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Old 08-11-09, 11:43 AM
flake flake is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 448
The only lens I think is worth considering at the moment is the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, this isn't because the other lenses -Sigma / Tamron are poor, but because they are just not cheap enough to make them worth considering. The Sigma 105mm is £320, the Tamron 90mm £335, the Canon 100mm £414.

OK so that's a premium of nearly £80 so what do you get that's better, well the Canon is the only internally focussed lens and that means that it will find the focus point in about half the time the others will. The Canon is a very quick lens in an area where it really does matter because Macro lenses have such a huge focus range.

The other reason is using a Macro flash is really not practical with the other lenses. Yes I know they tell you that you can, but I've tried this, and when you're over the subject hearing the focus motor strain to pull the lens back in with the flash attached is horrid. It's actually stalled a few times and I've had to help it with my finger, I sold the Sigma I had for the Canon & I've had no problems since.

The other reason for choosing the Canon is that it will hold its value far better than the third party manufacturers, providing you keep the box, and everything that comes with the lens, and keep it in good order you will get back more or less what you paid for it on Ebay, the other lenses will lose a large proportion of their original cost.

So now you have to choose a body to go with it, and having blown £414 it doesn't leave a huge amount, you could consider the 450D which is £406 but then if you're not too bothered about second user there will be a whole range open to you including the 50D which has sold recently for around £600.

Personally I wouldn't recommend extension tubes with this lens, you need 100mm of extension to bring the magnification to 2:1 50mm of extension gives 1.5:1 you need to get an awful lot closer depth of field drops and you really do need a flash to get a decent image.
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