[Zugara]

OK peeps,

Question is:-

Do i buy a macro lens with or without image stabilization?

I would like to work out doors with macro photography and I was looking at either,

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Lens

or

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM 2.8 L

or, if someone can suggest something as good I will be listening.

[chrisa]

Depends on your budget. I guess if you want a Canon and IS and have the money - then the IS is a good investment.

I have the non IS version and am very happy with it.

Other ones to look at are the Tamron, Tokina and Simgas. All primes are good I believe the Tokina not quite so, but still capable of very good field images.

[dabhand16]

I don't do macro, but I guess that it depends if you are going to regularly use a tripod or not.

[stepheno]

Assuming you have the mullah then, if you have IS you can use it or turn it off...if you don't have it then you've no choice

[Markulous]

I've used the Sigma 105 and 150 for years (and, very briefly the Canon 100 non-IS - not mine, borrowed) and have to say they're all near identical image quality

Recently bought the Canon 100 IS and, whilst I find no real difference in the IQ, the extra 2 stops are very welcome, allowing me to shoot handheld more than previously. But I still take my tripod with me for the longer shutter speeds!

[Dave Canon]

I keep promising myself I will buy a Macro lens. The only thing that has delayed this is I cannot currently find the time to add Macro photography to what I already do. I will buy one sometime but, if I was buying now, I would definitely buy the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM

Dave

[silver]

I think there's probably not a huge difference between macro lenses, IS is supposed to help but when you get to large magnification any movement is also magnified and I think a tripod is generally a better option (canon's new IS for their macro is meant to be pretty good but I found nikons 105 VR didn't do that much to help when you got really close and I wouldn't bother with this feature going forward)

currently using a Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG macro and the image quality is really nice,. some might want a longer focal length depending on what you are photographing,. a 150mm or longer macro will tend to give more 'working distance' (distance between front element and subject) which for bugs and such can be an advantage

[swalsh58]

Have a look at Practical Photography this month, they run a test on macro lenses. The winner was the Canon 100 IS, which is the one I have. I must say its a very very good lens, but I still always use it with a tripod and cable release. Belt and braces man, that me!

[Dave Canon]

It depends on what you photograph. The IS on the Canon lens mention is a Hybrid IS system which includes shift and angular movement. If you are photographing a butterfly on a flower then hand held is often the only solution because they move so a tripod may be impractical.

[StephenBatey]

Originally Posted by Dave Canon

It depends on what you photograph.

I'd agree with that. In my case, my macro lens is used for fungi, and tripod mounted, so IS wouldn't help. On the other hand, if I were photographing dragon or damsel flies, then IS would be a help.

The other point is that although it (whatever "it" is) is a macro lens, that doesn't mean that it always has to be used close up; and when used as a normal lens, you might find IS useful.

A lens is only a tool, and the features you need depend on what job you're going to do with it.

[Markulous]

As mentioned, it very much depends what you're shooting and, more importantly, how much time and effort you put into the shot - IS just reduces the necessary time and effort a little! Here's a couple of comparison shots from different lenses/cameras:
Canon 7D + Canon 100 IS


Canon 7D + Sigma 105
My default macro setup for the last few years - though I take quite a few Sigma 150 shots and then there's the Canon 65.......


Canon G11
Taken a couple of years ago - you can see the downside (which can be it's upside!) with the broad DOF


Sigma SD10 + Sigma 105
One of my earliest macros - and still one of my favourites (from a camera that will "only" take 3.4MP - and yes, this photo @ A4 still looks great!). Still occasionally use the Sigma SD14 for macro - usually when the colours and light suit that setup

[Dave Canon]

Markulous, this demonstrates something I noted recently on another site; you can take some very good macro shots with a Bridge or compact as many have a "Macro" capability. In comparison, until I buy a proper Macro lens for my DSLR, I have no Macro capability.

Dave

[dabhand16]

Originally Posted by Dave Canon

Markulous, this demonstrates something I noted recently on another site; you can take some very good macro shots with a Bridge or compact as many have a "Macro" capability. In comparison, until I buy a proper Macro lens for my DSLR, I have no Macro capability.

Dave

Also don't forget that Marcin got some spectacular macros with his bridge camera and a Raynox 250 when he first joined the forum.

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by Dave Canon

Markulous, this demonstrates something I noted recently on another site; you can take some very good macro shots with a Bridge or compact as many have a "Macro" capability. In comparison, until I buy a proper Macro lens for my DSLR, I have no Macro capability.

Dave

Well, there's always Tubes! Turns any halfway decent lens into a halfway decent macro lens - primes work better and the smaller the focal length the greater the magnification. But a good idea to get Tubes that have the electrical contacts to allow setting the aperture (and allowing AF but that's relatively unimportant)

[Dave Canon]

True, I did use tubes many years ago with a film camera. The problem is only time so I would rather wait to buy the lens when I have the time available to use it. When I take up some Macro photography, I would particularly like to tackle fungi. I would need time to develop some expertise as I understand the more spectacular fungi tend to be small and hard to find. I need to either reduce some of my other activities or drop some other subjects.

[Zugara]

Thanks for allthe tip guys.. I have ordered a reynox and some tubes, I have a 50mm 1/4 so I thought I could do the raynox with that lens?

[Dutchie]

Good choice. I've got the raynox as well. Good little lens.

[Firebrand]

Super photography, Markulous! I wonder what that one dragonfly is doing with its tail...... I definitely need to get myself a macro lens, big-time. I'm going to have to look for redneck versions, which may not be very good.....