Macro lens help

marc1990

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I am look for ~ 100 mm marco lens. I sum up pros and cons and hope you can give me some advice:

tamron 90 2.8 Di SP
pros
  • price(370)
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1800-1680 mtf50 wide open center-border)
cons
  • exentende when focus
  • no usm
  • no full time Manuel focus
  • CA ~ 0.5 px
Tokina AF 100 2.8
pros
  • price(340)
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1890-1765 mtf50 wide open center-border)
cons
  • exentende when focus
  • no usm
  • no full time Manuel focus
  • CA ~ 1 px
sigma AF 105 2.8 EX DG
pros
  • price(390)
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1790-1665 mtf50 wide open center-border)
  • CA ~0.22 px
cons
  • exentende when focus
  • no usm
  • no full time Manuel focus
Canon EF 100 2.8 USM
pros
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1830-1765 mtf50 wide open center-border)
  • usm
  • full time Manuel focus
  • don't exentende when focus
cons
  • price(470)
  • CA ~0.4 px
I think it is between sigma and canon one. which do you recommend.

Marc
 
I am look for ~ 100 mm marco lens. I sum up pros and cons and hope you can give me some advice:

tamron 90 2.8 Di SP
pros
  • price(370)
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1800-1680 mtf50 wide open center-border)
cons
  • exentende when focus
  • no usm
  • no full time Manuel focus
  • CA ~ 0.5 px
Tokina AF 100 2.8
pros
  • price(340)
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1890-1765 mtf50 wide open center-border)
cons
  • exentende when focus
  • no usm
  • no full time Manuel focus
  • CA ~ 1 px
sigma AF 105 2.8 EX DG
pros
  • price(390)
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1790-1665 mtf50 wide open center-border)
  • CA ~0.22 px
cons
  • exentende when focus
  • no usm
  • no full time Manuel focus
Canon EF 100 2.8 USM
pros
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1830-1765 mtf50 wide open center-border)
  • usm
  • full time Manuel focus
  • don't exentende when focus
cons
  • price(470)
  • CA ~0.4 px
I think it is between sigma and canon one. which do you recommend.

Marc
I think it depends if you want to use it exclusively as macro or not.

If you want to use it as normal lens, you might find the extra 80$ worthwhile for USM. Many of the third parties have slow AF. The Sigma is slow and noisy (the digital picture review). This is not so important for slow macro shots, where you focus e.g. with life view. Further, the Sigma has strong veiling flare (loss of contrast) in contrast to the Canon 100mm. In fact, if you want to spend less money, the Ramron might be a better choice (because of AF).

--
Life is short, time to zoom in ©
 
I have owned the Canon 100 macro and it is second to none. it is well built, sharp, silent and consistent in size. it is barely more expensive than your other choices. the Sigmas are well regarded as is the Tokina. there are no bad choices on your list, you just need to go with what you can afford and has the least amount of cons for your needs. in actual usage with the Canon, neither vignette or CA are an issue.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyadcock/
 
I am look for ~ 100 mm marco lens. I sum up pros and cons and hope you can give me some advice:

tamron 90 2.8 Di SP
pros
  • price(370)
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1800-1680 mtf50 wide open center-border)
cons
  • exentende when focus
  • no usm
  • no full time Manuel focus
  • CA ~ 0.5 px
Citing CA as a con of the Tamron 90mm f2.8 is not right. Lateral CA is so low that you will never see it. LoCA is similar to the other macro lenses in your list too.
Tokina AF 100 2.8
pros
  • price(340)
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1890-1765 mtf50 wide open center-border)
cons
  • exentende when focus
  • no usm
  • no full time Manuel focus
  • CA ~ 1 px
sigma AF 105 2.8 EX DG
pros
  • price(390)
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1790-1665 mtf50 wide open center-border)
  • CA ~0.22 px
cons
  • exentende when focus
  • no usm
  • no full time Manuel focus
Canon EF 100 2.8 USM
pros
  • Vignetting
  • sharp(1830-1765 mtf50 wide open center-border)
  • usm
  • full time Manuel focus
  • don't exentende when focus
cons
  • price(470)
  • CA ~0.4 px
I think it is between sigma and canon one. which do you recommend.

