Im going for a canon 100mm L macro

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gerbstoke

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I'm itching for a bit of new gear so I've decided to take the plunge and go for one of these. LCE are knocking them out for 680 notes at least that's what they said when I phoned them this morning plus they will take a couple of my lenses in xp for about 350 quid they are a sigma 135-400 and a sigma 70mm dg macro. I would have gone to get it today but they've got non in stock. Any advice would be welcome now that I've got a few days to wait.

Thanks and a very happy new year to everyone .
 
Having had the Sigma 70mm (in Pentax mount) and also having the 100mm L macro I would say the Sigma is ever so slightly sharper. The 70mm macro is often overlooked because of its focal length but is one of the best macro lenses out there.
 
They're a great lens and I'm sure you'll love it. Mine still surprises me nearly all the time with the IQ from it. I've used it with some Kenko tubes and that combo is amazing. You can get them from Panamoz http://panamoz.com/index.php/lens/canon/canon-ef-100mm-f-2-8l-is-usm-lens.html for a lot less (about £510 with a bank transfer) which is a big saving. You might even get away with only selling only 1 of your lenses instead.

This is one I got with my 100L macro, a lowly hoverfly, but I love the colours. This is SOOC.
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Have you also considered buying the Canon f 2.0 100mm IS USM lens and a set of extension tubes?

you would end up with an excellent lens and a set of extension tubes for a similar price to what you are considering paying now.

And you could also sell your lenses privately and probably end up well ahead.
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If macro is what you want to do, a good macro lens is the way to go, so the non-macro Canon f2.0 100mm is not the best option. The Sigma you already have is a good lens - what do you hope to gain by going with the Canon? Admittedly the latest Canon 100mm macro with IS is about the best there is...
 
magicolor1 said:
If macro is what you want to do, a good macro lens is the way to go, so the non-macro Canon f2.0 100mm is not the best option.
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I actually meant using the extension tubes in conjunction with the 100mm lens to give excellent macro results AND have the ability to use the lens as an f2.0 telephoto lens with excellent results even when wide open.

And of course the ability to use the extension tubes on any other lenses as well.

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petersmart said:
I actually meant using the extension tubes in conjunction with the 100mm lens to give excellent macro results AND have the ability to use the lens as an f2.0 telephoto lens with excellent results even when wide open.

And of course the ability to use the extension tubes on any other lenses as well.

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Understood. I still think this would be a poor compromise compared to a good macro lens, and the Canon 100mm macro focusses out to infinity too making it a very decent portrait lens, albeit at 1 stop slower aperture.
 
magicolor1 said:
Understood. I still think this would be a poor compromise compared to a good macro lens, and the Canon 100mm macro focusses out to infinity too making it a very decent portrait lens, albeit at 1 stop slower aperture.
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Well virtually all lenses focus to infinity so that argument is immaterial here and extension tubes will not in any way compromise the quality of any lens since they have no optics.

If you check the tables here:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

you will see there is virtually no difference in sharpness between the two lenses.

I have used extension tubes on many lenses including my 70-300mm L IS USM lens and 50mm f1.8 and find they give excellent results:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=4693317#post4693317

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20926615@N05/sets/72157625975281497/

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If macro is the main purpose then I'd say go for the 100 L macro IS and get a set of extension tubes as well. :). Just bear in mind that the extension tubes do have an effect on the minimum focal distance of the lens with a shallow depth of field as well, and you can end up being very close to your subject.

I've used extension tubes along with a canon 7d/60mm macro as I didn't get the 100L macro until later this year. Some results here if interested
 
Recently went halves with my daughter to buy the 100mm Macro L IS, not really into Macro, but couldn't resist at the bargain Amazon price of £415 after cashback (guessing a few others here felt the same)

Just getting over the Flu (real, not man version) and will have to give the lens a try. No idea what to take pictures of and probably the reason I didn't want to spend more than a couple of hundred quid on it.
 
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Thanks for all the advice and the pictures and where to get cheaper deals.
 
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