Suggestions for a macro lens... TOG with no macro experiance!!!

captures.in.time

captures.in.time

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Hi all

I feel adding a macro lens to my collection would be a worthwhile addition.... Im thinking mainly for having some fun in the house on the cold winter nights?

I have had no experiance of macro photography and only once even looked at the lenses canon do... so yeh I know I should prob do more research on my own... but hey how... I'm just going to ask on here anyway!

What are peoples suggestions of a lens and what focal length would be best... I noticed they do a 50mm one... and i've been thinking of a nifty 50 as well... only ever looked on ebay for one so far... would the 50mm macro combine these two needs?

Or is a 65mm better? or indeed see they do I think one at about 105mm...

Really just looking for some basic guidance.... I want to try some water drop pics... some still life etc etc...

Thanks for reading and any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

M
 
How much money do you want to spend Mark? There are some big differences in prices as well as some ways to do macro 'on the cheap' that do not require a dedicated macro lens.

Give us a budget and we'll spend your money for you!!
 
swag72 said:
How much money do you want to spend Mark? There are some big differences in prices as well as some ways to do macro 'on the cheap' that do not require a dedicated macro lens.

Give us a budget and we'll spend your money for you!!
Click to expand...

I guess i'd like to spend no more than £400 max... but then that would go on a card... and if I could then look for an ebay bargain based on a £400 shop price I might do that... so lets say £400!
 
I'd rather have a proper lens than do things on the cheap! I kinda think if you pay peanuts you end up with monkeys!
 
Have a look here for prices of the meacro lens. £400 would almost get you a 100/2.8 Canon, which is a very well regarded macro lens or for £330 you could get the Sigma 105/2.8, another very well regarded macro lens.

What do you want to take pics of? If you are looking at bugs then the extra focal length will be good as you don't need to get up so close. If bugs aren't your thing then get a shorter EF-S 60/2.8Canon for less than £300. Came up as a best macro lens buy in the digital mag a couple of months ago. If you're on a crop sensor that is.

Hope that helps.
 
IMO your best bet would be the 100/2.8 USM Macro; just about affordable on your budget and a very well regarded bit of glass.

The Canon 50/2.5 macro is a good lens but getting on a bit and needs an additional adaptor to give 1:1 reproduction. It's also slower than the 50/1.8, which is something you might want to consider when not using it for macro.

The MPE-65 is a very specialised bit of kit (maginfication up to 5:1) and a bit outside your price range.

If you wanted to do it on the cheap a 50/1.8 and a set of Kenko tubes from HK is always a good bet ;)
 
God I remember tubes... my grandad had a set for his old K1000! I remeber them being a bit of a hassle to be honest... changing them constantly!

I would want to take still life stuff in the house on wet days... or water drops... etc etc... I guess being fast is something id need for that... erm not sure what else... any suggestions?

I dont think i'd go for bugs! plants yes but not bugs... well apart from maybe the odd bee and id love to try a dragon fly... but bugs would be rare...

I should say I have an EOS5d! so im full frame!
 
Mark,

I'd go with a EF100/2.8 or Sigma 105 as good options to cut your teeth. There's nothing to choose between them (except the price)

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
Mark,

I'd go with a EF100/2.8 or Sigma 105 as good options to cut your teeth. There's nothing to choose between them (except the price)

Bob
Click to expand...

I beg to differ Bob... I've used both and the Canon build is far superior. The internal focusing is a godsend after the number of times you have to clean bug slime off the Sigma lens after squashing your subject by focusing too close.

Canon-Sigma-Tamron-Macro-Lens-Extended-Comparison.jpg


Left to right: Sigma 105mm, Tamron 90mm, Canon 100mm

IQ is very close, but there is a noticable difference wide open.

For £400, Canon 100mm 2.8 every time. Makes a cracking portrait lens to boot :thumbs:
 
neo2810 said:
I beg to differ Bob... I've used both and the Canon build is far superior. The internal focusing is a godsend after the number of times you have to clean bug slime off the Sigma lens after squashing your subject by focusing too close.
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Opinions will always differ...that's what keeps things colourful. I have to say that I've never managed to knowingly squash any of my subjects but maybe after using the MP-E65, 100/105 seems like things are a long way off.
I'm sure there'll be fans of both lenses who happily extol the virtues of each. I'm pretty much on the fence...I've got both lenses and haven't got a real preference.

Bob

Bob
 
I know this will sound a silly question but whats the best focal length for general type stuff... im thinking something about 65mm would be ideal really.

