I am interested in getting a macro lens for my Canon Rebel XSi but I don't know what to look for. Can anyone recommend specific lenses, or give some suggestions on what I should be looking for re: specs?
Thank you everyone! This has been very helpful. Another question - has anyone tried the macro attachment lenses? I think they are sometimes called Close-Up Filters.
General specs you want to look for on a macro lens are the smallest f-stop aperture it'll go to, and how closely to the lens it can focus, with the smaller the better in both cases. My one being f2.8 is not bad, and can focus on stuff as close as 20cm from the focal plane, which is also not bad. See these three for some examples of it in action:
http://365project.org/eyebrows/365/2010-03-06
http://365project.org/eyebrows/365/2010-03-11
http://365project.org/eyebrows/365/2010-03-01
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194451-USA/Canon_4657A006_100mm_f_2_8_USM_Macro.html
Check out this website:
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/index.php
It will have reviews for all the lenses you might be interested in.
http://365project.org/polianasdh/365/2010-03-11
http://365project.org/polianasdh/365/2010-03-08
http://365project.org/polianasdh/365/2010-03-06
http://365project.org/polianasdh/365/2010-02-20
http://365project.org/polianasdh/365/2010-02-10