Hi, I want to invest in a macro lens and want to get some suggestions from users like you are! I heard about Tokina 100 mm, F 2,8 is cery good an especially for the price they are asking. Is anyone of you 365er using this lens? How about 60 mm from Canon? Oh and i am a canon person :-). I am a absolut beginner but like sharp, clear Photos ( that is usually my problem zone). Looking forward to some comments from you guys. Thank you
@karo Hi Karoline. I have a Tokina 100mm macro and I'm very pleased with it. I have a Nikon D90, and when I was looking for a macro lens I wasn't quite ready to spend what the Nikkor lens was going for, so I did my research and ended up with the Tokina. I've been absent here for a few months, but if you go back earlier in my project you will see that I'm quite fond of shooting macro. :)
Its not a macro lens but just today I had extension tubes arrive which allow me to take macro photos without an expensive lens. Mine were $13.50 AU on ebay. Its just a cheaper option and with a bit of tweaking similar results. I still have a way to go (as I said they arrived today) and a lot of practice but I am happy with my purchase.
I took this with my relatively cheap Sigma 70 - 300 makro lens.
And this with very cheap reversing ring on my Nikon 18 - 55 lens, the difference is the Sigma, your lens is about a meter away from the subject and with the reversing ring a few centimeters away.
Hi Karoline - I use a Sigma 105mm 2.8 lens and love it. Whatever you decide to buy it may be worth getting a tripod as well. I don't always use it (I hand held the camera for this ladybird photo) but sometimes it comes in very handy.
Come to Shanghai and test my Canon 60mm 2.8 :)) I think it's a great lens but I am not so much a macro person. I mean I LOVE to see all the brilliant macro photos here but I am not patient enough and we don't have enough bees and bugs and flowers here ;) Macro takes a lot of practice but I think you would love it! Birthday present, hm?
As a relative newcomer, and not wanting to spend too much initially (before even knowing that I like macro photography) I have used a relatively cheap Maxim macro lens adapter that screws into the front of the lens. I'm still getting used to it!
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. It looks like you are going strong on the Canon 100mm f/2.8! My birthday is coming up in April so lets see what I get ;-)
From what I can see, all of the 100 mm macro lenses are outstanding and you wouldn't be disappointed in any of them. I know people who take amazing pictures with the Tamron 90mm, Sigma 105, and you can see here some wonderful examples with the Canon. I don't shoot Canon, but I'm very happy with my older Vivitar Series One 105 macro (I think it was made by Kiron).
An inexpensive macro lens that's made of lightweight plastic but has excellent optics is the one made by Cosina and sold under several names (I had it as a Phoenix, a friend has the same lens labeled Promaster). It only does 1:2 natively but comes with a matched adapter to go to 1:1. Don't know if it were ever made in a Canon mount though.
I have the Tokina 35mm f/2.8 - which can do 1:1 macro & is a very versatile lens.
I also have the Tokina 11-16mm which I'm happy with, so I'm quite a cheerleader for Tokis. :)
Having said that, I also have the Canon 100mm f/2.8 and it's in a different league, but then it cost 3x as much...
I had a lot of fun with the kit lens & close-up filters before I bought a proper macro lens.
@humphreyhippo thank you - I also have the Tokina 11-16, f/2.8 and really like it. I read very good reviews on the 100 mm macro Tokina and was wondering if the canon macro is worth the extra money.
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Here is a shot of a drop of water I just took with the 100mm:
This is my latest one
And this with very cheap reversing ring on my Nikon 18 - 55 lens, the difference is the Sigma, your lens is about a meter away from the subject and with the reversing ring a few centimeters away.
also using Canon EF Lens EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
and it also good in PORTRAITS
An inexpensive macro lens that's made of lightweight plastic but has excellent optics is the one made by Cosina and sold under several names (I had it as a Phoenix, a friend has the same lens labeled Promaster). It only does 1:2 natively but comes with a matched adapter to go to 1:1. Don't know if it were ever made in a Canon mount though.
I also have the Tokina 11-16mm which I'm happy with, so I'm quite a cheerleader for Tokis. :)
Having said that, I also have the Canon 100mm f/2.8 and it's in a different league, but then it cost 3x as much...
I had a lot of fun with the kit lens & close-up filters before I bought a proper macro lens.