recommendations for prime macro lens?

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oldson

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simon
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hi
i am interested in buying my first macro lens.
my shortlist is
sigma 105mm @ £380
tamron 90mm @ £ 335
tokina 100mm @ £350

anyone know the pro's and con's of each, or any other suggestions?
would have liked to buy nikkor, but cant justify the higher price!

cheers
 
oldson said:
hi
i am interested in buying my first macro lens.
my shortlist is
sigma 105mm @ £380
tamron 90mm @ £ 335
tokina 100mm @ £350

anyone know the pro's and con's of each, or any other suggestions?
would have liked to buy nikkor, but cant justify the higher price!

cheers
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Any one of those will do, not much between them. All are very sharp.
I have the Tamron 90mm and love it.
The only negative is that the lens extends as you focus to 1:1, but I think all the ones you mention do that, only the nikkor 105VR focuses internally.
 
jomike said:
Any one of those will do, not much between them. All are very sharp.
I have the Tamron 90mm and love it.
The only negative is that the lens extends as you focus to 1:1, but I think all the ones you mention do that, only the nikkor 105VR focuses internally.
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thanks for the reply.
does the extending of the lens cause a problem?
 
oldson said:
thanks for the reply.
does the extending of the lens cause a problem?
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It cuts down on your working distance (distance beween end of lens and subject) a bit. with the Tamron focused at 1:1 (maximum extension) you have about 7inches between the end of the lens and the subject, The Sigma 105 will give you an extra inch or so.
 
Well, I wouldn't say squished bug, but you could scare it off.

BTW, I got my Tamron 90mm macro from Onestop Digital, very good service, and know loads of other people who say the same. Although they are Hong Kong based, they promise to refund any import duties if you get charged and I have heard of people that got charged and had their charges refunded.
 
The longer the better in my opinion, have a look at the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 and Canon 100mm f/2.8 (a fantastic and razor-sharp lens apparently), or if you can stretch that far, a Sigma 180mm or Canon 180mm. I've got the Sigma 180mm and absolutely love it!

Joe
 
Wildlight said:
The longer the better in my opinion, have a look at the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 and Canon 100mm f/2.8 (a fantastic and razor-sharp lens apparently), or if you can stretch that far, a Sigma 180mm or Canon 180mm. I've got the Sigma 180mm and absolutely love it!

Joe
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The OP has a Nikon D90, so Canon lenses won't fit. Also he states that a Nikon lens (105 VR?) is beyond his means, so all the longer and more expensive macro lenses will be as well.

Apart from that, although you get more working distance, the longer lenses are more difficult to hand hold at 1:1 especially the 180mm. The 90-105mm range are relatively easier to handhold although it still takes practise to get sharp shots at 1:1 handheld. The 60mm range is even easier to handhold, but the working distance is impractical for insects. The 90 - 105 range is the best compromise, therefore is recommended for beginners.
 
I can highly recommend the Sigma 105. The extended lens has never caused me any problems. A VERY sharp prime lens for portraits too.
 
Nikon make a 105 without VR, probably discontinued but it'll be around about budget I would think.
I find the Sigmas 105 & 50 a bit wibbly/fragile, the Tamron ain't no tank either, dunno about the Tokina.
 
joxby said:
Nikon make a 105 without VR, probably discontinued but it'll be around about budget I would think.
I find the Sigmas 105 & 50 a bit wibbly/fragile, the Tamron ain't no tank either, dunno about the Tokina.
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My sigma is built like a tank. I have a nikon 70-200 and that is quality but my sigma aint that shabby either!
 
You have a sigma 105 or 50 that's built like a tank..???

I must have missed the tank version then, the 150 and 180 Sigmas are much tougher..
 
There is a Sigma 105 selling on the forum right now. Take a look.
 
Ooops, I didn't read it properly! :-(
So, okay, you're using Nikon... that Canon lens I was on about won't fit your camera (Duh! Stupid me!) and the longer focal lengths are probably out of your budget (though I did get my Sigma 180mm for £295!)... so I reckon you should go for the Sigma 105mm or Tamron 90mm which is a lens a friend of mine uses and she gets some stunning shots with it!