Marc
All Macro lenses you list are sharp. No reason to choose on that point.

To me the Tamron and the Canon are best choices. Why? Here is why:

Cons for the Sigma:
  • Less contrast with backlight as the Canon 100mm f2.8 USM and Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di.
  • Less reliable (accuracy wise) AF for the Sigma.
For me those are two important cons.

I do not see the value in what you call "full time Manuel focus". You either use AF or MF. What is more important to me is the feel and precision of MF (the Canon and Tamron excel here). And the accuracy of the AF.

The Canon AF's very fast for a macro lens. Also silent. The Tamron is noisy, and can hunt. But when it locks focus, it is dead accurate (as is the Canon).

The Canon is the only lens in this group that does not extend. It is also the only lens in this group which does not come with sun hood standard. And it is the only lens that has its front element exposed, all others have a recessed front element (making the use of their sun hoods less necessary).

So, overall the Canon is the winner, but is most expensive (add cost for its hood too). Optically and AF accuracy-wise the Tamron is a bit better than the Sigma. All 4 lenses are very capable macro lenses though.
 
There is no reason to buy anything other than the Canon unless money is very tight. It has several significant advantages as you have noted, and the price difference isn't huge. The CA is a non-issue, 0.4 px is very low.
 
Thanks for yours reply.

Because I want to use more than marco only I thing speed focus is issues because I am likely going to use it for sport and may be head-shots. So I end with the canon one.

But I forgot one lens 100 2.8L IS which has IS with could help when hand hold the lens(lots of marco shots don't move) but price is 260 euro up(taking in to account buying the hood for 100 2.8 USM).

Is there a different apart from IS in these lenses like IQ, build quality, focus speed, enz...

100 2.8L IS be worth extra 260 euro?

I will use it on 50D(15 mp). I already own 18-55 IS and 50 1.8 II

Marc
 
Thanks for yours reply.

Because I want to use more than marco only I thing speed focus is issues because I am likely going to use it for sport and may be head-shots. So I end with the canon one.

But I forgot one lens 100 2.8L IS which has IS with could help when hand hold the lens(lots of marco shots don't move) but price is 260 euro up(taking in to account buying the hood for 100 2.8 USM).

Is there a different apart from IS in these lenses like IQ, build quality, focus speed, enz...
I just got the 100 f/2.8L IS Macro about a month ago, and absolutely love it. The AF is very fast - fast enough to get a decent keeper rate when shooting my two Australian Shepherd puppies running around in my yard. The IS is superb, I've been doing 1:2 macro, handheld, with a very good success rate. IQ is excellent all around.

If you can stretch your budget to get this lens, do it. You won't regret it.
100 2.8L IS be worth extra 260 euro?
IMO, yes. I'm using it on a 7D.

Link to my 100 IS gallery:

http://beerguy.smugmug.com/Lenses/Canon-100-f28-L-IS-Macro

--
Cheers,

bg

'I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my telephone.'
  • Bjarne Stroustrup, inventor of the C++ programming language
Check out my gallery at http://beerguy.smugmug.com

Canon 7D gallery: http://beerguy.smugmug.com/Other/Canon-7D/

(See profile for the gear collection)
 
Thanks for yours reply.

Because I want to use more than marco only I thing speed focus is issues because I am likely going to use it for sport and may be head-shots. So I end with the canon one.

But I forgot one lens 100 2.8L IS which has IS with could help when hand hold the lens(lots of marco shots don't move) but price is 260 euro up(taking in to account buying the hood for 100 2.8 USM).

