Macro Lens

Bullysrus

Bullysrus

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Tony
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Hi All,

Looking for a Macro lens for my 5D.

What do you all use and recomend.

Thanks
 
What is your budget is the first question you will be asked?

I bought a set of kenko extension tubes for my 50 1.8 and loved it so I have just placed an order for a sigma 150mm 2.8 macro. After looking and researching about this lens and also the fact that I got it at an excellent price 2nd hand that is the one I decided for (hope it arrives tomorrow :) ).

It also depends on what you want to photograph, if it's bugs, spiders, flys, etc as a general rule 105mm macro would be a minimum reach as you don't have to get quite as close as say a 60mm macro lens.

Take a look around on flickr groups for any lenses that catch your eye to see what kind of shots they can produce.

Clarke
 
I use a nifty fifty 1.8 with a 20mm extension tube for photographing moths.
I've just bought a reversal ring for the same lens and I'm not impressed!!
The extension tube has it!
 
Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro USM. Brilliant lens for both Macro and Portraiture as well.
 
I may have a 105mm Sigma for sale if thats of any use to you let me know and I will post it up
 
Canon 100mm is a great starter lens with internal focus ,good colour , contrast and sharp , and can be had for around £300. To get the best from any macro lens you will also need a hot-shoe flash.
 
Hi Tony

My daughter has the 50mm Sigma Macro lens and is very happy with it, sho doesn't do bugs, so we've no issues with the focal length of the lens.

As others have said, an idea of budget and what you want to use the lens for helps with recommendations - bugs, flowers etc

Cheers
 
If your budget will stretch to it I find the canon 100mm f2.8L fantastic on the 5d mark II as both a macro and portrait lens:)
 
Thanks All.

Ill take a look at the 100mm f2.8l and the macros for my 50mm
 
I have the 100mm F2.8 L and it's a fab lens for macro - the focussing distance is so close you can get as close as the lens hood and still auto focus accurately plus it's a good portrait lens - if it's within your budget I don't think you would regret it.

I also have the 50mm F2.5 macro which is also a good little lens - not as cheap as the nifty-fifty and it's not USM so the focussing can be a bit clunky at times but this is easily forgiven when you see your images
 
The 100L seems to be the best of the standard ~100mm macro lenses (with a price to match that).

There are cheaper options (e.g the tamron 90mm or sigma 105 (or even the non-L canon 100)) that will deliver excellent image quality but without IS and perhaps without the same mechanical quality (non-USM, maybe not as tightly constructed).

Basically, there aren't any true macro lenses on the market that don't deliver superb image quality, just pick the cheapest one with specs that suit your criteria (if you like handholding then a more expensive IS model would be good, if you want to shoot skittish insects a longer focal length can help (e.g the excellent sigma 150mm) or if you want it to double as a general purpose mid-telephoto then one with fast AF would be nicer to work with.
 
I've got the 100mm L f2.8 and have used it on a 550D and a 7D so far, going to try it on my 5D2 sometime this week to see what it's like on that. It's a fantastic lens, super sharp, bright and clear. I'm getting a MP-E65 for christmas and I cant wait for that, I know its going to be tricky and if the worst comes to I can swap it for something else and keep the 100.
 
if you can afford it then the 100 f2.8 L is definitely the way to go - I have been through four Sigmas (50, 105, 150 and 180) and the standard Canon 100mm and the 100 L IS out performs them all. That said they are all very good lenses and can deliver excellent results but the L is just that bit better.
 
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