Macro Lens?

[taquintana07]

Hey guys i wanna start taking some pics of bugs and flowers and my kit lens isnt doing the job. Any suggestions on a decent macro lens?

[rang]

Hey guys i wanna start taking some pics of bugs and flowers and my kit lens isnt doing the job. Any suggestions on a decent macro lens?

1) Really inexpensive try a reverse mount adaptor for your kit lens ~ $16-25 USD.

2) Kenko extension tube set (12,20,36mm) will work with any lens.

3) True Macro lens...try the Tamron 90 f/2.8 macro (also great portrait lens)

4) Really expensive BUT killer macro lens...Canon MPE65.

-rang

[WMS]

The Canon ef100 f2.8 macro and the Canon EFs60 f2.8 are the two prefered lenses on the Macro Forum.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=160960

There is also the option of using close up 'filters' I would recomend the Canon 250D and 500D should you choose to go this way.

Wayne

[equetefue]

Don't forget the Sigma 105 and the 150. The latter being an amazing lens for the price.

The Sigma is good but slow and barrel extends. I would take the Canon 100 over it, but would take the Sigma 150 over the Canon if working distance were a must.

[nadtz]

Most all the dedicated macro lenses out there are decent or better, your price range and expectations would probably help people point you in the right direction, as well as asking in the macro forum. I have the tamron 90 and have used the canon 100 and sigma 105, without going crazy over judging the results all 3 lenses were pretty comparable.

[Perry Ge]

All macro lenses are gonna be crazy sharp and with great IQ, that's not important. The Sigma 150 is the ultimate bang for the buck macro lens for bugs and flowers in my book. Great focal length gives you good working distance with bugs, solid build with collar, HSM means FTM, internal focusing. Aww yeah.

If I ever get a macro lens, it's gonna be either a Voigtlander APO Lanthar SL 125mm f/2.5 or a Sigma 150. Won't even consider another one.

[jureis]

ive been looking to either pick up the canon 100 or the mpe65 just to say if your willing to fork over the $$$ for the MPE65 yur going to want to pick up the twin flash and maybe getting a short tripod its a Hefty setup but ive seen nothing but AWESOME results.

[gasrocks]

Another vote for Sigma 150. Beginners do not get the MP-E.

[SnlpeR]

whats your take on the canon 50mm f2.5 macro

dont mind my shift key...its broken

[WMS]

whats your take on the canon 50mm f2.5 macro

dont mind my shift key...its broken


The Canon 50mm macro isn't as well thought of as some other macro lenses due to it's needing an extension tube to actually take a 1:1 macro photograph. The consensus on the macro forum is that the 90 to 105 mm range is the best range for a first dedicated macro lens. Should you decide to buy a set of extension tubes first they can be used with most lenses as well as to gain greater magnification with a macro lens. Personally I started with close up filters then purchased a EF100 f2.8 macro, which works wonderfully for taking pictures of rings, baubles, bangles and other things. :)

Wayne

[RPCrowe]

The Canon ef100 f2.8 macro and the Canon EFs60 f2.8 are the two prefered lenses on the Macro Forum.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=160960

There is also the option of using close up 'filters' I would recommend the Canon 250D and 500D should you choose to go this way.

Wayne

I like the 100mm Canon Macro but I am not keen on the 60mm macro (despite the fact that it has excellent IQ) especially for your designated purpose of shooting those little critters. The 60mm IMO requires a lens to subject distance that is too close. This tends to frighten the skittish little critters you are shooting and also makes lighting a bit more problematic.

I like a lens with a focal length of 90-100mm. This gives me a decent lens to subject distance with a 1.6x camera.

I use the 90mm f/2.8 Tamron which I love but, I am sure that I would be just as happy with a 100mm Canon Macro which is another top-notch lens.

The 65mm MPE lens is a highly specialized and rather expensive lens which can deliver "true macro" imagery at 1:1 to 5:1 ratios but, cannot deliver images with a smaller ratio and cannot focus to infinity. Unless you have a definite need for the ratios larger than 1:1, stick with the other macro lenses.

[Lester Wareham]

Canon 100mm macro is the place to start.

Lots of stuff on macro kit http://www.zen20934.zen.co.uk/photography/Macro_Equipment.htm

[sai-gon-xua]

whats your take on the sigma MACRO 70mm F2.8 EX DG

[Lester Wareham]

whats your take on the sigma MACRO 70mm F2.8 EX DG

I suspect like all macro lenses it is very good. I would say anthing less than 90-100mm is not optimal for shooting bugs.

[yogestee]

Tamron SP AF90mm F/2.8 Di Macro ..True 1:1 macro, brilliant image quality and has been around since Noah was a boy..Great portrait lens too..

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/90mm.asp