Macro Lenses

Mandoo

Mandoo

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I'm looking for a lens to use for macro stuff, primarily bugs and butterflies, etc, but not really sure where to start looking.
My camera is a 350D and the only lenses I have at the moment are the 18-55 kit lens and a 28-90 from my old 35mm camera. I've got a 50mm F/1.8 on its way as well.
So what type of lens should I be looking at for this job and what sort of money should I be expecting to pay?
 
If you want a true macro lens, the the budget options are the Tamron 90mm, sigma 105mm and I think Cosina or Tokina do one too. Expect to pay up to £250 second hand.

The best of the bunch is the Canon 100mm and the 100mm f/2.8L IS. Expect £400 upwards for those.

You may find getting an adapter to reverse your 50mm lens does all you need it to and save you a shed load of money, or maybe even a raynox adapter for £40. Also you can get extension tubes which basicly extend your lens from the camera, thus making the magnification bigger. You loose autofocus and metering this way though if you dont buy the more expensive auto tubes.
There are many options, its down to your budget and commitment really.
 
Well for one day only you can buy my 60mm Canon Macro :D HAha

In all seriousness it depends what you want to shoot
 
Oh yeah, and the 60's forgot about them..
Canon do a 60, I think Sigma do aswell.
Maybe not so good for bugs though as you have to get pretty close to fill the frame.
 
I'd go for a longish lens as long increases your working distance and reduces the chance of you scaring the creepy crawlies away.

I have a Siggy 150mm f2.8 that I love, but for me it's flower shots and I use a rolled up newspaper for the creepy crawlies.

There's a 105mm at ffordes for £179.
 
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It would primarily be creepy crawlies that I would use it for, but I'm not totally ruling out flowers and plants as well. I've never done any macro stuff before but since getting the DSLR I've had an urge to try it out (along with buy every lens and accessory I see, but that's another story! :lol:).

So primarily I need to look for something of fixed focal length and with bugs I'd need something a little longer so I don't scare them away?
 
They're not easily scared but I think a regular Macro will suit you fine as oppose to something like the MPE65 that requires crazy time and effort but rewards you with the results. Its not what I would call walkabout.
 
It's not just that you can scare them away, I find that with a shorter lens and having to get closer there's the chance of blocking light and you can obviouly avoid that by standing futher back.
 
Yeah, something walkabout would be good. I don't want to have to steal a shopping trolley to carry it around in! :D
And in some places the light may not be the best anyway so that's an extra thing to think about.
 
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Mandoo said:
Yeah, something walkabout would be good. I don't want to have to steal a shopping trolley to carry it around in! :D
And in some places the light may not be the best anyway so that's an extra thing to think about.
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Maglite, works every time ;)
 
Simple, but effective I suspect.

I've just noticed that there is a beginners guide to macro on the site so I'm going to pop off and have a read of that. Hopefully it'll help me work out where I want to go with this.
 
Its what I used to light the shot of the 60D badge in my 52. It is the one under my username ;) Spot on (IMO)
 
Having had a look around it seems that the Raynox DCR-250 adapter can be picked up for around £40, but I'm not sure I properly understand what it does.
Am I right in thinking that it fixes onto the front of a lens and changes the magnification to make it the equivalent of a macro lens? Is it as simple as that, or am I getting it wrong?
 
Pretty much. The Raynox DCR 250 is a very good cheap option. There's a big thread of pics taken with them somewhere on here.

Extension tubes are another good way to get started.
 
Mandoo said:
Having had a look around it seems that the Raynox DCR-250 adapter can be picked up for around £40, but I'm not sure I properly understand what it does.
Am I right in thinking that it fixes onto the front of a lens and changes the magnification to make it the equivalent of a macro lens? Is it as simple as that, or am I getting it wrong?
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Yup. It just screws onto the front of a lens like a filter. Dunno if this will make true macro as true macro is normally considered 1:1 or more.

I have a cheapo set of these screw on jubbies and they're ok but nowhere near the quality of a true macro lens.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I'll grab one next week when I get back from holiday as it seems to be a good place to start as a beginner to macro.
If I get on well with it and decide to do more macro work in the long run then I'll invest in a standalone lens, but for the time being the Raynox should suit my needs.
 
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