Lmarc Loc: Ojojona, Honduras

I need an opinion from a few of you pros. I'm looking for a good macro lens. I see lots of zoom lenses of nearly every focal length with macro capabilities. I've read that the zooms cannot match the focus clarity of a good prime lens. I like the idea of a zoom, but is there one out there that can match a f2.0 or F1.8 prime? Also is a 70-300mm zoom equal to a 300mm prime? I'm thinking there must be some kind of trade-off.

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

For around $10,000 maybe. :)

Lmarc Loc: Ojojona, Honduras

That's quite a trade-off!

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Fast glass isn't cheap.

B&H Camera in New York

forbescat

I want the 500mm!

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I suggest that you visit http://500px.com , which is a website for pros & wanna-bes (like me). Take a look at macro-photographs, which will have lens listed in Exif info.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

That's precisely why I bought a Sony. The stabilization is built into the camera body, therefore the lenses are cheaper. Knock off about 500 dollars off each lens respectively, and you have the Sony lens. Good thinking, huh? LOL.

TJ Loc: Austraila, Toowoomba.

Yeah but it's a sony.....Bahahahahaha.....jokes just jokes

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

The Sony 100mm 2.8 Macro lens is worth having. I just purchased the Sony 30 mm Macro lens and will use it today. With Macro lenses it all about how close you can get to your subject.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

A true macro is a flat field lens design. If you photograph a flat piece of newspaper a flat field lens can reproduce the newspaper from edge to edge without any sharpness falloff. Regular lenses have a problem doing this. A zoom lens with "macro capabilities" is a sham. There is no such thing as a true zoom macro lens. All that a zoom macro lens can do is focus a little closer. It pays to buy a true macro lens because they are very versatile. true macro lens can be used for very close up photography or it can be used to shoot portraits or landscapes. The usual focal lengths for a macro lens can be a 50mm. 60mm, 85mm, 100mm, 150mm, 180mm, 200mm. All brands of cameras have true macro lenses. For more information look at "Bobatkins.com macro lenses for the Canon EOS system" site. Its based on Canon equipment but it applies to any system.

Lmarc Loc: Ojojona, Honduras

Silver, that was exactly what I was asking. I have thought for some time that the "zoom macros" had to trade off something. I'm starting to think that about zoom lenses in general, but I'm sure there are some very good ones out there.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

There are some very good zoom lenses available. Unfortunately the good ones are expensive. Dont let someone in a camera store sell you. Know what you want to buy before you walk into the store. A little knowledge goes a long way when it comes to buying camera equipment. There is a lot of good information available about equipment.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Also consider renting a lens for trial use before buying. You would not buy a car without a test drive on the street. Trial a lens in a typical situation for you, which may be field or studio. Both locations are quite different from inside a camera store.

John Brown Loc: New Mexico

I have been doing close-up photography in the jungles of Central America and the American Southwest. At present, I use a Nikon D7000 and the Tamron 18-270. This lens will focus to about 19 inches at the zoom of 270 and when I need to get closer I use a screw on + 2 diopter or better close-up lens. I find this is the best, so far, for a all in one lens in the field.
Flat field macro lenses are great if you are photographing newspapers, coins, stamps...anything flat, however, nature is usually not flat. If you can use a flash to light up your subject, you will get better DOF. ;-)

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

You are mistaken about macro lenses. It is true that true macro lenses are designed to reproduce a flat field. IT is also true that macro lenses are designed to have the best reproductions at close distances. A good macro lens will be considerably sharper then the set up you are using. A macro lens also is quite capable of doing regular "close up" photography. People have a great misunderstanding about macro lenses. I am sure that what you use is good enough for what you want to do but a true macro lens will out perform your set up easily. Good photography is a combination of knowing your equipment and talent. I dont personally look to carry a bare minimum of equipment over what I need to do the best job. Macro lenses are great lenses and they are very versatile. The prime macro lenses that the main camera manufacturers makes are stellar performers at any distance, the fact that they are designed to be flat field lenses is rather irrelevant considering the advantage of using this type of lens. Also macro lenses are known for there sharpness capabilities. Here are some flower shots all taken with a 105 macro lens. http://silverworksimaging.com/flowers/ One last thing, all of the shots of the flowers were taken with natural light, no flash.