Macro Lens Choice

[TheBigE]

So I will be attending a photo workshop in June in France. While this is mostly landscape work, there will be some focus on Macro photography as well. For this the course requires that participants bring a Macro Lens (ie. 60mm, 90mm, 100mm or 105mm).

I will do some research and talk with the workshop organizer on this topic. But I am wondering what to consider and how best to choose a Focal Length. I really have no experience in this area, so I am starting from scratch.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[bob100]

So I will be attending a photo workshop in June in France. While this is mostly landscape work, there will be some focus on Macro photography as well. For this the course requires that participants bring a Macro Lens (ie. 60mm, 90mm, 100mm or 105mm).

I will do some research and talk with the workshop organizer on this topic. But I am wondering what to consider and how best to choose a Focal Length. I really have no experience in this area, so I am starting from scratch.
Any help is appreciated.

sounds like a fun trip.
It depends on the camera but I've used a Tamron 90mm, Canon 100mm 2.8 and Canon 60mm macro. I still have the Canon 100mm 2.8 macro non-L which is great and only around $250 used. Lately though I've used it more for portraits than close-up macros

 

[TheBigE]

Thanks for the feedback. I am shooting Nikon but the range is pretty much the same....I am thinking of going with the 90 or 100mm Focal Length 2.8 range. Does the Macro lens loose anything when not shooting Macro?

 

[bob100]

Thanks for the feedback. I am shooting Nikon but the range is pretty much the same....I am thinking of going with the 90 or 100mm Focal Length 2.8 range. Does the Macro lens loose anything when not shooting Macro?

Lose anything? The 1:1 macro feature means you can focus more closely to the subject otherwise it's about the same. Macro lens are not as quick focusing as other lens however the Canon and Tamron have 'limit' switches that can help.

Canon 100mm 2.8 macro

Untitled by c w, on Flickr

 

[havoc315]

So I will be attending a photo workshop in June in France. While this is mostly landscape work, there will be some focus on Macro photography as well. For this the course requires that participants bring a Macro Lens (ie. 60mm, 90mm, 100mm or 105mm).

I will do some research and talk with the workshop organizer on this topic. But I am wondering what to consider and how best to choose a Focal Length. I really have no experience in this area, so I am starting from scratch.

Any help is appreciated.

I LOVE macro lenses. They tend to have amazing sharpness for all uses, not just macro. If you don't need super thin DOF in portraits, then a macro like a 100/2.8 can be preferable to something like a 85/1.8.

Anyway, the 90-105mm range is preferable for macro, IMO. If it's a true macro lens, you get 1:1 magnification. So if it's a 50mm lens, you need to be closer to the subject than you would with a 100mm lens (need to be half the distance from the subject). It can be hard to get THAT close to your subjects. Plus lens hoods, or just shadows from the camera itself, can start to interfere when you have to get 1-2 inches from your subject. A 90-105mm lens lets you hang back a few more inches, helpful when taking photos of bugs, etc.

Now whether you go 90, or 100, or 105..... No real big difference there. At least not in terms of which focal length is best. I assume you are comparing different lenses from different brands. So one lens may be better than another, but it won't be based on the focal length.

 

[Tigerlulu]

My macro is my favorite lens!

I go for the 105 Nikon. I love the lens compression so I can use it to shoot parades and such some too. And it's tack sharp like crazy!

 

[Tigerlulu]

I use it for shooting my kids marching band in the stands too. Some portrait work with it. It rocks!!!!

 

[Tracy Kilbride]

wondering what lens I should bring for my cannon 1markd in august

 

[bob100]

wondering what lens I should bring for my cannon 1markd in august

you have an original 1Dmk ? .... 16 years and it's still working?

 

[Tracy Kilbride]

Still is taking amazing pictures, I should also mention I have over 20 different cannon bodies