Macro or EX12 II

[cressers]

Hi - I have baby on the way, and now that all the home stuff is sorted, its time to move on to getting the camera get in place

My GF loves the macro shots of the hands/feet etc.
I have a 35L and a 10-20mm and 70-200L

I ordered a EF12II and now I am wondering if I would be better with a dedicated macro lens (sigma 50mm) - or would the 35L with the EFII be OK too?

Advice please as I have never dabbled in this stuff before.

Thanks

 

[Martyn...]

Hi - I have baby on the way, and now that all the home stuff is sorted, its time to move on to getting the camera get in place

My GF loves the macro shots of the hands/feet etc.
I have a 35L and a 10-20mm and 70-200L

I ordered a EF12II and now I am wondering if I would be better with a dedicated macro lens (sigma 50mm) - or would the 35L with the EFII be OK too?

Advice please as I have never dabbled in this stuff before.

Thanks

Where to start, a macro lens will also serve as a general purpose prime lens, so if you need a 50mm prime get the macro.

The only issue is the shorter the focal length of a macro the closer that you need to be to your subject, which can cause you problems trying to light the subject.

If you are looking at investing in a macro lens, I would suggest something in the 90 - 105mm range (Tamron 90 is always well reviewed) this will give you a bit more room to your subject, and will double as a nice short telephoto and portrait lens.

The longer 150-200mm range stuff is more for bug / insect photography.

I have no experience of the adaptor you mention, but would imagine on a 35mm lens you may need to get close to the subject, if you have ordered it best to try it and see, if you are not happy with the results I would recommend something in the 90- 105mm range, if you really want to get a macro lens.

May be worth seeing how close you can get using your 70-200.

 

[Canon Bob]

The 35L with a 12mm tube will give you magnification of 0.58x at MFD falling to 0.35x at infinity focussing....a little larger than half life size to 1/3 life size. The downside is that the focus range will be a quite limiting 151 to 201mm and it may be that you'll not be able to frame the subject within these limits.

Bob

 

[strobemonkey]

Macro lens all the way. You can also use it for portraits and for chasing insects.
I can recommend the EF 100 Macro USM which I already sold here. Also used to have a set of Kenko tubes which worked great but limited to static objects.

I know there is a Tamron 90 and Sigma 105 but the benefit of the Canon 100 is it is quicker and silent at focusing (tahnks to USM). The front doesn't extend as well.