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Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Printable Version

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Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Steinar1 - 02-07-2011

Hello again. I am looking for your input on a second macro lens for an FF body. I am looking at;



Sigma 105

SIGMA 150 OS

NIKON 105VR

TAMRON 9O AND 180

TOKINA 100



Let me know your experience and recommendations please!! All of them have good optics, but AF precision is not the same. Price is secondary, because the differences are not huge.

Thanks in advance! Vieux Loup

Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Brightcolours - 02-07-2011

[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1297087853' post='5928']

Hello again. I am looking for your input on a second macro lens for an FF body. I am looking at;



Sigma 105

SIGMA 150 OS

NIKON 105VR

TAMRON 9O AND 180

TOKINA 100



Let me know your experience and recommendations please!! All of them have good optics, but AF precision is not the same. Price is secondary, because the differences are not huge.

Thanks in advance! Vieux Loup

[/quote]

The Sigma 105mm is the odd one out, its optics are a bit less strong than its peers and its AF is not all to precise.



One down <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Wink' />.



The rest is dividable into 2 groups, where you should first decide on which focal length you would find most attractive, either in field of view or in shooting distance. Or both. Personally, I prefer the longer lenses, for the narrow field of view and the resulting blurrier bokeh.



Of the middle focal length group (90-105mm):

The Nikon 105mm is sturdily built, and offers VR. The VR is not very effective at macro distances, but useful when one uses the lens for for instance portraits as a 2nd use. It does not extend, but the front element is exposed, so you should use the lens hood... making it even longer than the Tamron and Tokina which do extend, but do not need a hood due to their very recessed front elements. The most expensive of the group.

The Tamron 90mm is quite a bit less sturdy built, feels light and almost flimsy in comparison. Its main virtue is the rendering, its optics have something special in background rendering. Its other plus is the very refined MF zoom ring feel, the best in its class as far as I know. Slow but accurate to focus, even though mine (Canon mount) loves to hunt even in very good light conditions. When it locks AF in macro distances it is spot on. Gets very contrasty when stopped down.

The Tokina 100mm appears to be inspired by the Tamron in design.. put them next to eachother and the similarity is striking. Build quality is excellent. Optics very good too.



All 3 will serve one well.



The long macros...

both are truly excellent lenses.

The Sigma 150mm f2.8 EX DC HSM (I think an OS version is in the works) has very good optics, a very good build and focusses silently. Very popular and loved lens.

The Tamron 180mm f3.5 gives a bit longer focal length. Quite well built for a Tamron, slow AF (all macro lenses are relatively slow to focus though), and great optics.



Question should be, is the sturdy feel of the Sigma more important, ot the bit extra length of the Tamron. Either lens is a jewel.



I can't recommend which focal length to get, as that is totally personal. For myself, I prefer long focal lengths and wide ones to middle ones.

So, of FF I would go for a 35mm lens and extension tubes, a 50mm one (which you have) for normal perspective, and a long lens. Currently I use 200mm on APS-C a lot, which would translate in 320mm on FF. That would mean a 300mm lens + extension tubes for me on full frame, a 300mm lens with no focal length shortening at MFD. For me that would mean a Canon 300mm f4 L IS USM for my close up photos, combined with a 12 and 25mm extension tube.

Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Yakim - 02-07-2011

My recommendation is what I have: Canon 100/2.8 IS. Yes, it's not cheap but it is a superb lens in all aspects. Point a gun to my head and force me to give this or the 135/2 and the latter goes. Yes, it's that good.



Note: 150/2.8 OS is not selling yet. 150/2.8 is an excellent lens but have some bokeh problems on FF.

Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Brightcolours - 02-07-2011

[quote name='Yakim' timestamp='1297092282' post='5931']

My recommendation is what I have: Canon 100/2.8 IS. Yes, it's not cheap but it is a superb lens in all aspects. Point a gun to my head and force me to give this or the 135/2 and the latter goes. Yes, it's that good.



Note: 150/2.8 OS is not selling yet. 150/2.8 is an excellent lens but have some bokeh problems on FF.

[/quote]

You can't recommend a Canon lens to a D700 user. Not helpful...

Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Guest - 02-07-2011

I have the Nikon 105VR and am very happy with (although on DX). VR and relatively fast AF is veryy handy in non-macro situations. The lens is sharp with excellent colors wide open. That said, the third-party lenses are probably as good in macro situations.



The 150mm Sigma (non-OS) seems to outstanding as well from what I read. Considering that you already have a 50mm macro, a longer lens like this will probably be more appropriate to complement your kit.

Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Steinar1 - 02-07-2011

Thank you all and especially to you BC <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' /> for your willingness to take time to help. I think you make sense in suggesting a longer lense, although too long a lense for insects is a problem when they move. But it is true that you have to get very close with an 80mm focal length (50mm in DX)and a 100 or 105 in FX would not be that different. I will have to test it out with the 70-300 to see the different focal lengths and my ability to find a moving object.

Have any of you tested the circular Metz macro flash with any of these lenses? Kindly Vieux Loup

Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - genotypewriter - 02-08-2011

[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1297087853' post='5928']

Hello again. I am looking for your input on a second macro lens for an FF body. I am looking at;



Sigma 105

SIGMA 150 OS

NIKON 105VR

TAMRON 9O AND 180

TOKINA 100



Let me know your experience and recommendations please!! All of them have good optics, but AF precision is not the same. Price is secondary, because the differences are not huge.

Thanks in advance! Vieux Loup

[/quote]

Since the mother of all macros (MP-E 65 2.8 1-5x) is not on Nikon... you can make one using a Novoflex auto bellows and a good macro lens of choice I guess?

Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Guest - 02-08-2011

[quote name='genotypewriter' timestamp='1297124792' post='5941']

Since the mother of all macros (MP-E 65 2.8 1-5x) is not on Nikon... you can make one using a Novoflex auto bellows and a good macro lens of choice I guess?

[/quote]



Mother of all macros would be 20mm UWA reversed on 300mm tele. The question is - why would you need it? Imho the main reason of having long macro is that it doubles as a very fine tele / portrait lens, i.e. *with* infinity focus <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />

Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Steinar1 - 02-08-2011

[quote name='genotypewriter' timestamp='1297124792' post='5941']

Since the mother of all macros (MP-E 65 2.8 1-5x) is not on Nikon... you can make one using a Novoflex auto bellows and a good macro lens of choice I guess?

[/quote]



I simply do not know how to do this. Could you pls explain how it is done? <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' /> Kindly VL

Second macro lens after 50mm f2.8 - Yakim - 02-08-2011

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1297092461' post='5932']

You can't recommend a Canon lens to a D700 user. Not helpful...[/quote]





Apologies. I didn't know he is a Nikon user. O.K. I'll shift me recommendation to the 105/2.8 VR. I shot with a friend's lens long ago and it was every bit as good as the Canon. Actually, after trying it (when the the 100/2.8 IS was just a rumor) I've been lusting it so much that I considered getting a D700 just to be able to use it. Thing is, I hesitated so much that Canon had the time to actually launch the 100/2.8 IS. I think they were afraid I'd switch.... <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />