My first macro purchase, good decision or no? Help!

One day soon, I will be purchasing my first macro lens (THANK YOU WIFE!) (massage helps)….my two choices that I am entertaining at the moment are:

Sigma 105mm
Tamron 90mm

I would like to make a good decison with the first (probably last) macro lens.

What I would like to know is which would suit me better. I am new to macro photography. I imagine both of them have similar features, and probably similar results in picture quality as well. I understand that the tamron has the push pull mechanism, I wonder if that is an advantage or not? Is there anything else that I should know?

Is there perhaps, a clear winner between the two, let me know which and for what reason.

Both of these are similar in price and that is why I am limited here, or is there perhaps another lens that is around same price that I have not mentioned? Let me know.

You get the idea. One more factor, I got the canon xti, but I don’t have a flash, which works better without one, probably the same.

I’m very eagerly looking forward to comments, suggestions etc. If either of these two had quality problems, do let me know, which.

Thank you so much, my macro experts 

Czechmate

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Czechmate
Canon rebel XTI
Canon 18-55mm
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Fesiol 3301 Legs/Bogen 486RC2 Head
little brain, big heart

I've been considering a macro lens for a while now and have been putting it off as my interest has somewhat moved to telezooms. The general idea I got from macro lenses I read on forums are:

• almost all macro lenses are sharp, esp. the ones you mention, you can't really go wrong with either
• Shyness of bugs/other subjects is a concern, so consider the 150 and 180 mm also as they give you more working distance, a bit more expensive but may be worth it. DOF will look better I think.
• The need for flash depends on what type of image you are trying to achieve. The ringflash and duo flash give you a certain (flatish to my taste) look. Natural lighting looks entirely different, but limits macrophotography to sunny daylight if you want a decent DOF. A flash on a bracket with a softbox yields good results too.

I would go for the sigma 150 if I had to choose. But your milage may vary ofcourse.

Good luck chosing!

Czechmate,

Have a look at the Tokina as well. Seems to be one of the best. The reviews are here at the best lens review site IMO:

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/tokina_100_28/index.htm

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/tamron_90_28/index.htm

Cheers,

Michael

thanks for the comments, keep them coming
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Czechmate
Canon rebel XTI
Canon 18-55mm
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Fesiol 3301 Legs/Bogen 486RC2 Head
little brain, big heart

even tho tokina is kinda underrated, i will still probably stick with tamron or sigma...what else to seperate the two?
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Czechmate
Canon rebel XTI
Canon 18-55mm
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Fesiol 3301 Legs/Bogen 486RC2 Head
little brain, big heart

it's about 80$ more than the tamron and 160$ more than the sigma - roughly