macro lens help

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stevewrx

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steven
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Hi all got a 7d just got it and wont to try doing some macro but don't know what lens to go for sigma (60mm,70mm,100mm 105mmmacro) am looking at taking pics of wasps fly's butterfly's flowers that sort of photos any help would be great
thanks
Steve
 
stevewrx said:
Hi all got a 7d just got it and wont to try doing some macro but don't know what lens to go for sigma (60mm,70mm,100mm 105mmmacro) am looking at taking pics of wasps fly's butterfly's flowers that sort of photos any help would be great thanks Steve
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What is your budget? You really need the longest focal length to increase the working distance between camera and shy timid subject.
 
my budget is not a lot about £250 at a push as I have just got a 7d
 
Search hard enough and you may drop lucky and find the canon 100mm (non L version but still an excellent lens).

If it's bugs you're after you need one of the longer focal lengths. As good as the 60mm is, it's too short for your needs
 
A used Canon 100mm can be had for between £260 and £280 so only just outside your budget.
However, I have a Sigma 105 and it's a cracking lens which, if you're lucky, a used one can be bought significantly cheaper than the canon. ;)
 
I don't normally shoot bugs, tried a few times and that's about all :D but I do agree with going as long as possible as the further you are from critters the less chance they'll take fright and fly away.

I have a Sigma 150mm and it seems to be a very good lens, no IS on mine though so a fast shutter speed is needed.

Recently I've been using extention tubes and have also had fun with just a x2 TC and a non macro 135mm on my MFT G1.
 
Have you thought of a Raynox macro attachment? They're only about £40 and you could use it with a lens you already have. There are lots of photos on here taken with a Raynox and they're very good.
 
Last week WEX Photographic had a used sigma 105 f2.8 EX non OS in their showroom for about £150. I very nearly bought it. It's never been on their website so don't know if they still have it, maybe worth a call.
 
Thanks Chris i will give them a ring and see if they still have it
 
Hi Terry dont know can i use them with zoom lens as all i have got is zooms i dont know about this macro photography must do some reading on it
Steve
 
Yes, you can use tubes with zoom lenses.
 
Hi Terry thanks for the offer I am a fair way from you just don't know which way to go (tubes or lens) the lens are abit on the dear side for me at the moment having just got the 7d the are a good price if but people say a lens is better for taking photos of bugs so I don't know which way to go
Steve
 
what about a 90mm or 105mm lens would one of them be ok for live insects
 
pooley said:
I'm sorry but that's completely the wrong lens for the op. Shooting live insects needs a longer focal length than 60mm.
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Ive not had any issues. With 18mps you can crop and that would give a dual purpose lens. Yes the 105 is better but a one trick pony
 
So you think the best lens for the job is one which requires you to throw away your MPs? I don't think you'll find to many photographers who know their stuff recommending that way of working.

I've nothing against 60mm lenses - I have the canon version and its brilliant for what use it for, but on this occasion you are offering very poor advice. The OP has specified a lens for insects and flowers - 60mm really does not cut it in this regard.
 
pooley said:
So you think the best lens for the job is one which requires you to throw away your MPs? I don't think you'll find to many photographers who know their stuff recommending that way of working. I've nothing against 60mm lenses - I have the canon version and its brilliant for what use it for, but on this occasion you are offering very poor advice. The OP has specified a lens for insects and flowers - 60mm really does not cut it in this regard.
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The 7d will of course have a 1.6x crop factor, taking the effective focal length of a 60mm lens to 96mm but like you, I feel a Canon 100mm of Sugma 105mm would serve Steve better for what he wants the lens for.

Field craft is a very important part of successful macro photography but having as longest focal length as possible certainly helps with creating a further away working distance from the flies etc.
 
pooley said:
So you think the best lens for the job is one which requires you to throw away your MPs? I don't think you'll find to many photographers who know their stuff recommending that way of working.

I've nothing against 60mm lenses - I have the canon version and its brilliant for what use it for, but on this occasion you are offering very poor advice. The OP has specified a lens for insects and flowers - 60mm really does not cut it in this regard.
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No but its about having a lens that doubles up otherwise we would all have a bag full of primes wouldnt we :)
 
so what do you all think is the best lens to use as i am not into macro yet just starting out
steve
 
stevewrx said:
so what do you all think is the best lens to use as i am not into macro yet just starting out steve
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If you can get a Canon 100mm macro lens within budget, that would be a cracking buy IMHO. The Sigma 105mm macro lens is also very good and possibly has OS (optical stabiliser) as well.

With the crop factor of the 7D sensor, you would have an effective focal length of 160mm or 190mm in the case of the Sigma which should be enough working distance for a novice.

The lenses above do tend to keep their value so if macro photography ends up not being for you, you should be able to recoup most if not all of the original outlay.
 
markta said:
With the crop factor of the 7D sensor, you would have an effective focal length of 160mm or 190mm in the case of the Sigma which should be enough working distance for a novice.
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"Equivalent focal length" isn't relevant in the macro world, surely. The working distance of a lens is independent of the camera it's mounted to. On a FF camera, at MFD you get a 1:1 image of an object the size of the FF sensor. On a crop camera, at MFD you get a 1:1 image of an object the size of the crop sensor. That's all.
 
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pooley said:
Getting back on track, then purely for macro shots of insects and flowers on your given budget, I'd go for the following lenses in the below order

1. Canon 100mm f2.8
2. Sigma 105mm
3. Tamron 90mm
4. Tokina 100mm
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Yes agree any of these would be perfect:)
I now use the Canon 100L macro but used the sigma 105 for years it's an excellent lens still got it in fact , couldn't bring myself to sell it !
 
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Hi all thanks for all the help and info on macro lens got a lot to lean still about macro what is MPB photographic like for second hand lens as they have got canon 100mm and sigma 105mm in
Steve
 
thanks have had a look on ebay but don't like buying of their and the prices are abit dear who would you recommend have not seen any on here (classifieds)
Steve
 
StewartR said:
"Equivalent focal length" isn't relevant in the macro world, surely. The working distance of a lens is independent of the camera it's mounted to. On a FF camera, at MFD you get a 1:1 image of an object the size of the FF sensor. On a crop camera, at MFD you get a 1:1 image of an object the size of the crop sensor. That's all.
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That's the case when thinking purely in terms of magnification, Stewart. If you swap over into thinking in terms of framing a shot then you will need to increase the subject distance with a crop sensored body (which lowers the magnification) and it also becomes relevant when the subject is larger than a crop sensor.

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
That's the case when thinking purely in terms of magnification, Stewart. If you swap over into thinking in terms of framing a shot then you will need to increase the subject distance with a crop sensored body (which lowers the magnification) and it also becomes relevant when the subject is larger than a crop sensor.
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Fair point, Bob. I've spent so much time recently with the MP-E 65mm that I have been thinking almost totally about magnification. Of course I know you can use macro lenses for non-macro subjects (eg portraits) and in that case the effective focal length and working distance are very relevant. But I must have pushed all that to the back of my mind!
 
stevewrx said:
thanks have had a look on ebay but don't like buying of their and the prices are abit dear who would you recommend have not seen any on here (classifieds)
Steve
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The Sigma 105mm at £199 on MPB's site looks like a decent deal. That's about what you'd expect to pay privately on ebay or on here I'd imagine, except of course you'll get their warranty. Great company to deal with too.
 
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