Macro lens (Sony A380)

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Can anyone recommend me a macro lens for a Sony Alpha, or any tips on what to look out for or what is best having etc would be great.

TIA
 
skd said:
Can anyone recommend me a macro lens for a Sony Alpha, or any tips on what to look out for or what is best having etc would be great.

TIA
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hi george

it would help if we knew what you intend to use it for..shooting insects etc..also your budget as this will give us a good idea of what you can get for your money,and will best advise.

having said that,i have a sigma 105 macro,which i find is a good all round macro lens..good for insects etc..and also makes a good portrait lens,it's pin saharp,as are most if not all macro lens.
 
Sigma 105mm dg ex macro. Available second hand for around £250 and new for £400. Sony do something similar but I haven't tried one.

Otherwise I think you can get the raynox macro adapters cheaply which is a good easy way of finding out whether you like macro before spending too much money.
 
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Tamron 90/2.8. Slow to AF (like most macros) but hard to beat on a "bang for buck" basis.
 
another vote for the Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX Macro- I have one and cannot fault it :thumbs:

Use manual for Macro as Auto Focus is a waste of time in my opinion


Les :thumbs:
 
I had a Sigma 105 EX (non DG) that I bought second hand. Optically excellent but it stripped the AF ring gear after about 6 months use with my A700. AFAIK the DG version is mechanically identical and I wouldn't therefore recommend a screw drive 105mm for Sony. New HSM Sigmas are more expensive than Sony. When my Sigma failed I repaired it, sold it on and bought a second hand Minolta series 1 100mm macro. Its construction is superb, it's very sharp and has the classic sought-after Minolta colours. If you can find one it'll cost about £300, maybe less.
 
The sigmas don't like the high power af motors in a700s, a850s and a900s. All of those cameras have to be set to the lower setting. On cameras without those high powered motors then they're usually ok. The sigma 70-300 is the worst one. Made of butter. Avoid.

The ancient 28-300 of Sigma/Tamron also does macro. It's nowhere near the quality of a prime macro but is passable. Can usually get those for £100-£120 so pretty cheap. Tamron is a slow focusser and some of them are built like dustbins. Also doubles up as a lazy arse lens when you have no idea what you want to take photos of :)
 
stan the man said:
it would help if we knew what you intend to use it for..shooting insects etc..also your budget as this will give us a good idea of what you can get for your money,and will best advise.
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+1
there are a no. of very decent options for Macro lenses in A-mount (& at least 1 more due in March plus a couple rumoured for later) plus other options like achromats & extension tubes.

srichards said:
The sigmas don't like the high power af motors in a700s, a850s and a900s. All of those cameras have to be set to the lower setting. On cameras without those high powered motors then they're usually ok.
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this is a fallacy as after the A100 the likes of the A200/A300/A350/A700 etc. all use the same motor.
The fast/slow setting affects the way that the AF works rather than the speed/torque of the motor - essentially in "slow" it takes more steps to confirm focus thereby taking longer.
 
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