Good Cheap Lens for Macro Photography

The Lorne Ranger

The Lorne Ranger

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Hi All,

Im looking at getting a macro lens to have a go at some macro shots.

But im wondering which lens to get?

Im thinking cheap & looking at the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro or a SIGMA 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DG Macro, as im hoping i'll pick up a 2nd hand one for under £100, although maybe not the 28-300mm.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience on any of these lenses, on whether they give good close-up results?

cheers,

Scott
 
The macro bit on any zoom lens is never all that great and certainly won't let you get anywhere near a 1 to 1, or life size image on the camera sensor.

It's really nothing more than a marketing ploy to make these zooms seem better value, or a new model worth the price hike.

A set of extention tubes would be a far better budget option as that way you can actually get the lens in really close to the subject and work real macro shots.

If it really has to be a macro lens for you, the very low priced and very plasticy tamron 90mm is staggeringly impressive optically.
 
Im with Dazzajl, look at the Tamron 90mm. The zooms that call themseves "Macro" generally just mean that its a close focusing camera, doesnt mean its a true macro (1:1)

Mike
 
Scott in this thread (& elsewhere on the forum no doubt) there are some excellent results from people using the Raynox DCR250 macro 'filter' which seems ideal for those who want to do the occasional macro & don't want to lash out on a dedicated lens (it screws onto any lens with thread of 52-67mm) - The Raynox can be had for about £30 (one £bay source is mentioned in the same thread) - I've just got one but haven't tried it yet
Paul
 
Keep your eyes peeled for a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 or a Sigma 105mm f/2.8. Longer focal lengths will give you a greater working distance from thye subject (can be handy for nervous insects) but are more expensive. As people have said above, the zoom "macro" lenses aren't really true macro lenses, they can just focus a little bit closer than the non-macro zooms. Add on lenses are a cheap way to get closer and a set of extension tubs behind a prime lens is also a cheap way in.

Happy hunting (for the lens/tubes/subjects)!

Try Mifsuds, Ffordes, LCE and others for 2nd hand kit.
 
For true macro photography the Tamron 90mm takes a hell of a lot of beating.

You should be able to get a used one for around the £150-£175 mark, its also excellent for portraits.

The Sigma 17-70 has quite a decent macro function.
 
thanks for your comments guy's, never thought of those options.

This looks a better option as i dont really need a dedicated macro lens, i just wanted to try out some close-up shots.

I do have a Sigma 18-200mm, i was trying to do some water droplet shots, but couldnt get close enough with out losing focus.

So maybe extension tubes & the raynox are the way to go.

Looking at about £50 on ebay for the raynox (no 2nd hand at the moment)

Am priceing a canon EF25 II extension tube for about £100, does anyone know of any cheaper brands to look at?
 
scott1979 said:
thanks for your comments guy's, never thought of those options.

This looks a better option as i dont really need a dedicated macro lens, i just wanted to try out some close-up shots.

I do have a Sigma 18-200mm, i was trying to do some water droplet shots, but couldnt get close enough with out losing focus.

So maybe extension tubes & the raynox are the way to go.

Looking at about £50 on ebay for the raynox (no 2nd hand at the moment)

Am priceing a canon EF25 II extension tube for about £100, does anyone know of any cheaper brands to look at?
Click to expand...

Look at the Kenko ones, you can get a set of these for much less around £70 (I Think), at times you will also see some second hand sets of the Jessops ones one second hand, there was a set on here for £35 a few weeks back.
 
I'm in kind of the same boat - I love macros, but can't justify a genuine macro lens. I'm weighing up my options between the Raynox, a set of Kenkos, or how about reversing rings? Anyone have any experience of those?

edited to add...I have a Zuiko 50mm f1.8 I could use on a reversing ring.
 
The Tamron Adaptall-2 f/2.5 90mm Macro isn't at all plasticy. Dunno about the Adaptall mount on current Canon gear . . .
 
