Help required on lens please

C

cheza p

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4
Name
cheryl
Edit My Images
No
Hi everyone,

Need some help on choosing a lens please. My daughter has a Cannon EOS 550D & is after a macro lens. I have found 2 but which is best ?

Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM
Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM

Sorry I really dont understand the numbers but hoping someone can help.

Thank you so much
 
For use on a 550D it would have to be the 35mm f2.8 but also have a look at the EF-S 60mm F2.8 macro lens too.

the 28mm f3.5 is a Canon EF-M mount which is for the canon mirroless cameras only e.g. EOS M, M3, M5, M6, M10
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Bear in mind that both of those lenses are very short focal length. This means she will have to get very close to the subject. Fine for inanimate objects but live subjects such as insects or spiders or flies will probably be spooked and disappear.
 
As above, any lens that is prefixed with EF-M will not be compatible. You need to look at lenses with a prefix of EF-S or just EF.

A few questions though that might help:

What is your budget, as there may be more suitable options that could be recommended?
Is there a specific use that your daughter has for this lens (i.e bugs) or is it just a general purpose macro for her to use?
Does it have to be a new lens, as you can get very well looked after used equipment for some good savings if budget is tight?
 
Last edited:
Are these really macro lenses?

Check with your daughter to find out what she wants to use it for but macro lenses are normally able to focus close to your subject and very often capable of 1:1 magnification.

If your daughter wants to take pictures of small things such as bugs, flowers or something like that the 60mm suggested by Stewart or maybe a 50mm, 90, 100 or 150mm f2.8 true macro will be more suitable than these lenses for which using the word macro may be a little bit of a stretch as they're probably are not suitable for what most people would call macro shooting.
 
Alternatively you can purchase extension tubes which fit between an existing lens and the camera body. They are less convenient but a lot less expensive and a good start in macro photography.
Dont buy cheap Chinese ones off e-bay as often they arent automatic (that is they dont maintain proper electrical contact between body and lens or they sometimes jam in position).
You can get generic ones made by independant manufacturers, https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Ke...MI0oWS5u2a1wIVixbTCh12MQIKEAQYBCABEgKzVvD_BwE
I havent used these but Kenko have a good reputation.
I have a ef-s 60mm macro (Canon) and its a lovely little lens on my wife's crop format camera. I also have a 100 ef macro for my full frame 5d and its much bigger, she prefers the 60mm but both fit her camera.
Matt
 
Last edited:
Craigus said:
As above, any lens that is prefixed with EF-M will not be compatible. You need to look at lenses with a prefix of EF-S or just EF.

A few questions though that might help:

What is your budget, as there may be more suitable options that could be recommended?
Is there a specific use that your daughter has for this lens (i.e bugs) or is it just a general purpose macro for her to use?
Does it have to be a new lens, as you can get very well looked after used equipment for some good savings if budget is tight?
Click to expand...
Budget of about £250, she will be using it for nature so bugs etc. thank you so much for your help
 
cheza p said:
Budget of about £250, she will be using it for nature so bugs etc. thank you so much for your help
Click to expand...

"Bugs" and stuff that could be frightened away (or sting you!) are maybe best photographed with longer lenses so you can be further away. Note that these lenses can also make nice portrait or general long use lenses :D I used to have a Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro and loved it :D

I'd look at 90, 100 or 150mm lenses from Canon, Sigma and Tamron.

You may have to look at a used lens with some of these to keep it in budget.

PS.
I've just Googled and found used Sigma 70 and 105mm f2.8 macro lenses in budget so it looks like you shouldn't have a problem finding a nice lens :D
 
Last edited:
woof woof said:
"Bugs" and stuff that could be frightened away (or sting you!) are maybe best photographed with longer lenses so you can be further away. Note that these lenses can also make nice portrait or general long use lenses :D I used to have a Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro and loved it :D

I'd look at 90, 100 or 150mm lenses from Canon, Sigma and Tamron.

You may have to look at a used lens with some of these to keep it in budget.

PS.
I've just Googled and found used Sigma 70 and 105mm f2.8 macro lenses in budget so it looks like you shouldn't have a problem finding a nice lens :D
Click to expand...
You'll probably get a Canon 100 2.8 or a Tamron 90mm 2.8 for that budget.
 
The Canon 100mm F2.8 Macro (not the "L") is pretty cheap these days and an excellent lens which will allow a reasonable working distance. The Tamron and Sigma equivalents are very nice too - they are all good!

As Woof suggested the Sigma 150mm is another good option. I have used a couple of the original versions and they worked well on my Canon cameras though, for my uses, I prefer the Canon EF 1200 F2.8 Macro.

You/she won't go wrong with any of them - I just like the Canon 100 F2.8 Macro the most, but that is just me! It is a great portrait and Landscape lens too.
 
Thank you all so much, She did have a Tamron lens but it failed just after 12 months so put me off slightly, will try Sigma, Thanks again :)
 
cheza p said:
Thank you all so much, She did have a Tamron lens but it failed just after 12 months so put me off slightly, will try Sigma, Thanks again :)
Click to expand...

Just an obvious point but it's worth saying anyway...

When looking at makers like Sigma and Tamron make sure you look at lenses in Canon EF mount as they make lenses to fit lots of makes of camera... and you don't want one in Nikon mount :D If in doubt ask the shop/person you're buying it off.
 
Thank you all, how about this one ?

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX Macro DG HSM Optical Stabilised Lens
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top