Artsmith Loc: Grayson, Georgia

Is anybody using this lens? I have a opportunity to pick up one at a reasonable price but all the reviews say it is so difficult to use that I wonder if I should go another way. This would be my first true macro lens for use on 5Dmk2. I have been experimenting with extension tubes and am really finding the tiny stuff to be fun. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

The Canon MPE 65-mm f2.8 Macro is considered a professional lens. It is very difficult to use, especially for a novice macro-photographer.

At 1:1 (life-size), the Working Distance is about 4.1-inches (between lens front element and subject). At 2:1 (2x life-size), WD is just under 2.5-inches. All other mags get shorter WDs from there. Subject lighting becomes a huge problem, because of lens shadow.

DOF is incredibly narrow, and focusing is strictly manual. Most of the beautiful macro work published using the Canon 65-mm lens, are the result of multi-image focus-stacking (using a motorized rail system).

Read more here:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-MP-E-65mm-1-5x-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx

Artsmith Loc: Grayson, Georgia

Yikes! that is either going to scare me off or challenge me to learn the hard way. What lens would you start with? Looks to do plants, bugs, small objects. Something that I could amuse myself with indoors with on days I can't get out. budget $800

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Tokina 100mm, for Canon. No VR but up shutter speed a little. May have enough left over for a ring flash unit

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I am a firm believer in using camera manufacturer's glass. I also like usable Working Distance. Macros in the 100-mm range provide about 6-inches WD at 1:1 (life-size).

Canon makes two excellent 100-mm macro lenses:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/100mm-macro.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/100mm-f28-is.htm

It is possible to buy either lens in pristine, used condition.

That said, there are macro-photographers on this forum who are quite successfully using macro lenses made by Tamron, Sigma, Lester Dine, etc. Take a look here: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-32754-1.html

And just for review: http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/non-nikon_articles/tamron/90_macro/index.html

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

Hi Artsmith: I recently purchase the Canon 100mm 2.8 usm macro, from a local fellow who had bought it refurbished from B&H the year before. I paid $375 for it. I've been working on how to actually take macro photographs as opposed to close ups since I got it. So you might consider a used 100 mm 2.8 Canon macro, as Nikonian pointed out the working distance is about 6 inches. The have three models: one with out usm (10-yo); one with usm (5-yo); and the latest with both usm and image stabilization.