Best macro lens?

I am starting to shoot macro, and was wondering what is the best lens? I have an 85mm f1.8 and have considered getting extendension tubes - or would it be better to get a dedicated Macro lens.
Comments/suggestions very welcome.

Pixels wrote in post #10760996
Comments/suggestions very welcome.

85mm f1.8 + Marumi DHG Macro (+5) =

I'm using the 100mm Macro f/2.8 IS. Very versatile lens. I use this lens extensively for portraits and macro (flowers, bugs, bees etc.). Outstanding sharpness, shallow depth-of-field and with incredible bokeh effect!

Or the 100L, f'n awesome lens

When image quality is your priority, you will want a dedicated macro lens. 100 macro would be good enough.

From what i hear the Tamron 90mm should be a good alternative.

I know its not what you were asking but the Raynox DCR-250 attached to the lens like the Marumi DHG Macro (+5) and is pretty good.

Here is an image I took with one - Link

This thread had a lot to do with my decision me to get the Canon EF-S 60
mm macro:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=243042

There are no bad macro lenses. Canon, Tamron, Sigma, and even Vivitar make excellent macro lenses. Finding a focal length that would work for you would be a good starting point

50mm (full set) of Kenko extension tubes behind your 70-300 IS (at 70mm) should work well, as I've used a combo like that before. Not sure what the 85 will be like, but should work OK.

Switch to MF (what most end up doing even with a macro lens anyway), stop down a couple of stops, throw the 420EX on with a ghetto diffuser and give it a go. The tubes are relatively cheap and give you extreme macro if you buy a dedicated lens down the track.

Note that macro photography is hard even with good equipment, so don't be too quick to blame your equipment.

The Canon 100mm variants (either) or Sigma 150mm are my favorite general usage macro lenses.

I'm not a fan of the short focal length Macros or the ones that extend during focus.