Best Macro for UNDER $300??

What would be the best Macro for under $300?? My brother had Sigma 105mm Macro and it was a great lens, but he sold it. Now I'm looking for one again!

Used Canon 100mm I bet you could get for $300.

how about kenko extension tubes? you can find them for around $100-125 used.

What do you want to shoot?

Canon 100mm Macro has been the sharpest lens I have come across.

I use it more for general shooting than I do for macro just because it produces very very sharp images and great looking bokeh.

I'm sure you could find one use close to $300. Might be more towards $350 though seeing as how the new price now is roughly $490.

EFS 60 f/2.8 Macro - You can easily find one for around $300, it is a little faster AF than the 100 Macro and just as sharp. Also, contrast and bokeh are excellent. My 100 Macro is insane, I can't say enough good about it, and from what I hear, the 60 macro is just as good and is probably more versatile length on a crop body.

Set of kenko tubes and a canon 50mm 1.8

pixel_junkie wrote in post #6471730
EFS 60 f/2.8 Macro - You can easily find one for around $300, it is a little faster AF than the 100 Macro and just as sharp. ...

I found the 60mm is quite a bit sharper especially in the center though the 100 seems to deliver a better all around shot.

Sigma 50 Macro will surely fit your budget

I had the 60, and didnt like the working distance (even on a crop body), I whole heartedly reccomend saving for the 100, you will be amazed by it.

gjl711 wrote in post #6471814
I found the 60mm is quite a bit sharper especially in the center though the 100 seems to deliver a better all around shot.

This is actually what I read about it in a review. I can even imagine how that's possible though, the 100 is insane.

DeCeccoNET wrote in post #6471990
I had the 60, and didnt like the working distance (even on a crop body), I whole heartedly reccomend saving for the 100, you will be amazed by it.

For sure!

You could get an old manual focus lens, which would be really cheap - possibly a good option since you'll be manually focusing with macro most of the time anyway.

lukeap69 wrote in post #6471932
Sigma 50 Macro will surely fit your budget

+1 for this one. It doesn't seem like too many people have it but, from every review I've read, it is an excellent in every regard. Well, the one problem that there is is that the barrel extends significantly so to get 1:1 the front element is only 5cm away from the subject.

I was going to say that it would also double as a nice portrait lens but it looks like you already have a 50mm 1.4 so you probably wouldn't use it for that. Seeing as you do have a 50mm lens maybe you should save up and get the 100mm or something similar(Sigma 105, Tamron 90) just for the extra versatility.

Here are some reviews.

http://www.ephotozine.​com …igma-50mm-f28-DG-Macro-EX
http://www.photozone.d​e …ro-dg-test-report--review
http://www.fredmiranda​.com …=133&sort=7&cat​=38&page=2

I like this review in particular because it compares pretty much every popular 50mm prime
http://www.slrgear.com …ct.php/product/​216/cat/30

Yes, there are many quality MF older macro lenses available and for a lot less than $300. With an adapter you can use it on your camera.

I have heard very good things about the Tamron 90mm macro lens. You might be able to find it used for about $300.