Is there a different apart from IS in these lenses like IQ, build quality, focus speed, enz...
The IQ of the 100mm f2.8 USM is very good, in the first place. The IS L does a tad better in resolution, especially wide open, but the old lens already was good. Its build quality is with higher grade materials, so at least it feels more sturdy. Do you need that? Probably not. The focus speed is a bit faster, and the IS of course is its main advantage.

It is up to you... both are excellent lenses.
100 2.8L IS be worth extra 260 euro?

I will use it on 50D(15 mp). I already own 18-55 IS and 50 1.8 II

Marc
 
100 2.8L IS be worth extra 260 euro?

I will use it on 50D(15 mp). I already own 18-55 IS and 50 1.8 II
That's a tough question.

Most L's are a significantly higher optical specification than their nearest non-L equivalents. Bigger, heavier, more exotic glass, faster aperture, visibly better image quality, ring USM internal/rear focusing. In my case for example, I have the 300/4L IS and the 70-200/4L IS, both of which are in a different league to the non-L alternatives and I have never had a second's doubt that they were worth the relatively high cost.

The situation with the 100/2.8L IS Macro is different though. I've only had one opportunity to play with one and I was instantly impressed. L build quality is great to have and more importantly the hybrid IS really does work. But -- the non-L is also f/2.8, and it has impeccable image quality, and it is has ring USM focusing. So it's a much closer call than usual.

Whichever way you decide, you will be blown away by the image quality and you'll wonder how you ever got by without ring USM.
 
But I forgot one lens 100 2.8L IS which has IS with could help when hand hold the lens(lots of marco shots don't move) but price is 260 euro up(taking in to account buying the hood for 100 2.8 USM).

Is there a different apart from IS in these lenses like IQ, build quality, focus speed, enz...

100 2.8L IS be worth extra 260 euro?
I use it on the 5DmarkII. I think it is worth it.

I used it on a wedding party last week, and even when the flash failed on me a couple of times (low batteries), the pictures were still usable for web or 4"x6" print at an exposure time of 1/5s hand held. Pixel peeping will show a little camera movement blur of course, but without the IS these shots would have been rubbish (see first sample below).

And the build quality of the 2.8L is top. I think it is money well spent, if it is within your budget.
I will use it on 50D(15 mp). I already own 18-55 IS and 50 1.8 II
I guess that on a crop sensor you will probably benefit even more from the IS.

Let me show you two samples below (anonymized) with the 5DmarkII.

Happy shooting.
Ronald

1) Flash batteries were low, so by accident I took this without flash at 1/5s :



2) And with flash working at 1/60s :

 
I had very similar questions a few months ago and chose the Canon 100mm 2.8 (non L) lens. The L looks very nice, just not in my budget right now. The tamrons, Sigmas etc all interested me as well, but the auto focus, extending front element etc kept pushing me back to the Canon....which was my first choice anyway.

Essentiallly i could have saved about a month of time and hours of needless deliberation by just choosing the Canon. Its a seriously good lens. Focusing is accurate, the lens is fast and the sharpness is just incredible. You wont be dissapointed.
 
All these macro lenses are so good optically that it is a mistake to think that one will give you significatntly sharper images than the other. They are all so good that you will have to do some real pixel peeping to see any difference. None are bad, all are good, and it is just a slight difference on the degree of excellence. This is not like some other lens types where there can be visible differences in image quality between different lenses, in reality the differences between these lens are not so big.

Similarly don't fall into the easy trap of think that an extending type macro lens is always inferior to an IF design. Both have their advantages/disadvantages and the working distance advantage of IF designs only really starts past 1:2. You see when you are actually taking macro photographs, a shorter working distance can actually be an advantage at times and the length of the extension is an instant guide you can feel to check what distance the lens is focused on, without having to lift your head. In the macro distance - when everything is oof in the viewfinder, it is sometimes difficult to know where the lens is focused without lifting your head as both infinity and 1:1 can give an equally oof viewfinder look at intermediate close-focusing settings. It is easier with an extending type to sense where the lens is focused without looking.

