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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Undecided on Macro Lens - Tokina vs Sigma vs Canon
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10/10/2006 07:09:18 PM · #1
I am planning to buy a macro lens. So far I can say that I don't know what to choose between those 3:
- Tokina AF 100mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro D macro,
- Sigma AF 150mm f/2.8 APO EX DG HSM macro,
- Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM macro.
I read all the reviews I found on all of them and I'm still not sure what I want/need.

Tokina has a great resolution, Canon also but Sigma beats Tokina on CA issues. The price is not an issue now...well..not an important issue because between 400(Tokina) and 600(Sigma), I think I can handle 100 or 200 of difference.

I'm planning to use the lens also on portraiture (not only for macro) and there are good thing said about Canon on this subject.
Can anyone help me with my choice?

10/10/2006 07:31:27 PM · #2
Canon 100mm w/o a doubt! Just check out these winners: 100mm
10/10/2006 07:32:41 PM · #3
I just bought the canon and all I can say is WOW. What a lens this baby is. I'd have paid 2 times what I did for it(just dont tell Canon!) I finally got a chance to play a little today with it while I was at work. Here are a couple of examples I just uploaded. These are not cropped in anyway. Basic editing and resized with very little smart sharpen.




I'm sold.

MattO

Message edited by author 2006-10-10 23:33:50.
10/10/2006 07:38:27 PM · #4
Nice shots. Should have saved the and entered one in the free study. I think grasshopper = instant ribbon.
10/10/2006 07:48:07 PM · #5
Originally posted by routerguy666:

Nice shots. Should have saved the and entered one in the free study. I think grasshopper = instant ribbon.


You know I never think of challenges anymore. Maybe I should since WPL3 is coming up. Hmm likely too late to kill one from the forums now though.

MattO
10/10/2006 07:52:38 PM · #6
The tamron 90mm macro is another lens to consider, I have it and love it. I would bet it is sharper than my canon 70-200 L and soooo much cheaper.
10/10/2006 08:04:22 PM · #7
Originally posted by MattO:

I just bought the canon and all I can say is WOW. What a lens this baby is. I'd have paid 2 times what I did for it(just dont tell Canon!) I finally got a chance to play a little today with it while I was at work. Here are a couple of examples I just uploaded. These are not cropped in anyway. Basic editing and resized with very little smart sharpen.
{...}
I'm sold.

MattO


crisp images indeed, everybody is saying that Canon it's a sharp lens but so are they about that Sigma...at least on //www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/ ... I studied Tokina option because in some lab tests beats Canon at least on resolution measurements, but it's hard to find users opinions on that Tokina lens.

10/10/2006 08:06:25 PM · #8
Originally posted by datcat:

The tamron 90mm macro is another lens to consider, I have it and love it. I would bet it is sharper than my canon 70-200 L and soooo much cheaper.


Thank you datcat, I will try to find info and review for that Tamron lens also (now it will be even harder to choose) :)
10/10/2006 08:13:41 PM · #9
These are a couple of pics I took handheld, the lizard was real wriggly so it was hard to get him in focus. They are straight from camera no sharpening.







Message edited by author 2006-10-10 20:18:31.
10/10/2006 08:15:31 PM · #10
Also consider Sigma 105 -- one lens i will never get rid of.
10/10/2006 08:24:06 PM · #11


Here is another example with the tamron, there's not as many pics from this lens at DPC as some of the others. I almost went with the Sigma, I was so close...but this one just pipped it at the post for me.
10/10/2006 08:41:28 PM · #12
Originally posted by datcat:

{...}

Here is another example with the tamron, there's not as many pics from this lens at DPC as some of the others. I almost went with the Sigma, I was so close...but this one just pipped it at the post for me.


nice images!
from what I see till now browsing some reviews, the cons towards this lens are related mostly on the build quality.
10/10/2006 08:52:07 PM · #13
Canon 100mm all the way!
10/10/2006 09:15:49 PM · #14
Originally posted by routerguy666:

Nice shots. Should have saved the and entered one in the free study. I think grasshopper = instant ribbon.


Unfortunately ..no :-(



284th...I got no love for my artsy hopper. But those hopper photos posted previous with the canon are pretty nice and Canon will hold value a bit better I think.

