I want to get a macro lens for my DSLR. I came across this one: Sony SAL-30M28 30mm f/2.8 DT AF Macro Lens. Does anyone have this lens or can you recommend one to me? Any help would be appreciated!
@danyell48 I have the tamron 90mm macro lens for my sony a55. When I bought it, I did a lot of reading on different lenses and talked to people on dpreview. I looked at photos on dyxum.com (a great place to compare lenses). I thought initially that a 30mm macro would give better closeups than a longer lens, say 90mm. But I think they both give similar closeups, but with a 30mm you have to get closer to what you're shooting. If you're shooting flowers or coins, that doesn't matter. For insects, though, with a 30mm you have to get very close to them & it will scare them off. So, if you want to shoot bugs, I wouldn't recommend the 30mm lens. In fact, if I was buying again, I might look at a longer (180mm) lens because when shooting bees I still feel I am TOO close.
(Probably wouldn't get it though because it's very heavy.) The tamron 90mm lens has a $50 rebate on it until April right now, if you're interested. Hope this helps.
@photography Macro is closeup photography. If you have a point and shoot camera, you probably have a macro setting, which allows you to get close to your subject (like, a couple inches away). If you have a DSLR, you can get a macro lens, a closeup filter or extension tubes for macro work. Here's more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macro_photography
Thanks. I'm really looking to do close ups of flowers/water/stationary objects, etc. I'm new to photography and I'm not sure what all the terms mean. I wanted to get opinions of people on here before I go into a store and they try to sell me something that isn't what I want or is too expensive. How are the close up filters?
I've been told they're not as good as a dedicated macro lens, but I've used them (a little), and I think if you're not pixel peeping, it would do the job. If everything you want to shoot is macro, then maybe the lens is a better choice. They come in a set of 3 usually and you can stack them to increase the amount of closeup (ok, not good english, but you know what I mean). Depth of field gets very shallow quickly so watch out for that.
I've taken the macro shots in my album with a Sigma 105mm. I'm pretty happy with it, but I'll likely purchase the Sony 100mm at some point in the near future.
I've got the sony 50mm f2.8 lens. It is a great lens and I would pay the extra to get this one over the 30mm. Mainly cause if you are shorting bugs you have to get in closer. If I had lots of money I would buy the 100mm sony macro, but I don't, so I settled with the 50mm.
Here's a link to a page I found helpful, and it leads into reviews of the lens
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
(Probably wouldn't get it though because it's very heavy.) The tamron 90mm lens has a $50 rebate on it until April right now, if you're interested. Hope this helps.
@photography Macro is closeup photography. If you have a point and shoot camera, you probably have a macro setting, which allows you to get close to your subject (like, a couple inches away). If you have a DSLR, you can get a macro lens, a closeup filter or extension tubes for macro work. Here's more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macro_photography
Here's a link to a page I found helpful, and it leads into reviews of the lens
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Sony-AF-50-F2.8-Macro_lens306.html
where abouts are you located cause I bought mine from an internet site that is Australian based and the pricing was really good