Are sigma and Canon really my only two quality options?

Mark
 
Can't comment on Canon lenses, but I've got both the 50mm and 105mm Sigmas and I've been impressed with both of them :thumbs:
 
markelliot said:
I know this will sound a silly question but whats the best focal length for general type stuff... im thinking something about 65mm would be ideal really.

Are sigma and Canon really my only two quality options?

Mark
Click to expand...

I think 90-100-105 is a good do-all FL for macro.....Tokina make a good 90mm macro but I haven't personally tried one.

Bob
 
I'd say bugs, you want something like a 200/4 Nikon or whatever lens in that sort of length is available in your chosen system. Flowers, the best lens, no doubt about it, is a 70-180 Nikon, but any of the 100-ish macros will work. Stamps, watches etc, then you probably want a 50-60ish macro lens and a copy stand or similar.
 
The Tamron 90mm faired quite well in the magazine reviews around when I got mine 2 years ago. Pretty happy with it. Have just got the MP-E 65mm but haven't had a chance to use it yet.
 
For your budget I would say the Canon 100 2.8 macro, a top piece of glass. As said above the internal focusing is a huge benefit over the sigma 105 IMHO.

I was surprised at the prices everyone is quoting I paid £295.00 for mine last year, I did not realize how much they had gone up :eek:
 
I've got the 100mm f/2.8, and it's awesome! I paid £230 second hand, prices are going crazy! I went for it over the sigma mainly for the internal focussing, and ease to switch between manual and auto (it seems a bit fiddly on the sigma!). Just my opinion!

Chris
 
I have the Canon EF100/2.8 , very sharp lens and great for macro, recommend it !
 
When you use a macro lens the magnification of the image is controlled by the focus point of the lens ( how far away from the subject you are) with a 60mm lens 1:1 (maximum magnification) is achieved at @20cm from the subject (may be difficult to get this close to a live live subject) and a 105mm lens will give 1:1 at @31cm. Personally i always use manual focus when shooting macro and move the camera to focus the subject (as auto focus will alter the magnification and i'm better at focusing than the camera) so internal focusing makes no difference what so ever unless you are going to use a lens mounted macro flash unit, Internal focus put less stress on the lens barrel / focusing system but again using manual focus helps negate this. Personally i'd start with the Sigma 105m and the money saved will allow you to start a macro flash fund or Kenko extension tube fund if you find yourself getting into macro :). Also keep an eye on the forum for a used example then if you don't like macro you could probably resell the lens for little loss.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Also keep an eye on the forum for a used example then if you don't like macro you could probably resell the lens for little loss.
Click to expand...

:agree: I've just this week picked up a Sigma 105mm for £200 from another member here, they are going for £389.00 at Jessops. The eventual aim is to end up with the MP-E65 but taking this route I get the chance to play around with macro and make sure I'm suited to it before splashing out £700 ish for the lens and £400 ish for the flash.
 
I guess im so used to having zooms... im paranoid about getting the right focal length to suit my needs... I guess my gut feeling is something about 60mm would be right for me... but with all these 100mm recomendations im bewildered... but you lot have done it so you know!

I seen from the post above a flash is also a requirement... something I have in the way of a small EX220 Canon speedlight... is this adequate? Flash photography is again something I rarely do Im an outdoor type tog really!

M
 
I recently got the 100m from a member on here, it's a cracking lens, critically sharp and very light.
 
Sorry to bump the post... but never really got a response on my flash/ and the need for one in macro photography... just interested...

Oh and what are peoples focal length ideas!

Mark
 
I have the 100mm f2.8 USM and a MT14-EX flash ring. Used the macro loads outside and the pictures are really sharp for both close up and at distance (was awsome at Kew Gardens, didnt take it off all day!). Have not used it so much with the flash but when I did I thought it worked really well. also likned up my 430EX but that provided too much light. Think I was running before walking!!

I did look at the 60mm and the 50mm but thought you just have to get far too close to the subject and as I also like taking pictures of bugs in the garden I thought the 100mm has a much better working distance.


Worth the note that if you have the USM 100mm then you cannot attach a filter and the flash but there is a work around by getting a Canon 58C filter which is actually just a 58mm ring flash mount bit that goes into your filter which is normally sold for non macro lenses and then you can have filter and ring flash (I am paranoid about scratching it!).

Got my lens from www.mpbphotographic.co.uk for about £80 under what you want to pay and if you look at the "Canon Outlet" on ebay (canons official refurb seller) they have a 100mm USM up there at the moment :)
 
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