Message edited by author 2006-10-10 21:18:29.
10/10/2006 09:48:50 PM · #15
All of the mentioned lenses will do a very nice job for macro. Some say the tammy is even a bit sharper than the Canon, though sample varaibility means that small observed differences might go either way, depending on your "luck of the draw." There are a few things that play in favor of the Canon:
- Internal focusing.
- USM and full-time manual focusing; no need to even chagne the AF/MF switch to override AF :-)
- Focus limiter switch for "normal" shooting
- Build quality is "L without the stripe."

The price is not that much different from the competition, and IMO the functional differences and the potentially higher resale value make it a sound choice. My only gripe is that it should inlcude a lens hood, but instead that's $40 USD extra :-P
10/11/2006 06:16:23 AM · #16
Originally posted by slickchik:

Canon 100mm all the way!


WHAT IS THAT ?????

Message edited by author 2006-10-11 06:16:44.
10/11/2006 06:24:17 AM · #17
Thank you very much guys!
Based on your advices and on other sources (FredMiranda, PhotoZone, BH, etc...), I have now a conclusion.
(ufff...what an agitated night...)

LET IT BE CANON!
and btw...niiice images on the lens page here on DPC.

You can see also the numbers that helped me to stick with this Canon lens.



10/11/2006 07:58:40 AM · #18
You won't be disappointed with the Canon. I've had mine a few weeks now and am very pleased with it. Here's a sample pic that I took in the back yard. Unlike the link to the 'winners' photos earlier in this thread, this image did not go through any PP in photoshop. Shot straight as a jpeg. The lens is extremely crisp and sharp.

10/11/2006 09:50:18 AM · #19
Originally posted by kirbic:

There are a few things that play in favor of the Canon:
- Internal focusing.

Sigma is IF also.

Originally posted by kirbic:


- USM and full-time manual focusing; no need to even chagne the AF/MF switch to override AF :-)

Sigma is ISM, same thing.
Originally posted by kirbic:


- Focus limiter switch for "normal" shooting

Sigma has the same
Originally posted by kirbic:


- Build quality is "L without the stripe."


Excellent build quality on my Sigma.

All that being said, I'd get the Canon lens.

Any differences in image quality won't be seen on the 640x640
images on DPC. The photographer makes the images, not the
camera/lens quality.

10/11/2006 09:56:03 AM · #20
I am the happy owner of the Sigma AF 150mm f/2.8 APO EX DG HSM macro - and I wouldn't trade it for the canon, tamron or anything else for that matter, as I'm very impressed with it's performace...

Take a look at some of my macros:



I believe these images are pretty convincing...


10/11/2006 10:03:56 AM · #21
I too have the Sigma 150. I love it. I've had it for about 1 1/2 weeks and have only had the chance to play with it a couple of times. I would show some shots I took last night but I'm probably going to enter one in a challege. Its big and heavy, build quality is not an issue, its tack sharp and 150mm 2.8. Not too bad. Honestly, any way you go, I think you will enjoy the new world you will discover in macro photography.

Message edited by author 2006-10-11 10:05:08.
10/12/2006 05:23:49 AM · #22


silverscreen, they are beautiful macros, its your skill that shines in these shots and yes the lens is yummy.

...

Message edited by author 2006-10-12 05:24:59.
10/12/2006 05:54:46 AM · #23
Another one to consider
is the one that got this shot:
10/12/2006 06:00:34 AM · #24
Originally posted by BradP:

Another one to consider
is the one that got this shot:


Yes - that is indeed an impressing result with the kit lens + adapter...

(I never uNDerstood how the kit lens got the bad reputation it has - I use it a lot, and I don't believe you can get more value for mOney anywhere. But maybe it's just because it can't be good and cheap at the same time)
10/12/2006 04:21:31 PM · #25
Originally posted by silverscreen:

I am the happy owner of the Sigma AF 150mm f/2.8 APO EX DG HSM macro - and I wouldn't trade it for the canon, tamron or anything else for that matter, as I'm very impressed with it's performace...

Take a look at some of my macros:
{...}
{...}

I believe these images are pretty convincing...


Exceptional macros indeed. The dragonfly eyes are ...amazing!

I can't wait to play with my new macros lens (order already posted, so in a week or two I'll flood DPC with my macro images...YeeeHaaa!)

Message edited by author 2006-10-12 16:24:09.
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