Which camera/lens combo for macro?

peterdoomen · 12th of June 2006 (Mon)

A collegue of mine wants to start with macro photography, especially flowers. What would be a good & not too expensive camera/lens combo to start with?

I was thinking a 350D or used 20D body with a Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro (combo around €1000).

Other ideas? Thanks!

P.

LordV · 12th of June 2006 (Mon)

Fine on camera and lens as long as they only want to stick to flowers and no amazing closeups (unless you get ext tubes as well) otherwise I'd be tempted to recommend a 1:1 capable lens- 60mm EF-s, 90mm tamron, 100mm canon or 105mm sigma are all good lenses. Might also depend on what other uses they might put the lens to.
Brian V.

dpastern · 12th of June 2006 (Mon)

Hey Peter,

I'd most probably go with the 2nd hand 20D (more future proofing and room to grow) and a Sigma 105mm. Add a set of Kenko tubes and a Sigma 1.4x TC down the track if he/she wants to get closer. The 350D will be lighter than the 20D, so if they don't really want to future proof things they could go the 350D and shave a few grams, which will make it easier most probably to hold the camera still and get sharp shots.

Dave

peterdoomen · 13th of June 2006 (Tue)

Brian, Dave: thanks for the reply. I'll tell her to consider a used 20D with a 1:1 macro. Tamron or Sigma, depending on the focal distance she needs.

P.

12th of June 2006 (Mon)	#1
peterdoomen Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lier, Flanders (northern, flemish speaking part of Belgium) Posts: 1,123 IMAGE EDITING OK	Which camera/lens combo for macro? A collegue of mine wants to start with macro photography, especially flowers. What would be a good & not too expensive camera/lens combo to start with? I was thinking a 350D or used 20D body with a Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro (combo around €1000). Other ideas? Thanks! P. __________________ Canon EOS 20D \| Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS + Hoya UV Filter \| Canon Extender 1.4x \| Canon 50 f/1.8 \| Canon 85 f/1.2L mk II \| Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-f/4\| Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 \| Tokina 100 f/2.8 macro \| Kenko extension tubes \| Canon Speedlite 420 EX & Sto-fen Omnibounce\| 80GB Flashtrax \| Manfrotto Tripod 190 pro B & Joystick 322RC2 \| Lowepro Micro Trekker 200 PDFs: Make money with ShutterStock - Make your own Tabletop Studio - Glass Buying Guide My ShutterStock Gallery

12th of June 2006 (Mon)	#2
LordV Macro Photo-Lord of the Year 2006 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Worthing UK Posts: 46,012 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Which camera/lens combo for macro? Fine on camera and lens as long as they only want to stick to flowers and no amazing closeups (unless you get ext tubes as well) otherwise I'd be tempted to recommend a 1:1 capable lens- 60mm EF-s, 90mm tamron, 100mm canon or 105mm sigma are all good lenses. Might also depend on what other uses they might put the lens to. Brian V. __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/ http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/ Macro Hints and tips http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=807056 Canon 20D, Canon 40D, Canon 5D mk2, Sigma 105mm EX macro, Tamron 90mm macro, Canon MPE-65,18-55 kit lens X2, canon 200mm F2.8 L, Tamron 28-70mm xrdi, Other assorted bits

12th of June 2006 (Mon)	#3
dpastern User is banned from forums Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ipswich, Queensland, Australia Posts: 13,765 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Which camera/lens combo for macro? Hey Peter, I'd most probably go with the 2nd hand 20D (more future proofing and room to grow) and a Sigma 105mm. Add a set of Kenko tubes and a Sigma 1.4x TC down the track if he/she wants to get closer. The 350D will be lighter than the 20D, so if they don't really want to future proof things they could go the 350D and shave a few grams, which will make it easier most probably to hold the camera still and get sharp shots. Dave

13th of June 2006 (Tue)	#4
peterdoomen Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lier, Flanders (northern, flemish speaking part of Belgium) Posts: 1,123 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Which camera/lens combo for macro? Brian, Dave: thanks for the reply. I'll tell her to consider a used 20D with a 1:1 macro. Tamron or Sigma, depending on the focal distance she needs. P. __________________ Canon EOS 20D \| Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS + Hoya UV Filter \| Canon Extender 1.4x \| Canon 50 f/1.8 \| Canon 85 f/1.2L mk II \| Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-f/4\| Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 \| Tokina 100 f/2.8 macro \| Kenko extension tubes \| Canon Speedlite 420 EX & Sto-fen Omnibounce\| 80GB Flashtrax \| Manfrotto Tripod 190 pro B & Joystick 322RC2 \| Lowepro Micro Trekker 200 PDFs: Make money with ShutterStock - Make your own Tabletop Studio - Glass Buying Guide My ShutterStock Gallery

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The only guaranteed way of keeping your lens / camera combo in pristine condition.	neil_r	Canon EF and EF-S Lenses	44	20th of April 2007 (Fri) 20:49
Macro and/or combo for outdoors?	Mollym/CA	Canon EF and EF-S Lenses	10	18th of October 2006 (Wed) 12:17
Best field sports two camera combo?	Tandem	Sports Talk	9	27th of July 2006 (Thu) 09:24
Your thoughts on this lens, t-con, camera combo	lomond	Canon EF and EF-S Lenses	7	12th of May 2005 (Thu) 13:36
Macro Combo	drisley	Canon EOS Digital Cameras	1	27th of May 2004 (Thu) 03:18