Favorite Macro Lens

I'd like to get anyone's opinion on what they consider the best macro lens available. I am partial to Canon but am open to other suggestions. I need a lens only for macro wor as I have other lenses for portraits, etc. Thanks

I'd say the term "best" depends very much on your needs - best could be the cheapest, or the lightest, or the sharpest, or the one with the greatest working distance, or the fastest to AF, or the highest magnification...

IMHO the best 1:1 macro lens available is the Sigma 150mm. But give us some idea about you want to shoot, big bugs, tiny bugs, inanimate objects in a cramped studio etc..

IMHO, the best macro lens available for a canon is the canon 180mmL. Its huge, expensive and relatively heavy lens though so...I bought the 100mm f/2.8. You'll find a lot of fans of this lens on the forum as its extremely sharp, reasonably priced, allows a decent working distance, and is the only one in its focal length that has internal focusing.

well I got the sigma 150 and I think its GREAT...

Check my sig. Need I say more..

The cheaper 100mm version is also a stellar lens too.

MP E65 is expensive but definitely the most fun to use going from 1:1 to 5:1 mag .Only wish it started at 1:3 for larger insects. Be warned that the longer tele macros whilst giving a better working distance are hard to keep steady - you'll probably need a decent monopod as well.

I'm very happy with the cannon 100mm f/2.8 macro. I've only have been using it for about 1 month. Sigma 150mm is nice too.
I took this today on the pool screen enclosure with the 100mm

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The best lens, or the best value? I can't speak for the best lens, but I think the best value is the 100mm f2.8 macro.

Mark

I researched and seriously considered both the Tamron and the Sigma 100mm-ish lenses but ended up buying the Canon 100/2.8. To me it looks like the best combination of price, image quality and build quality, plus I've not been too lucky with third-party lenses and compatibility with my cameras.

The Canon 180/3.5 macro is probably a notch better and gives you more working distance if you prefer that, but to me it's s bit too expensive for the little macro work I do.

I own the Canon 100 f 2.8 macro and the Canon 180 f 3.5 macro. They are both teriffic lenses with the 100 serving double duty as a portrait lens. In the past I have owned the Tamron 80mm macro and the Sigma 180 macro, both are good lenses. I borrowed a friends Sigma 150 and that is also good but for the best image quality,color, contrast etc. nothing beats my Canon 180. If you don t have that much money and want something a little longer The Canon 100 used with a 1.4 TC and a 12mm extension tube works well. You will lose AF but most people don't use AF in macro.

Is the experience you're describing based on a crop body or FF?

My vote goes for the 100 F/2.8 Macro. It's tack sharp, reproduces gorgeous colors, has a good working distance, internal focus, nice feeling focus ring, lightweight, and serves well as a medium-telephoto/portrait lens, and it doesn't break the bank.

For extra magnification you can add extention tubes. IMHO you can't go wrong with this lens.

I love my Canon 100mm macro lens. The internal focus and USM are great, and you can hand hold it. The latter was the reason I got it vs. the Sigma 150.

Sigma 150/2.8 is tops IMO. Great value, beautifully built, fast focusing, tripod ring and superb image quality.

Little heavy though. Any of the trinity (Canon 100, Sigma 105, Tamron 90) are super lenses. Canons internal focusing is a bonus but the price premium isn't and the others are at least as good regarding outright image quality.

If you're staying with crop sensors, the Canon 60/2.8 is an absolute beaut.

For better working distance, like other say the 100mm Canon, if your in a crop sensor then the 60mm Canon is great. After some trying I went for the 60mm Canon and love it for close and general use