Macro lense question

[FatNakedGuy]

Hey all,

I want to get into macro photography and currently own the 70-200 f/2.8L IS lens (listed below).

My question:
Is there a huge difference in image quality between purchasing macro rings and using my trusty 70-200 IS, or purchasing the 180mm macro lens (listed below). I'd be doing mostly walk-around stuff.

Thanks for your time!

Rick


Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=234444&is=USA&addedTroughType=search


Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&Q=&is=USA&O=productlist&sku=112541

[ziggy53]

Rick,

Some people use a combination of telextender and extension tubes to get pretty awesome results with telephoto lenses (or a Canon 500D accessory lens and extension tubes).

If you use only extension tubes with the Canon 70-200mm, f2.8L-IS , I think you'll find too much field curvature for most subjects. At any rate, the loss of light is pretty dramatic when you get close to 1:1.

The Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro is a splendid special purpose lens, with great performance at small apertures and more contrast than the zoom above.

Other macro lenses you should consider:

Tamron Telephoto SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di LD IF Macro
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=284404&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Sigma Telephoto 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=389299&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

[TylerW]

If you use only extension tubes with the Canon 70-200mm, f2.8L-IS , I think you'll find too much field curvature for most subjects. At any rate, the loss of light is pretty dramatic when you get close to 1:1.
Field curvature?

[LuckyBob]

Field curvature?

http://www.vanwalree.com/optics/astigmatism.html

[pathfinder]

I have done some macro work with a 70-200f2.8 IS L with a 500D filter adapter lens, and also with a Tamron 180 macro and a Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro lenses.

Using the 70-200 with an adapter or an extension tube is not nearly as convenient because you lose the ability to back away and still see the subject, whereas with a macro lens like the 180 or the 150, you can just focus backwards all the way to infinity. This makes finding and framing moving subjects much easier.

In a studio situation, with stationary subjects, that may not matter as much, but in a garden chasing butterflies, it is much easier to be able to find and refocus with a macro lens, rather than an adapter.

The single advantage of an adapter or an extension tube is price.

There are numerous shots done with the Tamron 180 Macro here (http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/gallery/27799)

You will have to check the EXIF data as some were with a Canon 100 macro as well, or a Sigma 150 macro.

[Manfr3d]

Tamron Telephoto SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di LD IF Macro
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=284404&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Sigma Telephoto 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF HSM
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=389299&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

Both are excellent and from what I've read higher rated
than the Canon 180mm/3.5 (which has dust and moisture
sealing unlike the other two).

You can read a review of the Canon and Sigma here:
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_180_35/index.htm
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_180_35/index.htm

The Sigma is available on the used marked quite often,
and around 400-500 EUR where I live. The Tamron is
more like 700.

[FatNakedGuy]

thank you for the great info!

[Skippy]

Hey all,

I want to get into macro photography and currently own the 70-200 f/2.8L IS lens (listed below).

My question:
Is there a huge difference in image quality between purchasing macro rings and using my trusty 70-200 IS, or purchasing the 180mm macro lens (listed below). I'd be doing mostly walk-around stuff.

Thanks for your time!

Rick


Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=234444&is=USA&addedTroughType=search


Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&Q=&is=USA&O=productlist&sku=112541

Get yourself some KENKO Tubes
They are cheap and work with the 70-200mm
They also work on almost any other Canon lens as well :D ..... Skippy
.

[troutstreaming]

Get yourself some KENKO Tubes
They are cheap and work with the 70-200mm
They also work on almost any other Canon lens as well :D ..... Skippy
.

I have and use the 100 2.8 canon macro lens, but almost as frequently end up using the 1.4 extender - 25 mm extension - 70-200 IS combo as the 70-200 always travels with me, not so the 100 macro. Anyway, if you do not have extension tubes or the 1.4 extender I would purchase them first and play with them on the 70-200. If you find that you like the macro world then pop for a dedicated macro lens. You might also find that playing around first will give you a better idea of what sort of working distance and ratio's you prefer, which would help make a more informed purchase of the dedicated lens.

Good shooting,

Andy

[Glenn NK]

I think conventional wisdom says that NOTHING beats a macro lens for sharpness - and it doesn't seem to matter who makes it - they are all SHARP.

That's why (even though I have a 24/105 L lens) I bought a Canon 100 f/2.8 macro lens (which is effectively a 160 mm lens on my 30D).

It seems from reading many threads on several forums, that anyone that is serious about macro, will have at least one macro lens. In addition to being very sharp, they can be used as a general purpose prime lens. A macro in the length range of 50 to 80 on a crop camera also makes an excellent portrait lens; on a full frame, anything from 80 to 100 would be good for a portrait lens.

I would agree with the extension tube route, as they don't degrade the optics of the lens as air has good optical properties.:D