what macro lens for 50D?

I like my 24-105L a lot...a lot...but I like pseudo macro shots...not necessarily shooting a bug's eye, but I like getting close to normal everyday things with a narrow DOF. When I get too close I can't focus the 24-105 so maybe another lens makes sense for this purpose? Suggestions would be helpful. I do want a good quality lens, L if possible. IS is a must as when I'm out and about I don't carry my tripod.

Check out the 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS http://www.borrowlense​s.com …o/Canon_100mm_f​2.8L_Macro

or if you want even more reach there is an 180mm L Macro lens too but no IS on that one.

The Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM is pretty much the standard. Its an incredible lens for both macro starters and seasoned professionals. If you have the extra money to drop, the Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro is the next up in the line. Personally I like the Canon build quality more than any of the third party options, but IQ on the others is very good making it a close call.

Haven't tried any others but the EF-S 60mm macro, I loved it when I had it. It also took some very sharp portraits.

Another vote for the 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS. Just picked it up last Saturday. What an amazing piece of glass!

the 100 2.8L IS is great VERY sharp and can dual as a nice portrait lens
IS will be nice for those 1/30 handhelds

Even the non-IS non-L USM is great. There is little to none IQ difference between the two, and at half the price of the newer L.
You just lose IS and the L build, nevertheless the build on the Non-IS is still pretty good

Have a Sigma 150mm and I love it.

No IS with any of the lenses below....but these lenses are some of the sharpest macro lenses every made.If I was buying macro lens all over again,the first would be the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 (or for true macro the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 Compensating Aperture) followed by the Kiron 105mm f2.5 Macro lens.I have all the macros listed below,and a few more.The lenses listed below are the top macro lenses and equal to or are sharper then the Canon macros.

One of my favorite macro lenses that I use are the incomparable Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 Compensating Aperture macro lens made from 1964-1969.Probable the sharpest 55mm macro for true macro work,as well as close up.This lens is intended for true macro work and be used only as such.As Bjørn Rørslett says,"This lens was optimized and designed for close-ups with peak performance at 1:10 magnification, and the image quality suffered when it was used for landscape shots".....These can usually be found for $55 to $100 on ebay,coupled to a Nikkor M or M2 extension tube capable of 1:1...this is in the top 10 of all lenses tested by Photodo..always verify the serial numbers when purchasing off ebay or elsewhere with the link below...
http://www.photosynthe​sis.co.nz/nikon/serial​no.html#55micro

The first lens in every serious macro collection,and for the type of closeup shooting rather then true macro shooting, that you'll be doing.I'd recommend the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 AIS,usually found for $75 on ebay.The Nikon PK-13 extension tube is required for 1:1 reproduction.Not quite as sharp as the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 Compensating Aperture lens,but still fairly sharp for true macro work.This lens not only shoots well for closeups,but it one of Nikkors sharpest lens to infinity with excellent contrast and saturation.With over a hundred lenses in my collection,this lens sees more use then any other lens I have...even more then my Cannon L lenses.This lens rates in the top 20 of all lenses tested by Photodo.

Next on the list of any serious macro lens collector is the Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 or the Tokina 90mm f2.5,both were made by Tokina.This lens requires and is usually sold with the adapter for 1:1 reproduction.These two lenses are the in the top five sharpest of all lenses every rated by Photodo....

1. Grade: 4.8 35mm/AF Canon EF 200/1,8L USM
2. Grade: 4.7 35mm/AF Contax G Planar 45/2,0
3. Grade: 4.6 35mm/MF Tokina AT-X 90/2,5 macro (Vivitar Series 1 90mm)
4. Grade: 4.6 35mm/MF Pentax SMC-A 85/1,4
5. Grade: 4.6 35mm/MF LeicaR Elmarit-R 90/2,8

When I'm really serious about my macro for true 1:1 shooting or want a longer macro lens I use the Kiron 105mm f2.8 built by Kino Precision,a truly stellar lens with outstanding image quality wide open that only gets better stopping down a bit,by f5.6 it's as about as sharp as it gets,which it holds to f11.With extension tubes or coupled to a Macro Focusing 2x TC it's capable of shooting a knats arse.This lens was also made for Lester A Dine corporation by Kino Precision for dental and medical use(when searching on ebay,look for Lester Dine 105mm or Kiron 105mm f2.8].

Finally every good serious macro collection should have the Vivitar Series 1 90-180mm Flat Field Zoom Macro(built by Kino Precision for Vivitar)This lens is superior to the Micro-Nikkor AF 70-180mm f4.5 D ED.I have two of these gems in my collection,and AFAIC they're irreplaceable.This is a very versatile lens for sharp close up work as well as infinity shooting.Coupled with extension tubes gives very satisfactory results for macro work.

A review of some of these lenses here...http://makingnottaking​.blogspot.com …mm-f25-vmc-12-bokina.html

A quick excellent review of many of the Micro-Nikkor lenses here....http://www.naturfotogr​af.com/lens_spec.html


I acquired this mint copy of the Vivitar Series 1 90-180mm f4.5 Flat Field Zoom in January.

I have the non-IS 100mm. Great lens.

Canon 60mm, 100mm f2.8 macro, 100mm f2.8 IS are all excellent. I loved the 60 on crop bodies and now use the 100 L on both the 5D II and 7D. Really can't go wrong with any of these.

Since you only have a 24-105 now, you might consider getting a longer zoom telephoto (if you need one anyway) and use it with the Canon 500D close up lens. The 500D is a dual element lens that screws on like a standard filter, but allows the host lens to focus up close in a narrow range (approx 500mm). The optics are fantastic when paired with a good host lens. I get great results out of mine with a 70-200f4L IS and a Sigma 120-400OS. The filter is about $150 for a 77mm.

If you need IS then you're looking at the 100mm ƒ/2.8L IS. Or if you still want a zoom, then Sigma makes a 17-70mm ƒ/2.8-4 HSM OS which can focus very closely. It can't focus to 1:1 macro levels, but it didn't sound like that was what you were after, it sounded like you wanted a lens that could focus a good bit closer than your 24-105mm.

The only IS macro lens for Canon mount is the 100L IS. So that narrows it down a bit for you!

Have you checked out this site.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …SM-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx

look at the iso 12233 crops.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …&FLI=0&API=0&Le​nsComp=107

Wow, thanks so much for the great suggestions everyone!!!!