Canon - EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Lens
Jul 10, 2021 13:57:36 #
I'm looking for a lens that will take crisp pictures of people and animals at a distance of 75 to 125 yards. Does anyone have experience with the subject lens? I currently own the Canon t3-I and the following lenses:Canon EF 24-105 L, Canon EF-S 10-22, Canon "Nifty Fifty", and the Tamron 18-400.
I suppose it might be "Operator Error", but I'm a little disappointed with the Tamron results.
If you have a suggestion for a lens that you feel will give better results than the Canon - EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Lens, please let me know.
Bill
I suppose it might be "Operator Error", but I'm a little disappointed with the Tamron results.
If you have a suggestion for a lens that you feel will give better results than the Canon - EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Lens, please let me know.
Bill
Jul 10, 2021 14:28:06 #
This is a very subjective topic and I’m sure you will get lots of great opinions. I don’t have experience with subject Lens, but if you’re looking to get sharp, clean images of people and such at a bit of a distance, my favorite lens is my Canon 135mm f2. This lens is amazing and, while it isn’t super long, it is pretty bright at f2. When I shoot things like indoor rodeos with terrible lighting, this lens allows decent closeups without the need to bump up the ISO too far. This lens is one of the best bang for buck lenses I’ve ever owned.
Jul 10, 2021 14:54:05 #
Thanks for your response Basil.
I will definitely consider that lens.
Bill
I will definitely consider that lens.
Bill
Jul 10, 2021 16:53:54 #
dadcowell wrote:
I'm looking for a lens that will take crisp pictur... (show quote)
I use either my 100-400L mkII or 70-300L but those are pricy and the mkII a bit heavy for some people.
I sometimes use a Tamron 180 macro with a Kenko Pro 300 1.4x on my Canon crop sensors to do small birds, butterflies and other bugs etc. around the yard. Being a macro it is very sharp but being a macro the AF is slow though I have read that the Canon AF is faster and more accurate than most macro lenses.
Jul 10, 2021 16:55:40 #
dadcowell wrote:
I'm looking for a lens that will take crisp pictur... (show quote)
That is not the lens you want for shooting people at a distance, maybe consider a 70-200 instead or a 300mm f/4L. I have owned the Canon 180L and was not impressed, I replaced it with the Sigma 180 f/2.8, but even so, my intention for the lens was close up and macro, not really for telephoto use.
Currently there is a Canon 70-200 f/4L IS for sale in the Buy/Sell section of this site, that is an excellent lens, one of Canon's sharpest zoom lenses, sharper than my 70-200 f/2.8 IS II and the seller is only asking $600 for this excellent lens. It would serve you much better than would the macro lens.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-703450-1.html#12376148
Jul 10, 2021 17:04:23 #
Agreeing with others, no, the 180L macro is not the lens you want for shooting anything beyond say 8-feet from the lens. The best value is either the EF 70-300 IS II, or the EF 70-200 f/4L.
Jul 10, 2021 17:59:11 #
robertjerl wrote:
I use either my 100-400L mkII or 70-300L but those are pricy and the mkII a bit heavy for some people.
I sometimes use a Tamron 180 macro with a Kenko Pro 300 1.4x on my Canon crop sensors to do small birds, butterflies and other bugs etc. around the yard. Being a macro it is very sharp but being a macro the AF is slow though I have read that the Canon AF is faster and more accurate than most macro lenses.
I sometimes use a Tamron 180 macro with a Kenko Pro 300 1.4x on my Canon crop sensors to do small birds, butterflies and other bugs etc. around the yard. Being a macro it is very sharp but being a macro the AF is slow though I have read that the Canon AF is faster and more accurate than most macro lenses.
Thanks for your response and advice robertjerl.
Jul 10, 2021 18:01:16 #
Blurryeyed wrote:
That is not the lens you want for shooting people ... (show quote)
Thanks for your suggestions Blurryeyed. I will look into those lenses.
Jul 10, 2021 18:04:15 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Agreeing with others, no, the 180L macro is not the lens you want for shooting anything beyond say 8-feet from the lens. The best value is either the EF 70-300 IS II, or the EF 70-200 f/4L.
Yes I was a little concerned that it is a macro lens. Thanks for your input CHG_CANON.
Jul 10, 2021 18:07:34 #
dadcowell wrote:
Thanks for your response and advice robertjerl.
You are welcome.
At the ranges you mention a tripod or at least a monopod and high shutter speed is needed to cut down on motion blur from camera movement. At 75-125 yards people are tiny on the sensor so any movement will produce blur.
Jul 10, 2021 19:07:13 #
Yes that makes sense.
One of the events that I photograph is an annual ocean baptism of adults. I like to get shots just after each person resurfaces to commemorate their baptism. So the shifting sand makes a tripod difficult. However, I can crank up the speed to 1/1000 or so.
One of the events that I photograph is an annual ocean baptism of adults. I like to get shots just after each person resurfaces to commemorate their baptism. So the shifting sand makes a tripod difficult. However, I can crank up the speed to 1/1000 or so.
Jul 10, 2021 19:52:38 #
The canon 70-200 4L is is a excellent lens, you would be very happy with it. You can also pic up a 1.4 extender and works great with it.
Jul 11, 2021 09:59:55 #
dadcowell wrote:
I'm looking for a lens that will take crisp pictur... (show quote)
The first think you should do is mount the Tamron on your camera and put it on a tripod. Find a still subject that is 125 yards away and take several pictures. Keep the shutter speed up to at lease 1/1000th but 1/2000 to 1/2500 is better. Then upload to your computer and analyze the pictures. If they aren't tack sharp, you will know that your copy of the Tamron lens is soft. Many Tamron lenses are soft and I've known many people that have had them and were happy for a while until they see results from other lenses. I suggest you move to a Canon 100-400 Mk II lens. Tack Sharp! The old (first) 100-400 Canon (push/pull) lens was not sharp. The new one runs circles around it.
Jul 11, 2021 14:35:05 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Agreeing with others, no, the 180L macro is not the lens you want for shooting anything beyond say 8-feet from the lens. The best value is either the EF 70-300 IS II, or the EF 70-200 f/4L.
Jul 11, 2021 19:26:32 #
dadcowell wrote:
I'm looking for a lens that will take crisp pictur... (show quote)
The 100-400mm L MII will do incredibly crisp and sharp photos as you desire.
There is no other zoom in its class and most primes do not measure up to it.
Additionally it focuses to about 3' at 400mm for great close up photos.
This is about 50' away at 400mm.
75-100 yards, 180mm is nowhere long enough for people and wildlife. 400mm is a minimum starting point.
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