Macro Lens help for Canon

<p>Hello,<br>

I'm just starting to get into macro photography and am in the progress of trying to find the right macro lens for the price. I don't really want to be spending too much as Its not something I believe I will be using often. I've been looking at a couple of sigma lenses. I really like the look of the Sigma 70mm f2.8 but its a little bit more than I really want to spend. The sigma 70-300mm is more in my price range but I'm not sure if it will focus was close as I would like and remain a good level of sharpness. Ideally the 150mm 2.8 would be perfect, but being a student I have a limited price range. Is there any lenses that anyone can reconmend? I use a canon 50d. Also I was wondering if maybe if I should just get an extender to use with one of the lenses I already use, in comparison would the image quality be significantly different?<br>

As you may be able to tell I'm more than just a little confused/indecisive, but I'm hoping to order the new lens in the next couple of days, any help would be highly appreciated.</p>

<p>If you want a real 1:1 (life-size) macro lens, you don't want anything that zooms; none of them are full life-size.</p>

<p>If you're on a budget, Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina all have true 1:1 macro lenses for less than $500 for Canon EOS. I recommend the f/2.8 lenses in the range of 90-105mm. They're all good. I have the Tokina 100mm f/2.8 and I am quite happy with the results it's given me.</p>

<p>If those lenses are outside your price range, then you may find that a Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro (about $250), which provides half-life-size (1:2) magnification, will be sufficient. When your budget allows, you can buy inexpensive extension tubes (Kenko offers a set of three in varying sizes for about $150, and you can add them together) to bring it up to roughly life-size.</p>

<p>Patricia I would wait until you can afford what you really need. Not have to buy twice. On the 50D the efs 60mm macro does some great shots. Do a search on Jim Hoffman his portfolio has great shots with a 350D and 60mm efs lens. The 100mm 2.8 is a cracker and the old none IS version is worth every penny fallen in price since the new one is out. The extra length on a crop body makes it very nice I just shot two flys with this take a look in macro folder. price wise I would wait and get the canon 100mm 2.8 where I am it running at half the price it was two years ago.</p>

<p>Patricia I would wait until you can afford what you really need. Not have to buy twice. On the 50D the efs 60mm macro does some great shots. Do a search on Jim Hoffman his portfolio has great shots with a 350D and 60mm efs lens. The 100mm 2.8 is a cracker and the old none IS version is worth every penny fallen in price since the new one is out. The extra length on a crop body makes it very nice I just shot two flys with this take a look in macro folder. price wise I would wait and get the canon 100mm 2.8 where I am it running at half the price it was two years ago.</p>

<p>On a budget, yeah, just throw $100 at a set of Kenko extension tubes (the more recent ones that accept EF-S lenses). A macro lens is just a lens with a really long focusing mechanism. The same can be achieved with an extension tube, albeit not as conveniently. Image quality will be exactly the same. Be aware that extended zooms will change focus when you zoom.<br /><br />Another cheap/good solution is a bellows. (Search Ebay.) You can either use your EOS lenses on it, or you can mount up a medium format lens (with a longer lens-to-focal-plane distance) and possibly rack from infinite focus to ridiculously close focus.</p>

<p>I've seen the Tamron 90mm F/2.8 macro lens selling used at greatly reduced prices. It's as sharp as any of the macros. The latest version, DI?, has the best lens coating, but I'm not sure if you would notice the difference in real life photos. I'd recommend purchasing from a store that will allow returns, usually 7 days, if it's not to your satisfaction.</p>

<p>Yes, at best, few so-called zoom macros are more than "close focus." For many, taking pictures of flowers and the like, this may be enough.</p>

<p>For real 1:1 coverage, a real Macro lens like some you and others have already mentioned are necessary. Look at some of the Tamron macro lenses, they are quite good, comparing well with any others on the market, and they do cost a little less.</p>

<p>In the meantime, consider buying some close up diopter lenses that will screw into the front of your existing lenses (+1 up to +10). There's no penalty in light transmission to speak of, but some loss of image quality will occur. Not so bad as you'd think though.</p>

<p>Bellows or extension tubes are also good options, but ones that work with the electronics are hard to find and expensive. A better solution is to get some old manual-focus, manual-aperture lenses and use them on regular extensions with Av exposure. There are even special 'copy' lenses made for this purpose and enlarger lenses are another inexpensive option.</p>

<p>I'd save up for the 100mm USM (NON L) Macro. It might just be out of reach now, but I say wait a little until you can get it.<br>

For now, you can consider a cheap extension tube set. If there was a significant price difference from what you could get now and the 100mm, I'd tell you to get whatever you can now, but the 100mm is only 500. If you're willing to drop 350, you can wait until you have another 150 saved up. </p>

<p>The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di lens is a terrfic macro lens and right now you can get one for just over $400 as there is a $50 rebate on this lens. Otherwise, get a set of extension tubes (Kenko is a good brand) and use them with your existing lenses.</p>

<p>You can get an older used model (think everything manual) Tamron 90/2.5 in an Adaptall mount + the mount for your camera for less than $200 by scouring the big auction site or going to KEH. By using different adapters the same lens will work on many different camera should you switch to another brand later.</p>

<p>Not sure what your budget is, but how about the Canon EF-S 60mm macro lens? I think it's about $425 new, so you should be able to pick up a used copy for under $300. The only downside to this lens is the short working distance.</p>

<p>the sigma 105mm and 150mm macros are great lenses.</p>