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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Macro lens help
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 10/17/2005 01:31:09 PM · #1
I would like to purchase a macro lens. Can someone explain what is the absolute best Canon macro lens and what makes it better than the Canon runner up (the next best)?

Thanks,
Eric

PS I have the 24-70L and it claims to have macro capability. Is this true or is it only marginal as a macro lens?
 10/17/2005 01:41:18 PM · #2
By definition a "true" macro lens will give you 1:1 (or better) reproduction. This means the size of the image on the sensor is the same as the size of the original. When you blow the shots up for viewing, of course, they get larger than life size. The 24-70 goes down, I believe, to 1:2, meaning the image on the sensor is half of life size. That's pretty close when you consider the blowup factor, but it isn't "true" macro.

Also, high-quality true macro lenses are optimized for crystal sharpness at very close focusing distances. You can't get the same sharpness, for example, by putting an extension tube on a conventional lens, although the difference may not be that noticeable to the average eye.

All 3 Canon "general use" macro lenses (they also make a very specialized extreme macro lens that won't do infinity) are very sharp from 1:1 through infinity. There's no real quality tradeoff between them. Canon makes a 60mm, a 100mm, and a 180mm "true macro". Your choice will depend on the working distance you want from your subject, basically, and on what you want to use the lens for when it's NOT being used as a macro.

For a walkaround prime lens, the 60mm is probably the best choice. It's small and light compared to the other two, and I enjoy the hell out of it.

Depth of field at 1:1 focusing is not an issue btw. You'd think the loinger lenses would have less DOF but that equation doesn't hold at given reproduction ratios. It's complicated, but take my word for it. I was surprised to learn this a couple months ago...

Robt.
 10/17/2005 02:06:20 PM · #3
There are other, highly regarded lenses available aside from Canon optics. The Tamron 90mm Macro and the Sigma 105 Macro immediately spring to mind. Sigma also makes a 50mm Macro and a 150mm Macro. All will go to 1:1.

Jacko makes good use of the Sigma 105. Take a look at some of his macro work, it's worth it.

If you want to go to even greater reproduction ratios up to 5:1, you should look into the Canon MPE-65 lens. More than 5:1 and you should start looking at microscopes.

If you are interested, I have a Sigma 105 macro lens on Ebay
 10/17/2005 02:33:20 PM · #4
There's really no clear "best", because the different focal lengths play to different strengths. Given all considerations, I feel the 100/2.8 Macro USM is the best overall value, and provides a sharp prime in a focal length that few photogs otherwise possess. The 60 is also a good performer, but IMO the 50/1.8 with extension tubes is probably just as capable for macro. The Canon 180/3.5 L Macro is also an outstanding lens, but at twice the price of the 100/2.8 does not provide a lot of extra benefit (the working distance is not THAT much longer).
The 100/2.8 Macro does compete directly with the Sigma 105mm and Tamron 90mm. It's a bit more expensive, but I feel that the following consideratons make it a better choice:
- Build quality. The 100/2.8 Macro USM could almost be an "L", the build is that good.
- Internal focusing, no length extension, all the way to 1:1 (!)
- Full-time manual focusing (FTM) without funky mechanisms
- Focus limiter switch for shooting as a "normal" lens
- Resale value. The Canon lenses always sell for a greater fraction of their initial price than the 3rd-party equivalents. Not that you'd ever pry my 100/2.8 away from me, LOL.
- No spectre of "rechipping" as with the Sigma lenses

The Canon may possibly be sharper wide open than the Tamron or Sigma, and I believe has superior color and bokeh. It makes a superb longer portrait lens.
 10/17/2005 02:45:27 PM · #5
I love my sigma 105mm ;)
 10/17/2005 03:41:15 PM · #6
Thanks for the responses. So there is no "big" reason why the L series Canon is better?

Also, what would make a macro lens photo look better than using my 24-70L and getting close/zooming?

Thanks
 10/17/2005 03:54:37 PM · #7
Originally posted by eslaydog:
Thanks for the responses. So there is no "big" reason why the L series Canon is better?


No, IMO there is not that big a difference. The real question is, do you need a 180mm prime more than a 100mm prime?

Originally posted by eslaydog:
Also, what would make a macro lens photo look better than using my 24-70L and getting close/zooming?


For macro work, the 24-70 can actually get fairly close, maximum magnification is 1:3.5, meaning that the smallest field of view is approx. 3.1 inches on a 1.6-crop cam. With a "true" macro lens, youcan get 1:1 magnification, so the FoV is 0.9 inches. Big difference.
As a normal lens, The 100/2.8 Macro will be much sharper than the 24-70/2.8 wide open. The 24-70 is typically a little soft wide open at 70mm, whereas the 100 Macro is quite sharp. The color, contrast and bokeh is similar, and of course the 100 is a significantly longer focal length, actually a wonderful length for candid portraits, giving more working distance due to the 160mm-like FoV on the 1.6-crop cams.
 10/17/2005 04:02:25 PM · #8
I just purchased a quantaray 28-90 f/3.5 macro for %99.95. Thought it would be a joke, but for 100 bucks I'd give it a shot. clerk said I could return it if I was really unhapy with it. Ive been pleasantly surprised. I'm sure there are better macro lenses, but for $100, I think I'll keep it. sharp to the edges and a very comfortable size lens for what I normally shoot. the ring for the zoom is a liitle to close to the camera body for me, but for the difference in $$$$$ I can get used to it. David
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