Best image quality macro lens

Alrighty everyone,

Mom wants to buy me a lens for christmas. I have read the macro sticky above as well as searched for topics relating to this issue, but haven't found anything addressing my question. This question only regards optical quality/resolving power of macro lenses. No need to complicate the matter with working distance or price at the moment.

Which lens gives the best image quality:

Canon 100mm
Sigma 105mm
Sigma 150mm
Sigma 180mm
Tamron 180mm
Other (please suggest)

All feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

Ok I'll jump in,
I very much doubt you would find any significant differences in the optical/ resolving power of those lenses- they would all be superb up to L quality. Main differences will be build quality and AF accuracy/ speed and whether it has an internal focus system.
I actually use the Sigma 105 which is probably by far the cheapest- you can see in my gallery how that performs.
If you want the best all rounder I'd go for the Canon 100mm.
Brian V.

If you can aford it, the 100mm f2.8 macro from Canon is a killer of a lens.

nevilleb

Another vote for 100mm f2.8 canon, its a steller lens You cant regret buying it.

I've had my eye on the canon myself. Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Just go get the canon,you wont regret it.

Make sure you buy the USM version, not the older non-USM one.

Guess your budget doesn't stretch to the Canon 180mm L Macro?

Or if you want up to 5x life size macro, consider the Canon MP-E 65?

Going against the majority here, I had the 100mm Canon macro and have just changed to the Sigma 150mm macro for more working distance between camera and subject..

I was fed-up of trawling the garden looking for bugs, Setting my tripod up only for the subect to be scared away when I got close to it..

The Canon 100mm macro is indeed an awesome lens but do think about focal length before spending your hard earned money if you are getting into macro..

I think in terms of sharpness the tamron 90mm sp is the sharpest but you do lose a lot of working distance. ok if you photograph static objects. the 100m canon is a good all round lens but loses out to the new sigma 150 mm because of working distance. dont know if i would fancy carrying it around all day though.

I have to agree with Jerry, you didn't list the Tamron SP90 Di but it's has a slight edge on sharpness/contrast. Very nice handling and the lightest of the 100mm bunch. That said the Canon 100 and Sigma 105 are great lenses indeed and still very sharp and extremely sharp once stopped to f8-11. My first choice would be the Tamron than Cannon and lastly the Sigma, but I'm certain any one of the three will perform great and keep you very happy all of them wonderful.

The longer focal length macros will give you a bit more working distance but are still much the same as the 100mm bunch optically and then theres the wonderful MP-E 65 but this lens is ONLY good for macro where as the 100mm range are a quite handy focal length for portrait and other stuff. IMO for optical quality though Tamron SP90 Di would be top of the list, but thats just my tastes. Really all them them are very good indeed, I say have a look at the weight, handling and manual focusing of each of them in a store to see what you like the feel of better for yourself.

Hard to go wrong with any of them.

The EF-S 60 seems to perform quite well, now that I've been reading the reviews at FM and looking at the MTF chart on canon's website.

Although i dont have a macro lens yet from what iv read the longer reach of the 150mm sigma can alow you to get shots you might have missed with the 100mm due to scareing the bug away. when the time comes i will go for the 150mm for above reason.just my thought's on it.
Rob

I use and love the Canon 100mm Macro .. Also have the EF-25 Extension Tube and the MR-14EX macro flash. Now if money is not an issue then look at the Canon 185mm L Macro. This lens with a set of extension tubes should produce some interesting results.

Also depends on what other lenses you already have. I'll vote for the Sigma 150, don't use my Canon 100 much now that I have the 150. Actually I do most of my macro work with the Canon 300/4 L IS on a monopod.

You won't notice any particular difference in image quality among the macros. So that leaves only working distance and price. Oh, and what other lenses the macro might duplicate coverage for. If she has an85 f/1.8 or f/1.2, you might as well look toward the 150 or 180mm macros as giving a different perspectivewhen used for normal photography.