HalcyonAndOn Loc: Austin, TX

I'm looking to get a macro lens that will double as a portrait lens. Anyone have any experience or thoughts about the Tamron macro vs the Canon macro? I shoot with a Canon 6D. -Thanks.

photoflorida Loc: No where

I have the 100mm Canon macro lens ( about $800.00 I think) and it is super sharp. Can't go wrong with the Canon.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I'd seriously consider a Sigma over the Tamron....

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I purchased the Tamron a month or two ago to replace the 100mm (none L) Canon macro I used on my 6D. It's as sharp or sharper than the Canon but the Canon had some mechanical issues, that's the main reason I replaced it. So far, am very happy with the Tamron, especially since it has VC. I used a 90mm SP Tamron macro on my old Pentax 35mm cameras and was very happy with it, and that's part of the reason I went with the new Tamron.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I have the Canon EF 100 f/2.8L IS USM. It is an awesome lens. Canon is currently offering a $100 instant rebate on that lens.
Is it better than the Tamron? Yes...

HalcyonAndOn Loc: Austin, TX

I was already leaning towards the Canon, especially with the rebate. I've read reviews, I just wanted to get some opinions on the forum. I plan on going to my local camera store and check them out as Yackers suggested. In the long run I'm already guessing I'll be happier with the Canon rather than saving $150 or so on the Tamron or Sigma today. So far I only have Canon lenses and am very happy with them (17-40 f/4L, 50 f/1.8 stm, 70-200 f/2.8L IS). Thanks everyone for the posts, I'll let you know what lens I pick up, I have a feeling I'll be following in Yackers footsteps.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I don't have a dog in the fight, but DXOMarks support your view: the Canon is sharper than the Tamron. I also suspect it's a better built lens. Again, not a user of either lens....

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I have the canon 100 2.8 macro and its a great lens for macro and portraits

wendallb

I have the Tamron and just love it, works very well

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

I picked up a used tamron for a song. it has a canon mount with a sony adaptor and is manual only. no peroblems and the images look good to me.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

The Sigma is now on sale for $619... and maybe a few dollars less on Amazon. Link on an announcement in the UHH macro section

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

They are both very good macro lenses in most respects... Very high image quality, internal focusing, with reasonably fast USM or USD focus drive (though no macro lens is particularly fast focusing) and both have extra sealing for weather & dust resistance. Both have 3-step focus limiters, and curved 9-blade apertures. Both close focus to about 12" (note: this is measured from the sensor/film plane, so part of this distance is occupied by the camera and lens themselves.... working distance measured from the front element of the lens to the subject at 1:1 is considerably less: varies depending upon the camera, but a little under 6" in both cases... less than that when the lens hood or macro flash is fitted).

The Canon lens is on sale through Feb. 4 ($800 after $100 instant rebate) and can optionally be fitted with Tripod Mounting Ring D (about $172 for the OEM ring, $50 or so for 3rd party clones). AFAIK, except for the other Canon 100mm non-L, non-IS, there are no other 90/100/105mm macro lenses that can be fitted with a tripod ring.

At 1:1 magnification, don't expect a great deal of assistance from the image stabilization (VC & IS). The Canon's Hybrid IS might be slightly better in that respect, but likely not much more than a stop's worth of help at the highest magnification. IS and VC will be more effective at non-macro distances. It varies with user, but probably up to about 3 or 4 stops.

The $650 Tamron is slightly smaller. For example, it uses 62mm filters, while the Canon 100L uses 67mm.

Most other Canon macro lenses have built-in means of directly mounting Canon macro flash (MR-14EX Ring Lite and MT-24EX Twin Lite). The 100L does not. With it, Macrolite Adapter 67 is required to be able to use that mounting method with those flashes. That same adapter ring could be used, along with a 62-to-67 step ring, to mount the Canon flashes on the Tamron lens (there is no 62mm adapter). This doesn't apply to 3rd party macro flashes which use other mounting methods and there are alternative, generic mounting methods that can be used with the Canon Twin Lites that make this moot. It is more important mounting the Canon Ring Lites.

The Tamron 90mm VC USD works with the TAP module, which gives users ability to fine tune some lens performance factors or install updated firmware, if it comes available.

FWIW, personally I'm not a huge fan of macro lenses for portraiture. IMO, they're often too sharp (your mother-in-law won't appreciate how a macro lens captures her every little flaw in images). Also, most macro lenses are "only" f2.8, at best. I prefer to have a larger aperture available when shooting portraits, though it's not necessary all the time. Personally my portrait lenses on full frame are 85/1.8 and 135/2. And I opted for the cheaper non-L, non-IS Canon 100mm Macro (putting the money saved toward the tripod ring for it instead). I've used a number of different Tamron macros over the years (currently have a vintage, manual focus-only vintage 1:2 SP 90mm and a modern crop-only Tammy SP 60mm f2.0).

Note that there are currently two different Tamron 90mm... the SP 90mm VC USD being discussed here and the less expensive version without VC or USD (which is more compact, but not internal focusing and doesn't have a focus limiter). There have also been earlier Tamron 90mm... several versions including manual focus only and 1:2 models dating back as early as the 1980s.

Canon also has made a number or 100mm macro over the years. There have been three EF 100mm.... the first without USM or IS is long discontinued. They currently offer the cheaper USM version and the more expensive L/IS/USM version.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I have borrowed the Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro. I borrowed it for one whole day to shoot portraits. I didn't use it for macro, as the owner does. This was his first true macro lens with a 1:1 magnification. Before being able to afford this lens, he was using Kenko extension tubes.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

As a confirmed macro shooter, I love tripod rings. You are balanced over the tripod center, instead of hanging over the side of the tripod on vertical compositions. Turning between vertical and horizontal is easy and fast. Yes you can use an "L" bracket, but their use is much slower particularly if you are using a cable release coming out of the area of the "L" that attaches to the tripod. Tripod rings on a macro are a major advantage, at least for me..

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

As with any true macro lenses, for portraits, you'll have to watch your depth of field. For portraits, you may want to look at the Canon EF 70-200 f2.8L IS USM. It is one of the best portrait lenses in the field.

B