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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Macro Lens for Rebel XT 60mm 2.8
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12/20/2005 10:37:03 AM · #1
I recently purchase a Rebel XT with the 18-55mm kit lens, canon 28-135 is usm, canon 70-300 is usm. I also have a 50mm 1.8 normal lens from an old Canon EOS 630 film camera. I have been trying to get close ups for the shallow DOF challenge and none of these lens are good for really close ups. Examples of close ups: pencils, small icicles, berries, and other small items. My question is would the Canon EF-S 60mm 2.8 macro lens be a good lens? I would be using the lens for portraits, auto photography, and macro close-ups since it is near the ideal 100mm for portraits/true look of things.
Another question I have is would the Canon 60mm 2.8 usm macro lens be a better choice/more functional than the normal Canon 50mm 1.8 lens? So I was thinking of selling the old 50mm and getting the 60mm.
Open to all suggestions and is there another quality macro lens near the Canon lens I should look at?

Thank you.
12/20/2005 10:39:51 AM · #2
What about the FOX close-up / macro lenses that simply mount in the front of the standard ef-s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens? Are these good for $20-$25 or should I just plan on the 60mm 2.8 macro?

Thank you
12/20/2005 10:46:40 AM · #3
i bought +1, +2, and +4 close-up filters last week for the same purpose coz cheaper. if i had to choose a macro lens, i'll get either EF 100mm/2.8 macro or Tamron 90mm/2.8 Di macro.

here are some photos (cropped/usm/resized/level in photoshop) taken using EF 85mm/1.8 and +1 +2 +4 hoya close-up filters:
//binaryform.blogspot.com/2005/12/bored.html
//binaryform.blogspot.com/2005/12/pencil-story.html

12/20/2005 10:54:04 AM · #4
i think bear_music has the 60 macro lens - PM him for details.

For close up work you need a macro lens, extension tubes or close up filters. In order of quality (and cost).

So any of your other lenses do macro? I have teh tamron 24-135 SP and Sigma 70-300 APO and both do macros (not 1:1 like a true macro lens but close enough for government work)

YOu can get very shallow DOF with the 50 1.8. here's a qucik \smap my wife did when i first got my rebel and 50 1.8. My daughter is in focus, i am not. I am maybe 6 inches behind her.


or try your telephoto at 300mm and move in to the min focus distance an dshoot wide open. at 300mm and getting close there DOF gets narrow as well
12/20/2005 12:22:57 PM · #5
there is also a way that you can get a thread reversal ring that will stick your 50mm 1.8 backwards on the end of any of your other lenses, turning them into wildly cool macro lenses for very cheap.

You have to be very very careful not to hit things with the rear element as it is exposed like this.

This is a very cheap way to go and is VERY effective.

It reduces working distance a lot though.

Generally people want nice shallow depth of field, but at a bit of a distance from the lens. This helps to prevent live subjects from spooking out.

If you want to shoot canon glass, your best options are probably the 60mm 2.8 or the 100mm 2.8. A lot of people prefer the 100mm 2.8 because it allows more distance. It is a really nice lens too and has internal focusing which can be very nice as well.

The 60mm is designed for the 1.6 crop factor and has optics specialized for it. the 100mm is not, but has wicked optics anyhow. The benefit is that the 100mm is not an EF-S lens, so has probably marginally higher resale value.

Edit:

Oh yeah and educate yourself on the value of that older 50mm 1.8. If it has metal mounting, it can be sold for a very decent price because it is such an amazing lens and it is more robust than the new one.

You might even consider selling the metal mount and getting a cheaper plastic mount (70$) lens just to have hanging around and for using with those close-ups with the rear element exposed. Slightly less risky with a cheaper lens.

Optical quality is supposed to be very close.

Message edited by author 2005-12-20 12:25:20.
12/20/2005 12:28:29 PM · #6
if you're looking to spend less, you could get extension tubes. you can easily get 1:1 with extention tubes on that lens. It won't be as sharp as a macro lens, but the extention tubes also work with other lenses. I know people who use them on 400mm lenses so they can have the working distance they need and the magnification too.
12/20/2005 01:37:00 PM · #7
If you look at Photozone.de, the EF-S 60mm macro is sharper than the 50m 1.8. Not a hugh amount but sharper never the less. The min. focus distance of the macro is .2 vs .45m for the 50mm f1.8.

If I remember correctly, the magnification of the 60 is 1:1, meaning a 1mm object will be 1mm big on your sensor. The 50mm is about 1:7, which means that a 1mm object will be about 1/7mm big on the sensor itself.

I have the 50mm and used the macro once. Comparing the two, the macro feels like a real quality lens with MFT focusing, quiet USM focusing, and a solid construction. The 50mm feels like a $80 lens, cheap and plasticky. You can also get really close to the subject, which you cannot with the 50mm. I think the 50mm is a nice cheap lens with great optics but if you are into macros and don't mind having a EF-S mount, then it's a great lens.

12/20/2005 01:42:59 PM · #8
the canon 50mm 2.5 macro is probably the best 50mm lens optically canon makes, it'll give you 1:2 focus by itself. Sigma also has a 50mm macro lens that will do 1:1 focus. Both should be considered :-)
12/20/2005 01:44:53 PM · #9
The Canon 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens is a great lens, no question about it. It's tack-sharp, it does true macro, it's well built and it feels solid. The Canon 100mm macro is just as good (some say better, but I don't agree) but the 60mm is an EF-S lens (designed for digital use only) and consequently it is subsrantially less bulky and weighty than the 100mm, which is why I ended up getting it. I find 60mm on a 1.6 crop camera (350xt, 20D) to be an excellent focal length for portraits as well.

Robt.
12/20/2005 01:46:59 PM · #10
Originally posted by bear_music:

The Canon 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens is a great lens, no question about it. It's tack-sharp, it does true macro, it's well built and it feels solid. The Canon 100mm macro is just as good (some say better, but I don't agree) but the 60mm is an EF-S lens (designed for digital use only) and consequently it is subsrantially less bulky and weighty than the 100mm, which is why I ended up getting it. I find 60mm on a 1.6 crop camera (350xt, 20D) to be an excellent focal length for portraits as well.

Robt.

but bear, of course the 100 is better, i can actually use it :-P
12/20/2005 02:09:59 PM · #11
I agree with Bear, I started with the 60mm and recently moved to the 100mm. The image quality on both is the same! All the other pros noted are spot on as well (size, weight, true macro, etc.).

The ONLY reason I sold the 60mm was that it was EF-S, and I expect I will upgrade at some point in the future - and the market for EF-S lenses is still hot right now (I got $370 for the lens just last week on eBay). The release of the 5D was an indicator to me of the longevity of the EF-S lenses (others may argue differently).
12/20/2005 02:20:51 PM · #12
Originally posted by kyebosh:

the canon 50mm 2.5 macro is probably the best 50mm lens optically canon makes, it'll give you 1:2 focus by itself. Sigma also has a 50mm macro lens that will do 1:1 focus. Both should be considered :-)

The sigma one is quite tasty (I use it a lot), and the advantage of these are that they are EF rather than EF-S lenses, should you want to upgrade camera body and keep using the lens...
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