Macro lens

[JZaun]

I just received my 10D. I currently have a canon 24-85mm UMC lens . I would like to have a good macro. My last camera had a 28-200 zoom with macro and it worked ok but I wonder if there is a better way. How about a 50mm w/macro. I am sure you guys have experience with what I need. Any help would be appreciated. I like macro of flowers if that makes any difference.

Thanks a bunch

JZaun

[DaveG]

I just received my 10D. I currently have a canon 24-85mm UMC lens . I would like to have a good macro. My last camera had a 28-200 zoom with macro and it worked ok but I wonder if there is a better way. How about a 50mm w/macro. I am sure you guys have experience with what I need. Any help would be appreciated. I like macro of flowers if that makes any difference.

Thanks a bunch

JZaun

The 50 mm macro lens would effectively be an 80 mm lens and that's not a bad focal length for macro work.

But there's a couple of things to consider. First the 50 is a 2.8, not terribly slow - especially in comparison to your f3.5-4.5 24-85 - but it is slow for a lens of this focal length.

More of a concern is that the 50 will only do 1:2 without an extension tube. When you have an extension tube aboard (to get 1:1) you will have lost your ability to focus at infinity; and that can be a pain in the butt. Canon has a very special extension tube for this lens that has glass elements, which makes it more like a convertor than a tube. I suspect, but don't know, that this gives you a 1:1 capability, while still maintaining infinity focus. Be prepared though since the 50 + this special extension tube are expensive. Canon does have the regular tube tubes (so to speak) but you will lose your infinity focus with that type of tube for sure.

Which brings us to the 100 mm f2.8 macro, which is about the same price as the 50 mm macro with the fancy tube. The 100 will do 1:1 without any extension tube, and f2.8 is more acceptable in a general use lens of this focal length. At effectively 160 mm you'll be a ble to use it for sports and such, and it's a stop and a half faster than the 24-85.

I have a 100 macro (the older non USM version) and it's been great. I was worried at first at whether a lens this long (160 mm) would be useful for macro work. My previous experience with a macro lens was a 55 mm Nikkor macro, so the camera to subject distance would be greatly increased with the 100. But in the field it has proven to be wonderful. I can set up a fair distance away from my subject and have tons of room for setting up reflectors to push a little light back into a darkish grape bunch. The long focal length adds a nicer perspective as well.

If I have a problem with a macro lens of this focal length it's that copying book size, two dimensional objects (er, like books) would be very difficult on a conventional copy stand. Luckily this kind of copying is pretty much a thing of the past. I suspect that vertually everyone reading this has a flatbed scanner - I do - and that's what I'd use for that kind of copying.

[JZaun]

Dave thanks for the input. I am now leaning toward the 100 mm. I Guess I just need to go to the camera store and get my hands on them. I hta thought of the 50mm for the small size but as you said I will be limited in use. the 100 mm would be a great tele also. I have too much to learn and not enough time! ha

Thanks a bunch
JZaun

[Scottes]

I like macro of flowers if that makes any difference.

If you're doing flowers do you really need 1:1? 1:3 will easily allow you to fill the frame with most flowers. Just something to think about.

Also take a look at the Sigma 105mm macro. I have it and it's quite nice. I've also seen many people raving about the Tokina 90mm macro - said to beat Canon in image quality and it's much cheaper.

[Tapeman]

I have the Canon 50 2.5 macro. I like because it is sharp and small.
It has a 1:2 ratio witch is good for most of what I do. I also have Canon's Life-size converter. It can only be usde with the afore mentioned lense.It does have glass in it and together the apature is f3.2 This gets you to a 1:1 ratio. It will not focus focus at infiity with the adapter attached.