Macro lens recommendation?

Thanks for all the advice and comments,even though Joel seams to have gone off on a bit of a Christmas journey ;),I have decided not to rush into anything til after Xmas and see if I get any cash that I can put towards a dedicated macro lens.There might be 1 or 2 pop up for sale when people get their credit card bill in January! I do enjoy wildlife photography so it will get used whilst I'm out and about for dragonflies and other insects also.
 
Big Rob said:
... I do enjoy wildlife photography so it will get used whilst I'm out and about for dragonflies and other insects also.
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In that case I'd get one with a reasonably long focal length, min 90mm (Tamron) but you may find 150mm or so better as they will give you more working room for skittish bugs 'n such. One thing with macro lenses is you almost cannot go wrong, they are all very good.
 
Big Rob said:
Thanks for all the advice and comments,even though Joel seams to have gone off on a bit of a Christmas journey ;),I have decided not to rush into anything til after Xmas and see if I get any cash that I can put towards a dedicated macro lens.There might be 1 or 2 pop up for sale when people get their credit card bill in January! I do enjoy wildlife photography so it will get used whilst I'm out and about for dragonflies and other insects also.
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....There are sometimes some high quality dedicated Macro lenses offered for sale in the TP Classifieds - I bought my Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro there. Some people try macro photography but find it too tricky and decide it's not for them.

Btw, the Kenko 1.4x DGX Pro 300 works well with the Canon 100mm Macro making it a sometimes useful 140mm option. < I bought mine on TP Classifieds too! And my Polaroid Extension Tubes!!
 
On my Canon crop DSLR (40D) I was blown away with the EF-S 60mm macro lens; I saw no advantage over spending more on the 100mm macro
 
aserota said:
On my Canon crop DSLR (40D) I was blown away with the EF-S 60mm macro lens; I saw no advantage over spending more on the 100mm macro
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....I'm not suggesting that the Canon 60mm Macro isn't any good but it doesn't have Image Stabilisation and you have to get closer to your subject (if it tolerates you doing so) when compared with the Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro < Those are the advantages.
 
Macro lens choice depends entirely on the subject you are shooting. With sizes of bugs ranging from inches to microns (think the difference between a blue whale and a mouse, and then some) there isn't a one stop shop unfortunately. For larger subjects (such as dragonflies) it's usually preferable to go for longer focal lengths for the reasons Robin gives above. I think a 100mm macro lens is a good all rounder and probably a good place to start. 180mm + lenses are even better at keeping a distance from your subject, but make things like shooting with flash more difficult (primarily because it will be difficult to diffuse).

Tbh any macro lens will be fun but it's worthwhile deciding what types of subject you want to shoot first then go from there.
 
I don't plan on photographing tiny beetles and flies. Just something to get good detail of my snake, Crested geckos and my Chameleon when I get one. I think 100-105 would probably the size I would go for,or maybe 90mm at a push.:)
 
Big Rob said:
I don't plan on photographing tiny beetles and flies. Just something to get good detail of my snake, Crested geckos and my Chameleon when I get one. I think 100-105 would probably the size I would go for,or maybe 90mm at a push.:)
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I approve of your decision :)
 
For the kind of reptiles you have mentioned, i think a 40 or 60mm macro would be a much better option than the 105mm
 
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