I would make your decisions on which lens to buy, on the price, how they feel to you, weight, and if the lens is being used for things other than macro photography. By price, I don't mean the cheapest, just what you can afford or are willing to pay. If money is no object, base you choice on other factors, if you are on a tight budgest, then don't think that by buying a more expenisve one of these macro lenses, that it means your images will necessarily look any better.

I'm sure everyone will tell you their choice is the best, but that doesn't mean the others are bad, each one of these lenses has something going for it.
 
Hi

Get the Canon.
Ive owned it before I upgraded.
Very sharp and extremely good IQ, almost like the L-lens.

Push the f a step or two and maintain a short enough shutter speed and the two lenses deliver the same IQ.

br

Marcus

--
Canon/Olympus Prosumer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcusaxlund/
http://www.marcusaxlund.smugmug.com

5D mk2
24-105 IS f/4L
70-200 IS f/2,8L
17-40 f/4L
100 macro IS f/2,8L
50 f/1,4
Canon EF 2x II Extender
Speedlite 580

Olympus E-P1
Olympus m4/3 14-42, f/3,5-5,6
Panasonic m4/3 7-14, f/4
Panasonic m4/3 14-45, f/3,5-5,6
Panasonic m4/3 45-200, f/4-5,6
Olympus FL-14
Olympus FL-50 R
 
Oke it is between two canon ones.

IS: I am a shooter who doesn't like tripods because of the bulk caring around(I have one but because it was free). One point in favor for the 100L.

Build quality: the L will last a little bit longer. One minor point in favor for the 100L.

Focus speed: both speed is equal

IQ: all lenses are almost same IQ.

Price: non-L is 290 euro cheaper. point for non L

Look: L looks nicer and has red ring. minor point for 100L

Option: the L as 3 range switch option to prevent lens go to no-marco distante. Minor point for 100L

age: The 100L is very new and packed with newest technology. minor point for 100L

Use: Because of IS I will likely use this lens more often then the no-is

After reading, I thing the 100 2.8L IS is the winner because of it hand held use. I think save up for extra 260 euro is not bad idea.

Other question: how to protect the front element in macro(when no-macro hood will serve)

Marc
 
Oke it is between two canon ones.

IS: I am a shooter who doesn't like tripods because of the bulk caring around(I have one but because it was free). One point in favor for the 100L.
[snip]

After reading, I thing the 100 2.8L IS is the winner because of it hand held use. I think save up for extra 260 euro is not bad idea.
I should add to that: for hand-held close-up macro the IS is less effective, but then you should probably want to use a tripod anyway.

See: http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/canon_100_2p8_is_usm_c16/page4.asp

As I showed in my previous post, for normal range situations the IS is very effective.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1029&message=35171032

Happy shooting,
Ronald
 
Very useful comments by all... as I too have been debating to go with a 100mm macro. I am sure if I go with 100mm IS, it will serve as a macro-cum-portrait-cum-walk-around-cum low-light lens and one can leave heavier zoom at home.
 
After reading, I thing the 100 2.8L IS is the winner because of it hand held use. I think save up for extra 260 euro is not bad idea.
Certainly a good choice and I would have thought well worth it if you can afford the extra. I think paying a bit more is a good investment as it doesn't work out so much over the long term, and you should look at lenses as long term buys. The other feature you left off is that the L version is weather sealed and is the only one of these lenses that are.

This lens is certainly on my list despite the fact that I already have 3 top quality macro lenses for my Canon system and this wouldn't be to replace any. I haven't tried the IS on this lens, but I think even if it is not as effective in the macro range the IS is still better than not having it. I tend to specialize in macro photography and the IS is the reason I will be getting this lens. IS will not not be a replacement for a tripod or flash in macro photography, because both of these can do things IS cannot, but in some situations it will be an advantage.
 

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