which macro?

[pippa_zc]

i am planning to buy a canon 5d plus a 24-70L lens. i also wish to buy a macro lens. any

suggestions which i should get? i need the pictures to be very sharp and a dime or similar to

take up the whole image. i wouldn't like to spend more than $300/400.

[phule]

You need a bigger budget.

 

Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro

[vernon_collins]

The canon 100mm F/2.8 lense.You might consider using the Velbon macro slider,it will aid in focusing and not having to move your tripod.The trick in making macro shots is to focus with PRECISION.

[bill_muth]

The Canon 100mm macro is a great choice if you're willing to go second-hand to keep in your budget. The older non-USM version can be had in the low $300's, and the newer USM version can be had for around $400. Sharpness is practically identical for both versions, the difference being USM vs. non-USM and internal focusing on the USM version. Note that a dime won't fill even the short side of a standard 24mmx36mm frame using a 1:1 macro (a dime is 17.9mm); you'll need to add 30mm of extension tubes. Without tubes, the dime will cover about 75% of the frame on the short side.<br><br>

 

The Sigma 105mm and Tamron 90mm macros are alsy highly regarded macros n the 100mm range. The Sigma 50mm macro is another good choice - it's a true 1:1 macro (unlike the Canon 50mm macro), is less expensive than 100mm macros, and only requires 15mm of extension tubes to fill a frame with a dime. The longer macros have the advantage of having a longer working distance (you can position yourself further from the subject; more of an issue for nature photographers) and the longer lenses exhibit better bokeh (see <a href=http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-60mm-f-2.8-Macro-USM-Lens-Review.aspx>http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-60mm-f-2.8-Macro-USM-Lens-Review.aspx</a> for a nice example.)

[igord]

50/2,5 compact macro. Small one and gives excellent quality images.

[wes_baker1]

I have an older Sigma 105 macro, about '98 vintage. It's the sharpest lens I own for the EOS, easily better than the 50 1.4. No chromatic aberration at all. Sharper than the 300 f4L in fact.

 

But its autofocus is slow and noisy. The new Sigma is supposed to be a big improvement there, but since I almost always focus manually when shooting macro anyway, I've never had a need to upgrade.

 

Wes

[andrew robertson]

I really like my 100 f/2.8 USM macro.

 

If you are willing to get a used Canon or a new 3rd party lens then your budget is sufficient.

[panos_voudouris]

I love my Tamron 90mm. If you can find one 2nd hand then you'll have plenty of change

left to get a tripod.

[phoneguy]

Here is a link to the same question I posed a few weeks ago.

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00ELKu

 

I thought I was going to get the Sigma 150mm, but ended up going with the Canon 100/2.8 They all seem to be great lenses.

 

Here is a review of the lenses from Jack Rabin.

 

http://postit.rutgers.edu/uploads/Macro%5FWork%5FDistance%2Edoc

 

I don't think the EF-S 60mm will work on the 5D. The 5D is full frame. I could be wrong though

 

Mike

[bobatkins]

100/2.8 Macro. The EF-S 60/2.8 won't fit and the 50/2.5 macro only goes to 1/2 life size. By the time you buy the 1:1 converter for it, you might just have well as bought the 100/2.8 macro in the first place.

 

You can get the 100/2.8 Macro for $450 or less and there's currently a $20 rebate on it.

 

A dime won't fill the whole image. At 1:1 the whole frame will be 24mm x 36mm, so a quarter will though!

[peter_white2]

To fill the frame on the 5D with a dime you'll need this.

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=183199&is=GREY&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

 

You could also use the 100mm macro and some extension tubes.

 

It's not going to happen within your stated budget if you're buying new gear.

 

If you want to consider used gear, get yourself a Canon FD bellows and a few adapters. You might squeeze by for $500 or so.

[grant g]

100/2.8 and Kenko extension tube set. Gets me down to 2x lifesize.

[thomas_munch]

This is getting a bit redundant, but I'd save a bit more for the 100/2.8 USM, and purchase the hood.

 

--tom

[jim_doty]

Get a used Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro, either the current USM model or the older non-USM model. Both are exceptional lenses. Both get to 1x (life size) magnification without any accessories.

 

The EF-S lenses won't work on the Canon 5D so the EF-S macro is out of the question.

 

The Canon 50mm macro is an excellent lens, gets to 1/2 life size, and up to 1x with an adapter. Working distance (lens front to subject) with the 50mm macro is much shorter than with the 100mm macro, so the 50mm doesn't work as well for skittish little critters. If you are filming coins, stamps, and other non-moving subjects, the 50mm macro is just fine.

 

Extension tubes can increase the magnification of either lens.

 

More info here:

 

http://jimdoty.com/Tips/Closeup/closeup.html

 

Jim

[bsd230]

You need to spend a little more and get the 100mm Macro USM. It is one of the sharpest lenses canon makes.

[tommyinca]

A full frame dime on a 5D is ~1.4X magnification. You do have a few option to get quality macro in this range for arround $400. One example is a combination of Kiron 105/2.8 with a Nikon 4T Nikon converter. You may have enough for a used EF50/2.5 still. Both of these lens give outstanding result while maintaining AF on the 50. You don't need AF near or beyond 1X (with the Kiron).

 

Here is an 100% pixel crop of a full frame dime with the Kiron 105/2.8 + 6T (4T will do the same)<div></div>

[ilkka]

100, especially since you plan to get the 24-70. No point duplicating a slowish lens in the same range. If money is really such a concern then Tamron 90 or Sigma 105.

[yakim_peled1]

You just bought equipment worth of nearly 4.5K and you are getting cheap on a macro lens? Get the 100/2.8 USM.

 

Happy shooting,

Yakim.

[sirfish]

I have the 100mm 2.8 macro and love it, but if you want to stay well within your budget you could always get creative and go this route:<br> <br>

 

<a href="http://www.photocritic.org/2005/macro-photography-on-a-budget/">Cheap Macro Lens</a><br><br>

Looks like a fun project too...

[anthony29uk2001]

I use the canon 100 mm f2.8 macro at the time before buying it i was thinking if the 180 mm canon but i changed my mind has it was a larger lens and would have to use a tripod where as all the close i take with the 100 mm are all hend held !and it is a great lens and being a canon macro it has to be has good as a L lens as for macro shots it is critical !<div></div>

[micheleberti]

Also the Canon 24/70 f/2.8L u r gonna take has macro capabilities