dbfalconer Loc: Salida CO

I wondered if you could give me a little advice about macro and lenses for a Sony a6000 e-mount. I'm a novice and just an enthusiast.
I shoot a Sony a6000 aps-c and only had kit lenses. Recently I bought a Tokina 100mm Firin Macro F2.8 FE from Adorama. $499 included some extras, including a set of filters. Now I see the Samyang 100mm f2.8 macro for $499. It has more "gauges" on the barrel but I don't know what they are for yet! It is a manual while the Tokina has AF as well. Tokina got good reviews, I thought. Samyang is slightly heavier. Both have working distance of 4.5". I understand I will need to use a tripod and will likely do mostly MF. Lots to learn! I do not anticipate moving to full-frame but might eventually upgrade to a Sony a6500 or something like that.

https://tokinausa.com/product/firin-100mm-macro/
https://www.samyanglens.com/en/product/product-view.php?seq=331

I'd like to do macro--mostly flowers, not bugs. The Tokina reviews say it is also good for portraits and astro!? I have so much to learn, and can't spend double for a Sony FE 90mm f2.8. I took up photography about 6 years ago and am essentially self-taught with meetups, online, and my Photo Club help! (I also bought a Samyang 12mm ultra-wide F2.0 as I do lots of landscapes.)
Do you think I am on the right track with the Tokina? Or should I return it for the Samyang? Other suggestions?

Thanks! Diane Falconer Littleton, CO

Gabyto

The lens you already got is really good. You should try it first ,and if you are not happy return it for the other lens. Adorama is pretty flexible. I personally like the Tokina more than the other brand.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I think the rule of thumb about comparing macro lenses of a given focal length is that they are all really really good. Finding a difference in image quality requires super close inspection of pictures, well beyond what people normally do, and personally I don't think the differences would be noticed without micro-inspection. Others may disagree.
I would vote for the lens you have (the Tokina) simply b/c you have it, and it has EF which is convenient. You can switch to MF when desired.
A consideration is the number of aperture blades and whether they are rounded. Those factors effect the quality of the bokeh. I don't know about that factor for these lenses.
You don't really need a tripod. There are pros and cons to using one, but you don't need one unless there is some other factor like wanting to try focus stacking.

dbfalconer Loc: Salida CO

Thanks so very much! I really appreciate your comments.

dbfalconer Loc: Salida CO

Thanks a lot! I needed this support! Grateful.

dbfalconer Loc: Salida CO

[quote=Mark Sturtevant]I think the rule of thumb about comparing macro lenses of a given focal length is that they are all really really good. Finding a difference in image quality requires super close inspection of pictures, well beyond what people normally do, and personally I don't think the differences would be noticed without micro-inspection. Others may disagree.
I would vote for the lens you have (the Tokina) simply b/c you have it, and it has EF which is convenient. You can switch to MF when desired.
A consideration is the number of aperture blades and whether they are rounded. Those factors effect the quality of the bokeh. I don't know about that factor for these lenses.
You don't really need a tripod. There are pros and cons to using one, but you don't need one unless there is some other factor like wanting to try focus stacking.[/CO

Thanks so very much! I really appreciate your comments.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

In my opinion any good quality sharp lens is fine for flower shots. Doesn't need to be a macro unless you want to bring out fine detail in a section of the flower. As far as the Tokina I haven't had any experience with it but believe all I've read that it is a very sharp lens.

dbfalconer Loc: Salida CO

Thanks! I do pretty well with my 55-210 kit lens but wanted to see what a ‘real’ macro could do. Thanks for your input.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I'm more of a macro/micro "Tabletop Studio" now with staged subjects although when I venture into the field for sessions with live subjects and wildflowers I find that being able to hold pinpoint focus to be the most important feature to me. I shoot dozens and dozens of them in manually mostly because the lenses will not autofocus on my camera only to find that I got a few that are sharp where I wanted the focus to be.

I believe that for someone who wants more sharp hits that a macro lens that is autofocus compatible with the camera would be the most enjoyable paring for a macro enthusiast.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

dbfalconer Loc: Salida CO

Thanks! I think I’ll enjoy it.