suggestion for a good macro lens for a 70D?

The difference in working distance between 60 mm and 100mm is only 2.5". If you're going to scare bugs with a 60mm lens at 3.5", you're just as likely to scare them at 6". Going to 180 mm gets you to 9.5" but costs a lot more and is big and heavy. I do a lot of macro with the 60mm, if I need flash is use my regular flash off camera. I works great and the 60 mm is great for portraits too on my crop. I read about people shooting macro handheld with an IS lens. They must have stunningly steady bodies and hands to get sharp focus with so little DOF. I could never do it. For full frame I'd go with 100mm.

I've done a lot of macro shooting hand-held and without flash using the 100mm non-L. The biggest problem isn't hand movement, but body movement, with slight back-and-forth movement shifting the focusing plane. The key is to take a lot of shots - often with the camera set to the fastest multishot mode - and hope that one has the focusing plane exactly where you want.

Burst shooting is the only way I've ever had any success at all without a tripod. I'll have to give a longer lens a try sometime.

fastHID said:

I'm interested in exploring some macro photography, and not sure how long I should go, looking for suggestions for the 70D

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Are you sure you want to do actual macro (1:1), or just "close-up" work?

I thought I needed to own a macro lens, but then after reading more, and reviewing my past photos, I realized what I really enjoy is close-up stuff, but not 1:1 or greater. So I bought the Canon EF 12 II and 25 II extension tubes. Saved me hundreds of dollars, and I couldn't be happier with the results.

The problem with extension tubes is the reduction in light. This can be problematic if not using a tripod. On the other hand, I've used them on my 70-200 f2.8L for closer focusing. Note that using extension tubes on a zoom lens does something unexpected: the presence of the tubes can shorten the focusing range so much that the focusing ring effectively becomes non-functional, but in this state changing the zoom setting shifts the focusing plane, effectively making the zoom setting the manual focus.

hisoy86 said:

Hi,

You might want to take a look at the Tamron 90mm f2.8 SP Di Macro 1:1 VC USD It's less expensive and lighter than the Canon 100 L and is VERY sharp. Photozone gave it a hightly recommended. I think it will be the next lens I get. Note that this is the new model, the old still being available, but has no IS, noisy and slow focus and extends when focused.

Tom

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I'll second this suggestion. I had the chance to pick up a slightly used copy of the Tamron SP 90MM F/2.8 Di 1:1 Macro lens at a great price a few months ago and grabbed the chance.

My first tests showed that the lens was working okay but it wasn't as sharp as I thought it should be. I tested and found that it needed an Auto Focus Microadjustment of +13 compared to my three other lenses with Auto Focus Microadjustments of +3 to -4. After making the Auto Focus Microadjustment I am extremely happy with the lens.

Sure, I would have loved to get the Canon EF 100mmf/2.8L MacroIS USM or even the EF 100mmf/2.8 Macro USM but this Tamron lens was just too good a deal to pass up.

The-Digital-Picture.com - Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Lens Review

Typically, the macro lenses from Tamron and Sigma have been very good optically. The problem has been with the speed of the autofocus. For some types of macro this isn't a problem because manual focus is needed. But for others, such as moving bugs, or when using the lens for non-macro subjects, that is a problem.

It looks like the newer Tamron and Sigma lenses may have better autofocus, but I haven't see reviews.

The 100mm with IS is a stunning lens. If you need to act like a microscope, the mp-e 65mm will get you 5x, but it's a VERY niche lens.

Here's an example from the MP-E, taken years ago with my 10D.







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fastHID said:

I'm interested in exploring some macro photography, and not sure how long I should go, looking for suggestions for the 70D

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180mm macro's offer the advantage of working further from the subject without spooking them. Canon and Tamron make a 180mm. Sigma offers a 150mm and 180mm in F2.8.

The problem with the 180mm (from what others have said, I don't have one) is that the long length makes it hard to hand-hold. Plus it is pretty expensive.

Jeff Peterman said:

The problem with the 180mm (from what others have said, I don't have one) is that the long length makes it hard to hand-hold. Plus it is pretty expensive.

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Hi Jeff,

I don't have any problem at all hand holding a 180mm and it's a pleasure to use... It is one of my lighter lenses, as I typically shoot wildlife with much longer focal lengths... mostly hand held. When I get down to a 180mm focal length, I don't notice any weight disadvantage at all. It's very light in comparison to my other lenses.

I'm a Canon lens guy, but both of my macro lenses are Tamron primes. I was so surprised at the amazing image quality that I haven't bothered to go with the Canon macro lenses. The Tamron 180 is very light and sells for less than the Canon 100mm macro. The only disadvantage on the 180mm is the lack of IS. However, that hasn't been a significant problem. I do like working further from skittish subjects, so I use the 180 more than the 90mm... and the 90mm is amazing. :-D