Help me pick a Macro Lens

Labman

I have a Canon 40D I will be using this lens Mainly for Macro photography here are my picks which do you think is best

Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX Macro Lens or lester Dane


Kiron 105mm f/2.8 macro or Lester Dane
Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M90mm f/2.5 Tamron Macro Lens in Adaptall-2 mount

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens

ziggy53

The immediate suggestion is not to consider the Tamron Adaptall version but rather the Tamron SP AF90mm F/2.8 Di 1:1 Macro in EOS mount.

Other than that, the lenses you mention are all pretty good to great.

I am considering the Tamron for myself and it will be among my next few purchases.

kdog

Ziggy, do you actually like the Tamron better than the Canon 100mm? I like the internal focus of the Canon, and the lens seems to get good reviews. Price is comparable to the Tamron, maybe $100 higher. Thoughts?

ziggy53

kdog wrote:

Ziggy, do you actually like the Tamron better than the Canon 100mm? I like the internal focus of the Canon, and the lens seems to get good reviews. Price is comparable to the Tamron, maybe $100 higher. Thoughts?

For the amount that I would be using the macro lens, any macro lens, the Tamron is a better match for my needs and my budget. The image resolution is almost identical at smaller apertures (where I would use the lens most of the time). Focus is not too much of an issue since I would use the lens in manual mode and then move the camera to focus.

The Canon is a great lens to be sure, just not the best match for me.

BTW, for my travel bag I'm using the EF 70-200mm, f4L IS with the 77mm - 500D on front (via stepping ring.) While not 1:1 macro, it's pretty close at MFD and the quality is pretty good too.

kdog

Thank you, sir! Your opinion is valued.

-joel

TristanP

Depends what you will be shooting with it. The Canon 100/2.8 and Sigma 105/2.8 get high marks, as does the new Sigma 150/2.8. Longer focal lengths give you more working distance from your subject (good for living things that you don't want to disturb).

Tee Why

Also consider the relatively new Tokina 100mm f2.8 macro or the current Tamron 90mm macro if budget is a concern.

If not I'd recommend the Canon 100mm f2.8 macro. It has a nicer AF with USM and does not extend while focusing, like other third party macros.

Jekyll & Hyde

Labman wrote:

I will be using this lens Mainly for Macro photography

J: By all accounts, the Macro lenses offered by the big 3 manufacturers all perform extremely well. IQ-wise, you really can't go wrong.

H: In my experience however, what really makes the big difference is the Light (once you've gotten technique down).

J: So pick your lens based on features, then find/create the best light you can.

H: Myself, I really like to use off-board diffused flash. I especially recommend it to macro beginners, as it has the side benefits of freezing both subject motion and camera shake (two Big hurdles for any macro shooter).

J: I shot this the other day in poor light (totally overcast and drizzling). The bees were going crazy. Flash was the only option...

H: 30D and Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro USM. 580EX II flash mounted on flash bracket (45 degree angle) with a homemade 5" x 6" softbox. 1/250 second @ f11, ISO 200.






Good luck in your quest,
J&H

puzzledpaul

Depends (as already mentioned) what you intend shooting - and how.

If you prefer using natural light, then some means of camera support will probably be essential (at times) - and as such, a lens that has a tripod ring will be very useful. (check the No of portrait mode macros you typically see compared with LS)

Whilst the Canon has one (optional?), I don't know about the others (Canon use the same tripod ring for their 3 EF macro lenses, btw )

If you intend using flash - either full manual or fill, then a decent off-camera bracket that allows you to orientate it where you want it, is essential.

Having a tripod ring offers a(nother) way of attaching such a bracket + keeping Portrait / LS options - without having to alter the flash position during mode changing and also allowing the lot to be mounted on a tripod (if / when needed)

If using flash, then the Canon 100mm (and other Canon macro lenses) have grooves around the barrel ends, which are used as location / attachment points for their dedicated macro flash equipment - if you want to use such flash gear with other non-Canon lenses - then you'll have to check whether this's possible via adaptors etc.

If you use std flash gear (as J+H and myself, in fact) then this is irrelevant, of course, unless you want to use it for something else - (attaching an LED focussing light, in my case)

The shorter focal length of the Tamron will provide access to (slightly) greater mags when the lens is used with extension tubes, compared with the 100/105s.

I'd suggest starting with something in this focal length too.

Best of luck, btw.

pp