Getting into Macro?

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mantamark

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I'm looking at getting a Macro lens, but theres so many different ones, and i am yet to find what i need (a long list of every lens, with a price & a review would be nice)

Basically, i'm not going for the full setup, i will be using it for when i'm out & about, but may be persuaded to get a flash unit, hoods, tubes or anything else that is needed.

Basically, i'd like to spend less than £200 in total, as i'm also after a wide angle for building shots & car shows and dont have loads of cash to throw around.

I dont have much photography experience, so im a beginner, i can take a half decent shot (i think so anyways) and am quite technically minded, so any technical chit chat is welcome.

Main subjects will be flowers, but will be after some creepy crawlies too.

So, let me have it

Many thanks.

Mark.

Ps, its for a Canon 400D, and if there are any decent suggestions for a wide angle lens, that would be good too (around the £200 mark again)
 
Sorry, adding onto the list of things i need, remote shutter release, is the canon one fine, and does it make a difference wire or wireless?

Thanks!
 
have a look at the Sigma 105mm cracking lens for the price. less than £200 for a used example
 
you would be hard pushed to get a macro lens for £200 i have the 100mm f2.8 i payed a lot more but i bought it new

you have the

sigma 105mm f2.8 macro
tamron 90mm macro
canon efs 60mm macro
canon 100mm f2.8 macro
canon/sigma 180mm macros
and the awesome mp-e65 manual focus macro

i can only review the 100mm canon and its an awesome lens that some say should have the L rating
 
So no good budget ones then, hmph.

Will look into those listed, thanks.

£200 was a starting point, i guess ive saved up that much, i can keep saving, or take some from my wide angle fund, so i'd say £300 then, and 2nd hand is fine.

Thanks for the help!
 
My Tamron 90mm f/2.8 was under £200 2nd hand from a dealer (NAF though, not EOS). Try Mifsuds and Ffordes to see what they've got in stock. I can recommend the Tamron lens and also the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 (although I only played with the Sigma for an hour or 2). For creepy crawlies, you may find that a longer lens keeps the working distance greater for the same magnification so the beasties are less likely to be spooked. Some sort of support is handy too - the depth of field in macro is shallow so even a mm or so can alter the focus point significantly.
 
If budget is a big consideration then maybe you should opt for an older Canon FD 50/3.5 macro and 25mm extension tube....around £80 normally. An FD to EOS adapter (without glass) will cost a further £15-20 and you're up and running. You'll lose the ability to focus to infinity (not a problem for macro) and it will be purely manual focus (all macro is anyway).

You might have saved enough to get you wide angle at the same time.

Bob
 
get on ebay now the canon 100mm is going for silly money (22 hours and £76)
 
Sigma 105mm is :thumbs: Believe it or not Jessops were the cheapest place when I bought mine a wee while back, worth going along and having a shot of one. Then go home and buy it online from them and save yourself about 40 quid :lol:
 
sorry for the poor reply, im in the van heading to n.wales to do some work. Mobiles are pap for forums. Well, mine is anyway!

I had budgeted 200 each for a macro and a wide, but am willing to move some around to get a better lens.

I want a lens i can use to get good detailed shots of flowers and bugs, i mean like full screen spiders with eyes and hairs in detail.

Just wonder which length would be best, as im still not 100% understanding focal lengths and so on.

Pro.wannabe, do you have a link, or item number, i cant find it with this mobile!

Flash, how much did you pay, and how is the lens performing?

Thanks for the advice so far!

Thinking of a sub 20mm lens for my wide stuff. Dont know if i want static or zoom though.

Think i will rent one before i commit to buying.

Thanks again.

Mark.
 
just do a general search it will have gone now but i have seen thing go silly low on ebay this week
 
Sigma 105mm and a set of tubes and you'll do everything you want, including eyes and hairs.
MP-E65 is a pain to use because you need to get so close to insects you generally scare them off and you will probably need the MT-24EX flash as it needs good light, costing about a grand for the two.
The sigma is razor sharp and everything you need.
 
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