I had a play with both the raynox and a set of cheapy ebay tubes on my 55-250.... this is the head of a pin... 450d, ebay cheapy tubes, 55-250 @ 250mm minimum focus distance Raynox DCR250 on the front.

IMG_9301.jpg


A small crop was done, but not a lot. I'm not keen on doing this as you have to stop down the lens, then with the DOF Preview button pressed remove the lens, insert the cheapy tubes and the lens is stopped down, but I wanted to see how close I could get.
 
scott1979 said:
i can get the Raynox for £44 inc postage off amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raynox-RADCR-0250-DCR-250/dp/B000A1SZ2Y

Which seems to be the cheapest i can find at the moment.

Am on the hunt for a cheap set of extension tubes.
Click to expand...

I'm sure mine were only £32.99 incld postage - The seller is in Poland but as mentioned on the thread I linked to earlier I ordered last Thursday & the parcel arrived today (Tuesday) so don't be put off - I am at work so can't link direct to Ebay but the shop is called Fototip - Cheers ... Paul
 
The Raynox macro lenses 150 or 250 are very good and very cheap. I have 2 images up at moment taken with them :)
 
jgs001 said:
I had a play with both the raynox and a set of cheapy ebay tubes on my 55-250.... this is the head of a pin... 450d, ebay cheapy tubes, 55-250 @ 250mm minimum focus distance Raynox DCR250 on the front.

IMG_9301.jpg


A small crop was done, but not a lot. I'm not keen on doing this as you have to stop down the lens, then with the DOF Preview button pressed remove the lens, insert the cheapy tubes and the lens is stopped down, but I wanted to see how close I could get.
Click to expand...

Wow that's close, that would be more than enough for what im looking for.
 
PaulBoy said:
I'm sure mine were only £32.99 incld postage - The seller is in Poland but as mentioned on the thread I linked to earlier I ordered last Thursday & the parcel arrived today (Tuesday) so don't be put off - I am at work so can't link direct to Ebay but the shop is called Fototip - Cheers ... Paul
Click to expand...

yeah i found it, they dont have any DCR-250's at the moment, they only have the Raynox MSN-202 @ £37 + post (Saying it's a greater macro than the DCR-250).
 
Many of the really cheap extension tubes will not stop down the lens to your selected f/stop when you shoot so you would be shooting wide open.
 
Nod said:
Keep your eyes peeled for a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 or a Sigma 105mm f/2.8. Longer focal lengths will give you a greater working distance from thye subject (can be handy for nervous insects) but are more expensive. As people have said above, the zoom "macro" lenses aren't really true macro lenses, they can just focus a little bit closer than the non-macro zooms. Add on lenses are a cheap way to get closer and a set of extension tubs behind a prime lens is also a cheap way in.

Happy hunting (for the lens/tubes/subjects)!

Try Mifsuds, Ffordes, LCE and others for 2nd hand kit.
Click to expand...


Has anyone got experiance with both these lenses? Which one do you think is the best? What about the canon 100 USM?

Matt
 
rpcrowe said:
Many of the really cheap extension tubes will not stop down the lens to your selected f/stop when you shoot so you would be shooting wide open.
Click to expand...

It can be done, I did it in that shot I posted above, but you have to set it up, and disconnect the lens with everything powered up...
 
rpcrowe said:
Many of the really cheap extension tubes will not stop down the lens to your selected f/stop when you shoot so you would be shooting wide open.
Click to expand...

yeah, this crossed my mind aswell, although i can get the cheapy tubes for £8 and then just stop the aperture down 1st, then attach the tubes as jgs001 says, although it is a bit of a fiddle, but £8 is alot sheaper than shelling out £70-£100 for kenkos
 
if you don't mind going manual fand loosing the ability to focus to infinity you could always buy an old canon FD mount macro lens (cost very little) and use a cheap glass free adapter.
 
The benefit of the Raynox, compared to the ebay tubes, is that you don't need to muck about with DOF Preview etc, and potential risks to the lens of unmounting whilst powered, and maintain AF confirm, that sometimes works :).
 
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