Macro Question: If you had 1 lens to buy, which would it be?

You'll find that any macro lens from a major manufacturer will be amazingly sharp - about the only lens they all seem to get right. Woulsd recommend one around 100mm - eg Tamron 90, canon 100, sigma 105.
Brian V.

I'd recommend going for the 100mm Canon macro or similar, more versatile and easier to use than the MP-E - don't forget, you can only do 1:1 and up with the MP-E, and it really needs a flash.
And you can use the 100mm for portraits etc too - the MP-E has set focusing distances, right in front, and that's it. I'm just waiting for someone to ask me to take their pic with it on, and see their face when I tell them it can't do more than an eye, tooth or nostril.

I'm now taking both macro lenses out, it's no fun when you find an orchid or bug, but it won't fit in the MP-E frame. Go with something cheaper, and easier to learn on first, I'm glad I did!

1) Canon 100mm
2) Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di Macro
3) Canon 60mm
4) Sigma 180mm
5) MPE65mm (MT24-EX Speedlite)

My shopping list in order of Versatility from the lens performance to suit my type of photography. Some others may have other opinions but that is due to their photographic style and application.

Cheers,
Mark.

I have the Canon 60mm. There are times when I am looking at doing macro shots of insects where I would have liked the greater working distance the 100mm would give me. Apart from this I have no probs with the 60mm. I wouldn't go with the MP-E 65 as a sole macro.

The 100mm macro is a super lens.