Tamron 180mm for Macro work ....

[mr.photoguy]

I searched the board for a post on this lense, but I did not see anything.
Most of what I saw was for the 100mm Canon, or Tamron 150mm or 90mm.

Does anyone have this lense?

From my research about it, I have gathered that the optics are very sharp. I also have noticed that some people tend to complain about the 100mm macro not having enough reach, and often causing disturbance of the bugs/objects that they want to photograph.
I intend to heavily do macro shooting in the upcoming summer and, I am willing to pay close to 650 for a good macro lens in the range of 180. I can easily get a Canon 100mm Macro also.
But if anyone has this lens give your thoughts.
If you don't have the lens and want to give your thoughts feel free.

Thanks
mr.photoguy

[mr.photoguy]

So I guess noone does Macro.

[Nic]

My macro equipment consists of the following:

Canon 100mm USM Macro lens;
Angle Finder C;
TC-80N3 remote controller;
Mt-24EX Twin Light Flash (wich fits the lens perfectly).

Mounted on a tripod like the CarbonOne 441 wich can go flat on the ground, it becomes a very formidable and potent combination.

With the MkII the lens becomes 130mm and with the 20D it becomes 160mm.

Do not listen to the uninformed critism of the 100mm USM macro. It is one of the sharpest lenses around, a near perfect portrait lens and a very good 'normal' zoom lens.

[Nic]

Please ignore the spelling mistakes - English is not my first language.

[Jon]

So I guess noone does Macro.
That doesn't necessarily follow . . . Your question appears aimed at the Tamron 180, which isn't that common. It will give you a better working distance than a shorter macro at the same magnification, which is very helpfu, not just for photographing skittish subjects but also to help keep you from getting in your own light. I have a Tamron 90 macro which is a good lens when I need macro, but different lenses from the same manufacturer do vary (even Canon) so I wouldn't generalize to one I haven't used and don't know of anyone else who has, either.

[jwhee0615]

http://iapf.physik.tu-berlin.de/jbohs/HKO/TUBerlin/dforum/macro/Macro100E.html

Have a look

[mr.photoguy]

thank you for the responses.
I just needed more input on the Macro's as I have been researching them for a good and I need good optics and the ability not to scare off my subject.

I will have a look at that link jwheel0615, thank you for posting and helping me out.

[phili1]

I have not seen any personal reviews but have read aphotographers test review who said it is a great lens.

You also have 2 from Sigma that are good. I have an older version of there 105mm Macro F 2,8.

Here is a review site for there 180 Macro. If you hit the review button at the top you can go to Canon as well.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=135&sort=7&thecat=13

[mr.photoguy]

Wow, the site that jwheel showed me was really informative. I managed to save up the money to purchase a Macro, but spent some time reading between three forums about complaints and praises about the different lenses and then took the time to think about what I needed.

I decided to go with the Tamron 180 Macro.
It is the lens that will forfill my Macro needs.

[jwhee0615]

Well good luck and please post back here to this thread with some samples. I too am interested in this lens and hopefully will get one down the line. Glad I could be of assistance...Jeff

[ScottE]

I find that I use manual focus much of the time for macro work. I like to assign auto-focus to AE button so I can use it to get approximate focus, then focus manually for exact focus because depth of field is so limited with macro lenses and once composition is achieved on a tripod you don't want to use the focus and re-compose technique.

This means I want a lens with full time manual focus override. I have ruined the auto focus on my Sigma 105 macro lens because I am used to Canon USM lenses and Sigma HSM lenses and kept forgetting to switch to MF with the 105.

I believe the Tamrom lens does not have full time manual override. For this reason I would stick to the Canon 100 or 180 USM or the Sigam 150 or 180 HSM macro lenses.

Other than that I understand the Tamron has excellent optics so it would probably be useable if you left it on MF all the time and only switched to AF when you weren't using it for macro work.

[C.S.I.]

Hi,

I personally jumped into the macro world several months ago.....humbling to say the least......You see all of these incredible shots of fly eyes and bees sipping nectar, and you say to yourself.....Ive gotta get one of those macro lenses and take those myself.......well let me tell you friend its not that easy (as Ive found), although it is fun to learn.
I bought the Sigma 105, and its an outstanding lens, very sharp. The macros are pretty sweet, but to take those extreme close ups, youre gonna start buying all kinds of nifty little gadgets to strap onto that sucker. I was disappointed at the magnification of 1:1.....I immediately wanted more........... First thing I did was strap on an old Pentax 50mm 1.4 on a reverse macro coupler......cool shots for flowers and dead stuff, but being that you have to get like an inch from something, most things take off on ya.......right now im gonna get some extension tubes and a 1.4X TC....see how they work out....
I dont want to sour you on macro, but it takes time and patience......I think I saw that you were from NY.....go down to B+H and try out the macro lenses on your camera before you buy, and discover its maybe not for you.


GOOD LUCK!


Regards,
Bill

[Roy NN7DX]

I got into real macro with a Sigma 180mm... It's also a fine prime telephoto lens... Slow focusing (but accurate) not what I like for birds in flight but perfect for tele use on things that don't require speed of light re-focusing...

Sharp! Don't expect to have well lit subjects happy about seeing every pore and acne scars from 30 years ago... Prepare to blur! Don't use the B word with the subject, call it "soften"...

50 and 100mm macro lenses make great portrait lenses... Yep, soften is the word...

[mr.photoguy]

Indeed, my prime use for the lens is for Macro work. That's really it.

I have been researching about Macro for about 3 weeks so far. I have so far learned that the 50mm although a nice macro is to short.. (so won't buy that), I also realized that the 100mm macro is also good, but however is still a bit short also. (mainly because you still have to get real close to your subject, which isn't always the available option, and finally I found out that the 180mm macro is good for capturing those skitish subjects (which I intend to photograph) without getting to close however, is still able to photograph flowers and such up close.

My intentions.
This spring I will be doing a lot of landscape and Macro work. My buddy Ed has agreed to come along also which is a plus. Always good to have someone to share the Macro shooting.. hehe.. As spring hits, I am at the Botanical gardens. As a matter of fact, we should make that a new york photo meet... hmmm (mental note)..
Anyhow.

My needs:
Optics. My eye is keen for detail. I love detail. Every photo that I have seen on pbase the detail has been on point with this Tamron 180mm macro. And this is from different users.
I like the fact that the Lens' Optics are to my liken. I oddly, don't have a problem with it. (although I don't know much about what to look for in bokeh, still researching that).

So my next to purchases for lenses are the
Tamron 180 macro
Canon 17-40L or Tamron 16-35 f 2.8 ( I am researching these two lenses. Maybe for about 3 months and will get two 8x10's samples printed from a donated image (have to find someone to donate a 20D image shot with each lens) Then compare them both on the pc and on print. Then I can decide which to purchase.

This way I don't spend money sinfully.

Thanks for responding, when I get the Macro I will practice and get some good shots eventually.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Although we do not seem to have many Tamron owners on this forum.. I have heard nothing but good things about the Tamron Macro lenses...

Like the Sigma Macros.. the optics seem to be as good as it gets.

[PekkaM]

So I guess noone does Macro.

I do. With the 90mm Tamron. I could never imagine shooting hand held with 180mm one...

[mr.photoguy]

I do. With the 90mm Tamron. I could never imagine shooting hand held with 180mm one...
http://www.pbase.com/brucescott/manfrotto_tripod

I've got a strong set of biceps bro.



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I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone that responded to my post. All of your responses have been really helpful and are highly appreciated.

Thanks