Apr 11
29
I need it urgently really. I want a macro lens so I can take photographs close-up of bugs and flowers for my coursework. I have no idea what spec I need, etc. I know basically nothing about this. Thanks so much to any answerers.
Proper macro lneses are rather expensive. Canon's EF50mm f2.5 macro is £220, and doesn't have USM, and the Sigma's f2.8 lens is around the same.
You have some lenses with macro function, such as the Sigma and Tamron 70-300's which are a little slow and soft but otherwise ok. And there the brilliantly fast Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 Macro. Those two are your options for buying lenses.
However you can do macro on the cheap there are a few solutions:
1) Macro diopters/close up lens, these screw onto the front of your lens. You will need a 58mm lens. for example this one: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-b-w-…
2) Reversal lens. You can get an adapter that will reverse the lens so the front fits into the mount. the EF50mm f1.8 (or any 52mm thread lens) should fit into the EOS mount backwards. this one for example http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciao_chao/4…
3) Magnifying glass. Just hold a magnifying glass over the front of the lens and you will be able to focus onto much nearer objects. Works like a close-up lens. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciao_chao/3…
There are lots of options with varying price (from practically free to very expensive), and with different quality.
Someone else asked exactly the same question and wanted it for exactly the same reason, nearly word for word.
How much are you willing to spend?
I ask that as you do not seem very educated in photography, and to save you money, get these instead and save yourself a lot of money.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksi…
Canon Macro 100mm f/2.8
There really is no substitute. Glorious lens. Remember only a true macro will give you 1:1 magnification and flat field.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/contro…
BTW, zoom lenses marked "Macro" are not macro at all!!! Not at all. it is just marketing hype that means that the zoom lens is designed to focus a little closer than it's competition. it has nothing to do with true macro photography.
Even if you have to stash away £40 per month for a year to get the 100mm f/2.8 it is worth the wait.
(Buying cheap photography equipment is wasted money. Plain and simple.)
I'll put in a recommendation for the Sigma 50mm macro. its a true 1:1 macro prime lens and at f2.8 is not bad for portraits too.
Its around £230 new but I picked one up 2nd hand for half that, so bargains can be had. Here's an example of the kind of image possible;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deepbluepho…
Other alternatives are 'close up' lenses. These are basically +dioptre screw in filters you place on another lens that act as magnifying glasses. Much cheaper than a full lens but will not give you the quality you might want.
Or a reversing ring – this screws onto the camera body, then you attach one of your other lenses back to front onto it. the lens then acts as a magnifier. Again, its a cheaper solution than a proper lens. also, you'll lose lens functions such as autofocus, so you'll have to manually control the lens.
Or extension tubes – these are just plastic tubes that will fit onto the front of the camera body (they have no glass in them, they just extend the lens) and then you fit the lens onto the tubes. with most you'll lose AF so will again have to manually focus, although the Kenko brand do have connectors & can maintain AF between the lens & the camera body.
Can you recommend a macro lens for the Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 1000D?