Canon Macro 100mm F2.8

[Joanne_CANON]

Hey there,

I am looking at purchasing a Macro Lens preferably somewhere around the 100mm. Does anyone know/recommend of any other brands that might be comparable in quality but cheaper in price to the canon.

I would greatly appreciate any feedback :D

[jwcdds]

Think there's a sigma 105? No experience with it personally tho.

[Greg_C]

The Sigma 105 macro is a very good lens and the image quality is on a par with the Canon 100 Macro. The only downside of the Sigma is a slow and noisy focus motor - not that AF is used a great deal in macro work so this might be a big factor for you.

Check out the samples in the Lens Sample Achieve (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=229362).

I still have mine but I don't use it as much. I use a Canon 180 Macro and Canon MP-E65 Macro more these days.

[tim]

There used to be a sticky, Sigma/Tamron/Canon 100 mm ish lenses are all meant to be great. I have the Canon, it's fantastic, amazingly sharp, I use it at every wedding for ring shots.

[JoYork]

Hi Joanne - there are some really good reviews of macro lenses on this site:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/

[The_Camera_Poser]

Tamron 90/2.8 gets really good reviews, the Sigma 105/2.8 is very popular with some of the macro shotters on here, the Sigma 70/2.8 has gotten some really good reviews as well. I think the Tokina 100/2.8 is over-priced.

The sigma 150/2.8 is also lens with awesome reviews, but maybe a bit too long on a crop frame camera and definitely heavier than the others. I shoot most of my macro handheld, so it would not shoot.

The EF-S 60/2.8 could be a good choice as well, depending on what you are looking at shooting.

One thing you'll encounter is that none of the non-Canon macros has fast auto focussing, but then despite what I've read online, the AF on my Canon 100/2.8 is pretty horribly slow too. It's definitely a manual-focus type of lens if you've become spoiled by L lens autofocus.

Pretty amazingly sharp and contrasty lens though.

Cheers

[amfoto1]

...the AF on my Canon 100/2.8 is pretty horribly slow too. It's definitely a manual-focus type of lens if you've become spoiled by L lens autofocus...

The earlier, non-USM version of the 100/2.8 is a bit slow focusing.

The current USM version is significantly faster at non-macro distances. If you use the focus limiter it's nearly on par with a numder of other primes... not enough different from, say, 28/1.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.8 that I can see any significant, real world difference.

I hardly every use AF with macro shots with this lens.

The Canon 100/2.8 does not come with a tripod mount, and its big enough that it's nice to have one on it. I don't know about the other lenses. But it's an added cost with the Canon. So is the lens hood (which is a monster.)

I've used the Tamron 90 macro in the past, a couple of the older versions. Good lenses.

I've also used an older version of the Tokina and it was good, too.

I haven't used or tried out the Sigma 105mm.

[troypiggo]

I have and recommend the Canon 100 and the Sigma 105. I have also heard good things about the Tamron 90, but a friend has been trying to purchase it and is having trouble with availability at the moment.

[caesar2164]

everyone always seems to forget tokina...

I don't have one but they make a 100mm f/2.8 Macro as well...

it's their delicious (according to Lightrules) AT-X PRO line as well!!

[steved110]

All the macro lenses are good - they are all sharp, and they all do close focus. With the Canon, you are paying a bit extra for the USM, the fact that it does not get longer as it focuses, ie the barrel stays the same length through the focal range.

Have a look at the others - sigma especially - but also tokina, if you find a good price then you won't be disappointed.

[NeoTokyo]

The AF on canons 100mm 2.8 Macro is slow as whipped Cream!

Sigma makes an awesome 180mm f3.5 Macro that is as good (Some say better) than canons on 180mm 3.5 L !!
Its $900 bux for the Siggy

Here are samples.

Canon 100mm: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=158427
Canon 180mmL: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=290542
Sigma 180mm: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=557082


-Eric-

[wimg]

The AF on canons 100mm 2.8 Macro is slow as whipped Cream!

Sigma makes an awesome 180mm f3.5 Macro that is as good (Some say better) than canons on 180mm 3.5 L !!
Its $900 bux for the Siggy

Here are samples.

Canon 100mm: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=158427
Canon 180mmL: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=290542
Sigma 180mm: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=557082


-Eric-
All macros focus slowly, and then, whipped cream at 200 mph is very fast whipped cream :D. Compared to other macros I think only the EF-S 60 is faster, and maybe the 180L (didn't play with that one yet).

Switching on the focus limiter makes it a lot faster anyway.

Kind regards, Wim