Which Macro lens

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fujifumbler

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My mums partner has an EOS 400D and is looking for a macro lens to take pics of insects and general close ups, any suggestions of which lens to go for would be appreciated :)
 
for macro work i use the sigma 150 macro which can be had for about £330. I use mine on a 400D as well its its heavier than the camera so can upset the balance a bit. If you have a battery grip that does help to reduce it.

The lens is very sharp and with being 150mm you dont have to get too close to get a reasonable size image in the frame.

Its also very good at a medium telephoto and an added advantage is that for not alot more a sigma 1.4 extender can be used and you have a 210mm f/4 lens With very little loss in quality.
 
I have got the Canon 100mm macro. It's a great lens, although a tad on the expensive side. Last issue - Or maybe one before - of PhotoPlus they reviewed macro lenses specificaly and the Canon 60mm macro was the winner.

They had good things to say about it and it was cheaper and lighter than the 100mm.

The thing to remember is that the 100mm macro will mean that you can take the opcture from further away than say the 60mm macro. It depends on those wary bugs really!! Will they let you get close enough before they get spooked?

There are other threads I'm sure on the forum about the same sort of thing. Have a search and read, we've all got a different point of view!
 
I borrowed a fellow forumite's Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX IF HSM Macro the weekend before last and it was awesome. I've heard good things about the 105 as well.

If you have a look round these forums there are a lot of shots with both lenses. The 150 is ~£350 as a grey import, £420 in the UK.

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/macro/150mm.htm
 
I've also got the Sigma 150:thumbs: which I use on a Nikon D60. I am very pleased with it so far, although still a novice at macro. It comes with a 3 year warrenty from Sigma (you have to register on their web site) if the lens is sourced from a shop supplied by Sigma UK.
Lens is a tad heavy, build quality seems good with quick release mounting collar. Very quiet compared to others I am led to beleive.
Mike
 
Another vote for the Sigma 150mm but to be fair any of the macro lenses on the market produce stunning results. I like the 150mm for the working distance, the focus ring which is large, smooth and easy for fine adjustments plus it comes with tripod collar and lens hood.
 
If he doesn't want to spend much you could also look at the cheaper options:

1) reversing ring - fits between the body and the lens (which is fitted backwards!)

2) dioptre lens - screws on to your lens just like a filter - My wife had a lot of good shots with hers prior to me buyer the Nikon 105mm macro

3) macro extension tubes - fit between the body and the lens

All three examples cost about 20-25 pounds each or possibly less. They are not as good as macro lenses BUT they are cheap and give you an idea of what you can get later. My favourite of between 2 & 3 is (2) as the camera still works just as it did before but everything is nearer and there are no light problems (I have never actually used a reversing ring). I have used my wife's dioptre on my macro lens for an arty shot that I really liked (although nobody else did :))
 
Sigma 105 is also an excellent lens. Mine hardly seems to be off the camera these days.
 
For Insect photography, longer focal length is king - I owned the 60mm Nikkor Micro. Although tack sharp and excellent for both portraits and art photo/macro, it would frighten away most insects due to the close focus.

Anyway, most macro primes over 100mm are superbly sharp, and in Canon mounts the Sigma is surely a good bet. Alternatively, you might want to look at the Tamron 90mm - a little shorter, but concensus is that it's a great lens.
 
Does anyone know of a good source to buy the Sigma 150?
 
7dayshop are pretty cheap at the moment...
 
Check camerapricebuster.co.uk
 
Thanks Guys for all your help i will pass it on
 
I recently bought a Canon 60mm Macro lens and really pleased with it - it cost around £280. I had a go with a friends Sigma but it was extremely noisy.
 
I don't think you can go wrong with any of the macro lenses, I think they are all of very good quality. I use the the Canon 100mm and love it.
 
Mike D said:
I've also got the Sigma 150:thumbs: which I use on a Nikon D60. I am very pleased with it so far, although still a novice at macro. It comes with a 3 year warrenty from Sigma (you have to register on their web site) if the lens is sourced from a shop supplied by Sigma UK.
Lens is a tad heavy, build quality seems good with quick release mounting collar. Very quiet compared to others I am led to beleive.
Mike
Click to expand...


...have you got a link to that lens on the Sigma web-site? I'm thinking it might be a good accompanyment to my D70. I ask as the missis is expressing an interest in macro lately and I don't have one in my kit.
 
Another vote for the Sigma 150 here. One thing that's not been mentioned yet, is that the lens does not extend when you are focusing.(There's a technical phrase for this, but can't remember it). The 105 and the Tamron 90 do, IIRC. Not sure on the others.
 
internal focusing by any chance?
 
7dayshop seem very cheap, are they a reputable company. Only £375.95 Sigma Macro 150mm f/2.8 EX DG IF HSM.
 
DavidUK said:
...have you got a link to that lens on the Sigma web-site? I'm thinking it might be a good accompanyment to my D70. I ask as the missis is expressing an interest in macro lately and I don't have one in my kit.
Click to expand...
See my post above for the link :D
 
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