Macro Lense

[demarco36]

Can anyone help me understand exactly what A macro lense is or what mm they come in. I am trying to find one but am not understanding the concept. I have the regular like 30-80 mm lense that came on my canon 35mm. But the lady at the camera shop said a macro lense is 55mm- 105mm give or take. Now that seems to be the same size my current lense is however I am not able to get real close to objects.

Any suggestions for a relatively inexpensive Macro? And what mm number should I be looking for. Thanks

[Jon]

A macro lens is any lens that can focus to between half life size and 2x life size (on the film/sensor plane). Canon makes 50 mm, 100 mm, and 180 mm macros. Sigma and Tamron also make somewhat less expensive ones. In general, the longer the macro lens' focal length, the greater the working distance will be (the less you're going to have to poke the lens into your subject), which can be important with live subjects. But the longer ones cost more. Don't be misled by zoom lenses that claim to be "Macro"; they focus close, but usually not in the macro range.

A less expensive approach may be to get a set of extension tubes. Kenko, for instance, makes some relatively inexpensive ones.

[Alan Neilson]

A macro lens enables you to focus very close, life size. The lady in the shop is right they do come in the range 50mm to 105mm you can get longer ones as well 150mm -180mm they are more specialzied and are more expensive, you won't get any closer with these lens, ie more than life size but they do enable you to get futher away and still be at the minium foucs distance. Some zooms have a macro setting althought is does not get you as close as a macro lens.

I have a tamaron 90mm wich I like, other no canon ones you can look at sigma which is 105mm and also has some good reviews on here. A lens you can get here in the UK, not sure about else were is cosina they do a 100mm macro, the quality won't be as good. but will be a cheaper option for you.

[demarco36]

I guess my question is does the lens have to specify that it is a macro? Like you said Macro lenses come in 50-80mm However my basic lense does not get very close. SO for example is a 70-300mm lense considered a macro or does it have to say 105mm macro.

[mdr]

Standard lenses can have macro designation, meaning that as well as for normal use, they can be used for macro, generally only to half life size.

Alternatively, you can use close up filters (strengths +1, +2, +4 and +10), extension tubes or auto bellows to decrease the focus distance of a subject. These are generally much cheaper than a dedicated macro lens, but have their problems (significant loss of light, reduced image quality and/or extremely close focus distance with the lens touching the object to be able to focus).

I used extension tubes with my standard zoom for a while to take macro shots successfully, but now I've got the Canon 100mm macro, I know what I've been missing...

[mdr]

Canon also make the MPE-65 f2.5 macro lens which allows you to take macro shots at 1x to 5x life size. It's about the same price as the 180mm L macro lens.

Also note that the 50mm is only a 0.5x life size macro lens, unlike the new 50mm macro lens from Sigma, which is 1x life size. The Canon 50mm requires the optional lifesize converter to change it into 1x life size.

The autofocus of both the Canon 50mm macro and the Canon 100mm macro (early, non-USM model) is pretty slow.

Your best choice would be the Canon 100mm USM macro.

[Jon]

I guess my question is does the lens have to specify that it is a macro? Like you said Macro lenses come in 50-80mm However my basic lense does not get very close. SO for example is a 70-300mm lense considered a macro or does it have to say 105mm macro.

Actually, a lot of lenses that aren't true macro lenses stick "Macro" on somewhere, to indicate that they focus "closer than normal". But it's just a marketing ploy. The only way to be sure is to see what they give for closest focus magnification. If it's a real macro, the manufacturer will be glad to include that in the productt literature. If they say "Macro" and "focusses as close as 3 ft", odds are it isn't macro, it's marketing.

[VivedTreasures]

Last week I just picked up a Tamron AF70-300 F/4-5.6 Macro 1:2 I have been very busy working with it all week to decide if I am going to keep it. Priced at $189.00(USA) 15 days to take it back to my local store. I am still not setteled. I am wondering if I should stick to only Canon lenses. I have trouble with focus. I am able to get it together sometimes. So that makes me feel that my problem is something I am doing wrong and not the equipment.
Here are two images one is with my 18-55mm the one that came withthe camera. (I am almost touching the subject) and the other is with the Tarmron.( 2-3ft away)
I still would like to see the more sharpness in the Tarmon image. Maybe this will help you in you search for a marco lens - and maybe the rest would have a comment to help me decide on what to improve on.
Camera shake is a issue too...so I make sure I take a large number of images to make sure I get on clear one. Would you post a image that you have taken with the
Canon 100mm?

Vivian
VivedTreasures
Digital Rebel
18-55mm
Tamron AF70-300

[Schnauzer]

As others have said , many stick the label macro on their lense that are not true macro . If you want to do true macro work you should get a macro lense . also to get the best out of it you should use a tripod or at the very least a monopod .
I have the Tamron 24-135 mm macro that I bought to fill a gap in my lenses . It is sharp , clear and I like it very much ( wish it had IS ) but it is not a macro no matter what they claim . You should also consider what else you may want to use the lense for .
I am thinking very seriously about the Canon 180 macro .

Here is a shothttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v666/Jag1989/IMG_E5771-02.jpg with the Tamron . With a true macro you could have got much more detail .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v666/Jag1989/_MG_C5807-02.jpg

Ron

[TammieO]

The macro lens sticky is a must read.
I wouldn't get the MP-E 65mm macro for a first try at macro photograpphy. It is a specialized lens that is only for macro work as it will not focus at infinity and it is manual focus only. You might try browsing the macro photo sharing forum and seeing what people are doing with different set ups.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=94767

[VivedTreasures]

Thanks for the ideas!

Vivian
Canon Digtal Rebel XT
550EX
18-55mm
Tamron AF70-300 Macro
Epson 2200
Epson C80
Epson PictureMate
PhotoshopCS2
Lots of other stuff...