Which lens can be a replacement of 100mm Macro?

[Yan]

I have been taking with film with Elan 7NE and my favorite lens was Canon 100mm 2.8F Macro, I loved its Macroness (??) and focal distance.
And I have got 20D and move onto DSLR, then because of its crop factor, focal length of 100 macro (equivalent to 160mm in 35mm) became way too long.. I thought I will get used to it, but no luck so far.
So now I am thinking of something which can replace 100mm macro on my 20D.. Any Suggestions?? I heard 50mm macro isn't a great lens.. and Canon does not have any macro lens inbetween.

How is Tamron 28-75mm 2.8F as a macro lens??

How does Extension Tube work? does it worth trying?? does it change focal length?

thanks in advance for any input!!

[timmyquest]

I cant speak for the lenses you use but i can tell you what extention tubes do.

They do not change the focal length, they do not change the f/stop, they do not change optic quality. All they do is change the focus distance. They allow you to focus on a subject at a far closer distance then before.

I need to get aorund to buying a set :roll:

[cmM]

there's a sigma 105mm macro out there

[hipshot]

Just curious, what do you shoot that the 100mm is too long for?

[Yan]

Oh well.. I take picture of antique cups and sancers and if I wanna take it from right above, I need to get high high up. I guess I just need to walk around with two lens but.. well my point might be that 100 macro cannot be a walk around lens for me anymore.. it used be a just right focal length for me to walk around with and take some macro photo as well as normal shots.. So I guess what I am looking for is more less a lens which can take macro and the focal length of around 50-80mm.

sorry if I do not know what I am talking about but I am still new to the photography so :P

[aam1234]

Never heard anything bad about the 50 macro.

[hipshot]

im new too :wink:
i'm planning on getting this lens for mainly for insects and flowers
i can see how overhead would be near impossible though.

[Yan]

ya and I am short too :lol:

[ron chappel]

:lol:

Yes you have abit of a dilemma,no one makes prime macro lenses in the range you really want.The only options are:

Tamron 90mm macro (probably nowhere near short enough)

Any 50mm macro .
I'm not sure if any brands go to 1:1 ratio like the 100mm types do so that could be an issue(most focus to 1:2 ratio..?).
I've never heard of them being 'bad' in any way though!
Maybe not quite in the class of the awsome canon 100 macro,but very close!
In any case,all 50 macro lenses (canon,tamron,sigma) should easily outperform the tamron 28-75 (as good as it is)....AND they would focus closer.
You can add close up lenses to any of these to focus closer but it's best quality wise to do without.

As far as i can recall these would be your best choices-either a 50 macro ot the tamron zoom.
There will be specs online somewhere that say how much magnification the tamron gives without closeup lenses

[eastcoast909]

Just had a quick look. The Sigma Macro 50mm F2.8 EX DG

is capable of 1:1, rated 4.2 on photodo.com.

[ron chappel]

The sigma 50 macro seems to be a geuinely great lens from various things i've heard-here is a review of several macro lenses,including the sigma 50

http://www.orchideen-kartierung.de/Macro100E.html

[WestFalcon]

The Sigma macro is a great lens and not that expensive....go for it.