Macro with the 60mm lens and teleconverter question.

[mlbriand]

First, I am looking or a macro lens. I was thinking about the Canon 100mm lens but the salesman told me about the new 60mm lens (I have a XT). The reviews are good for the lens. I have a 70-200 mm L lens and when I do macro, the picture are not that sharp.

Second, I am looking also for a 1,4X teleconverter but the salesman said that most people are buying the 2X converter The loss in light is not that bad he said. I was thinking about the Canon or the Tamron converter. I'm planning to get some day the 400mm prime 5,6 lens or the 100-400mm (Canon). What should I do?

Thanks!

Michel

 

[jrscls]

First of all stop listening to the saleman. The 60mm is a very sharp lens and works well for portraits. Some people like the 100mm better for insects to give a little more working distance. Both are good lenses- either will make you happy.

If you have the 70-200 and you plan to get a 400mm f5.6, then you should consider the 1.4X converter which will slow the 70-200 down to f5.6 and the 400mm to f8. The 2X will loose 2 stops and the 70-200 will be f8 (no autofocus with canon TC). Look at the Kenko or Tamron 1.4X TC that sell for about $80 and you will still have AF since these TCs do not report that their attached to the camera.

First, I am looking or a macro lens. I was thinking about the
Canon 100mm lens but the salesman told me about the new 60mm lens
(I have a XT). The reviews are good for the lens. I have a 70-200
mm L lens and when I do macro, the picture are not that sharp.

Second, I am looking also for a 1,4X teleconverter but the salesman
said that most people are buying the 2X converter The loss in light
is not that bad he said. I was thinking about the Canon or the
Tamron converter. I'm planning to get some day the 400mm prime 5,6
lens or the 100-400mm (Canon). What should I do?

Thanks!

Michel

 

[mlbriand]

 

[Pedro Claro]

First, I am looking or a macro lens. I was thinking about the
Canon 100mm lens but the salesman told me about the new 60mm lens
(I have a XT). The reviews are good for the lens. I have a 70-200
mm L lens and when I do macro, the picture are not that sharp.

Second, I am looking also for a 1,4X teleconverter but the salesman
said that most people are buying the 2X converter The loss in light
is not that bad he said. I was thinking about the Canon or the
Tamron converter. I'm planning to get some day the 400mm prime 5,6
lens or the 100-400mm (Canon). What should I do?

Thanks!

Michel

The salesman wants to sell, not to serve you best.

About macro, I would not buy a EF-S macro lens, as in this case, an EF-S mount will not provide any advantage over a regular EF lens. I'd buy a regular Canon 100/2.8 Macro or any of its contenders (Tamron 90, Sigma 105) or, better yet, go for Sigma 150/2.8 Macro which is, most likely, the best macro lens around.

About the TC: forget a 2x TC unless you really need to double the lenght of your lens. A 2x TC costs 2 f-stops of light (2.8 becomes 5.6; 4 becomes 8...) and considerable image degradation.

Also, don't forget the Canon TCs don't work on all lenses - just some 'L'.

Best regards.

--
...oooOOO{X}OOOooo...

Pedro Claro
Marinha Grande - Portugal

 

[SoonDuBu]

i have the 60mm ef-s

it is wicked sharp!!!! it is on par with my 70-200 2.8 IS

it is my favorite portrait lens, and the macros and beautiful as well...

i wasn't aware that you can use the tc but why would you with the 1.6x?

i love it. and the lens is pretty small.

 

[SoonDuBu]

no processing except resizing

 

[racketman]

60 macro is excellent lens but as another poster says the 100mm will give you more working distance. However the 60 with XT makes for a light combination in the field so you can shoot one-handed if necessary and it also works well with the pop up flash for optimum compactness.

This was taken one- handed on a windy day, the other hand holding the branch still and twisting it so the ladybird was topside:

 

[Mark Plonsky]

I use Teleconverters with macro lenses routinely to increase magnification and/or working distance. I use the 2x and 3x TC's for macro.

--
Happy shooting,
Mark
http://www.mplonsky.com/photo