Favorite macro lens for canon Ef mount?

[Heidia]

I currently have the 60mm canon on my digital. I LOVE this lens. It is amazing. It is Ef-s so will not work on my ElanII. What is your favorite EF lens for canon slr?

[Jeff Kubach]

While I don't have the newer Canon, I do love my Canon 100 FD lens.

Jeff

[moki]

It depends on what kind of macro you like. The 100mm is great for insects while a shorter focal length may be more useful for other situations. None of the Canon-made lenses has any real disadvantages except the price.

I currently have the Tamron 60mm/2 DiII which is also made for APS-size sensors, but only shows vignetting when focused to large distances. It's great for it's price, but not ideal for 35mm film cameras since it doesn't go to 1:1 with the larger negative - not the right thing for taking pictures of insects' eyes, but good enough for flowers or tabletop macros. It's main advantage is the big aperture and great sharpness from f/3,5 upwards. My personal recommondation for everyone who uses both the digital and analog EOS-system.

Also, Yay for Elan II(e)! Love the camera

[Heidia]

Thanks for the info!

For macro, I am always at 1:1. I mostly photog snowflakes and frost and water drops. So, yeah, I want that 1:1.

[kraker]

I own only one macro lens, so I guess that has to be my favourite: the 100mm EF (the "regular" 2.8 USM, no L, no IS). The added bonus is that it's nice as a "normal" 100mm lens as well. The same (mutatis mutandis) is probably true for the 50mm, but since I had a 50mm prime already, I thought this was a better addition to my set. I haven't really looked at the 180mm or the very specific MP-E 65 (if 1:1 is the minimum you want).

[DWThomas]

I don't own one (yet) but I have read many favorable reviews of the Tamron 90 mm macro for EF mount which is a little easier on the wallet. There is now an IS version which costs more and may or may not be as good optically.

[ntenny]

I own only one macro lens, so I guess that has to be my favourite: the 100mm EF (the "regular" 2.8 USM, no L, no IS). The added bonus is that it's nice as a "normal" 100mm lens as well.

I agree---I've got the same lens (the non-USM version; the optics are the same) and I absolutely love it. I use it mainly for bug hunting; snowflakes and water drops don't run away so easily, so it ought to work even better for the OP. :-)

Get it together with the Kenko extension tube set and you can really go overboard with magnification.

The same (mutatis mutandis) is probably true for the 50mm, but since I had a 50mm prime already, I thought this was a better addition to my set.

I got the 50/2.5 "compact-macro" a few years ago and got some good use out of it; I still think it's a sharper lens than the 50/1.8 (which itself is quite decent), but it's limited as a macro lens because of close working distances and the limitation to 1:2, and a bit limited as a general-purpose lens by its antiquated autofocus (and awkward ergonomics for manual focus). It's an excellent compromise lens, but I don't think it's a huge winner as a *dedicated* macro.

-NT

[T-grain]

I have a "dedicated system" for macro: schneider componon-s 80/4 (enlarger lens)+M39-EF adapter+chinese bellows+EOS 50E(bought also the camera since it was dirty cheap)-everything put together was about 200 euros and it works amazingly well! never wished again to own a "proper" macro lens!

[Ian Grant]

90mm Tamron, it's superb. As is an Adaptal lens the mount means sweeet FA

Ian

[engineerchris]

I have the Tamron 90mm 2.8. I bought it mostly for shooting on my 5d mkii, but it now lives on my Elan IIe in the passenger seat of my car. The autofocus feels a little janky compared to my USM lenses, but I find the manual focus far easier to use than the canon flavor. In all, I think it is probably one of the best values for sharpness in any modern EF mount.