Fast focus 100mm+ Macro lens ?

[iwatkins]

Hi All,

I have the Sigma 105mm macro lens which I think gives excellent results.

However, most of my macro shots in the past have been with static subjects, i.e. still life work, tripod mounted, lighting, cable release etc.

However, I was trying to capture some bees feeding on a cotoneaster in the garden yesterday and came up upon the weakness of this lens, it's focusing speed. It was just too slow to keep up with me hand holding (plenty of available light).

Does anyone have experience going from the Sigma 105mm to the Canon 100mm (or similar). I need advice on a 100mm+ macro lens that focuses at lightning speeds (within reason obviously).

Thanks in advance

Ian

[JoeTampa]

Canon 100mm on 10D with AI focus - awesome.

[DaveG]

Hi All,

I have the Sigma 105mm macro lens which I think gives excellent results.

However, most of my macro shots in the past have been with static subjects, i.e. still life work, tripod mounted, lighting, cable release etc.

However, I was trying to capture some bees feeding on a cotoneaster in the garden yesterday and came up upon the weakness of this lens, it's focusing speed. It was just too slow to keep up with me hand holding (plenty of available light).

Does anyone have experience going from the Sigma 105mm to the Canon 100mm (or similar). I need advice on a 100mm+ macro lens that focuses at lightning speeds (within reason obviously).

Thanks in advance

Ian

I've got the older Canon 100 f2.8 macro that's non USM. So the focus is very slow. But the manual focus is very fast.
In a macro situation, I don't see how effective AF is likely to be. The camera really doesn't know what you want to focus on, the bee or the flower and it's going to hunt something fierce. This is one of those situations where manual focus is going to be more precise and probably faster than AF.

I'd also try to figure out a way to use a tripod or at least a monopod for doing this shot. You still need stability and as much depth of field as you can steal from shutterspeed.

[Scottes]

Yes, this is my biggest complaint about the Sigma 105mm. Otherwise it's a great lens.

If you can get used to the manual focus it is pretty nice. The manual focus mechanism is quite nice, really.