Sorry for my silly previous post!

Joe
 
I was looking at the Sigma 105mm and the Tamron 90mm. After reading lots of reviews I went with the Tamron and am very happy with my decision :)
 
If you are willing to buy used then you may be able to get a Sigma 150mm Macro still within yout budget. It's a damn fine lens!
 
thanks for all the replies !
seems i wont go wrong with any of them.
as mentioned above, i would buy a used sigma 150, if it was in my budget.
will search used market for a few weeks before choosing one of the others.
cheers
simon
 
famas said:
i have the tokina, i rate it highly, nice and sharp and build quality is very good.
have a look on my flickr for some macro shots with it.
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off subject now.
took a peak at your shots. stunning!
am especially interested in the shots of the fish. i have a marine set-up and have tried, in vain, to get decent shots of my fish.
which lens/filter(if any) did you use for those shots?
many thanks
simon
 
I have used both the Sigma 105 and Tamron 90 and would recommend either. I ended up buying the Tamron since one came up locally second hand first.
 
Hi you mentioned about getting the 150 Sigma instead I've had mine for about a year brilliant lens faster focus than the 105 but harder to handhold.
It depends on what you want to shoot I started with the 105 and then got the 150 for more reach with insects
 
Kerso, a dealer from Scotland, who advertises on this forum has a Canon 100mm f2.8 at £385 (last price list I saw).

John
 
The AF on the 105is quite slow and noisy. If you are using it for Macro I shouldn't worry. 99.9% of the time you will be using Manual Focus.
 
off subject now.
took a peak at your shots. stunning!
am especially interested in the shots of the fish. i have a marine set-up and have tried, in vain, to get decent shots of my fish.
which lens/filter(if any) did you use for those shots?
many thanks
simon
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thanks for the kind comment. All of the aquarium shots bar 3 were taken with the tokina 100mm, no filter used. All shot with flash.
best to do it at night with the lights in the room off but keep the tank lights on. try not to point the flash directly at teh fish, i used mine off camera.
 
They do, the 180L.

It's a bit good, costs a few quids too. :lol:

if you need the best macro made for an EOS camera, it's the one to have. In terms of bang for buck it's a mile off the tammy 90 or siggy 105.
 
Interested in your comments re the 180L, but it is over 3 times the price that Oldson has in mind.

John
 
Viking said:
Interested in your comments re the 180L, but it is over 3 times the price that Oldson has in mind.

John
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As an aside to this thread for a nikon fit of course. It's exactly as you say. if you really need that extra quality then it is a great lens but it's not 3 or 4 times as good as the ones mentioned in this thread.
 
dazzajl said:
They do, the 180L.

It's a bit good, costs a few quids too. :lol:

if you need the best macro made for an EOS camera, it's the one to have. In terms of bang for buck it's a mile off the tammy 90 or siggy 105.
Click to expand...

Surely you mean the MP-E65 ;)
 
thanks everyone for the replies.
have done a lot of reading on the 3 lenses i first mentioned.

problem is i have also read up on the nikon 105mm and sigma 150mm and have been thinking, maybe up the budget for one of them? (the sigma being favouite, at this moment!)
considering i am a complete novice would this be a daft move? and would i be better off sticking with one of the cheaper options, and maybe spending the difference on something else.
trouble is, i know what i am like. if i get the "cheaper/ sensible" option i will be constantly wondering / wanting to upgrade.
maybe i just answered my own question, but opinions would be appreciated!
cheers
 
Have you looked at sigma 70mm f2.8? while newer and less tested then the other models it is apparently very good and would be excelent lengths for portraits (I mean better than the rest).
 
Save your cash and get a Tamron Adaptall-2 f/2.5 90mm.
 
gonna try and get the 150mm sigma 2nd hand . if no joy, will probably go for the 105.
 
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