egbarr26 wrote:
I have a Cannon EOS Digital Rebel XS/1000D and have been looking for a macro lens that will not cost an arm and a leg. I have heard about a series of "filters" that are alleged to serve as a macro lens, but I'm cautious about that. Any wisdom to shed on my "problem" will be welcome.
Those are close-up lenses, attach to the front of your lens just like a filter and the cheap sets typically are utter crap. Don't waste your money. The image quality they produce will be very disappointing.
There are similar multi-element close-up "diopters" such as the Canon 250D and 500D that work similarly but are much, much better quality. These are sort of like "reading classes for your lens" and run $75 to $150 apiece, depending upon the size you need (i.e., your lens' filter thread size). The Canon 250D is the stronger of the two and is designed for lenses up to 135mm. The 500D is designed for lenses from 70mm on up. Besides the Canon, there are quality Nikon and other diopters.
The problem with quality diopters is that they are relatively expensive and can only be used with certain lenses. Image quality can be compromised, too, even with better quality optics in the expensive ones.
Another method is the macro extension tubes mentioned earlier in an earlier response. These are sold individually and in sets and are installed behind your lens (between it and the camera) to cause the lens to focus closer (but not to infinity, while the extension is installed). Canon themselves sell high quality, individual tubes in two sizes: 12mm and 25mm. They are fairly expensive (about $90 and $130) compared to others.
The Kenko set of tubes is high quality and has become much more affordable (now about $130, was $200 a year ago... included 12mm, 20mm and 36mm tubes). Opteka offers a similar set that's pretty good, slightly lower quality, for around $80. That appears to sell under a couple other brand names (Vello?). Zeikos offers a set that's fair quality (rather plasticky) and has unusual sizes (13mm, 21mm and 31mm) for a bit less money (about $65-75). These also sell under a bunch of other brand names (Vivitar, Dot Line, Cowboy Studio, and many more). There's an even more economical version of the Ziekos with plastic bayonet mounts, costing around $50... might be okay for very occasional use.
Extension tubes have no optics... just air inside. So they cannot "harm" image quality with cheap glass. Some lenses tend to vignette and many non-macro lenses are a bit soft toward the corners when made to focus closer than they were designed to do. But image quality is pretty good and the tubes are universally usable on any lens you might have. You just need more extension with longer focal lengths, less with shorter. (There is a limit... too short a focal length leaves you no working distance between the front of the lens and your subject.)
You also will find even cheaper tube sets... under $25 and even sometimes under $15 or under $10. I don't recommend those for use with modern, electronically controlled lenses. There is no autofocus and, more importantly, no direct way to control the lens aperture with these "cheap, but dumb" tubes! They are fine, but fully manual control if using a vintage lens adapted to Canon.
A true macro lens is one that can focus to at least 1:2 (half life size) on it's own. Many can do full 1:1 (life size, meaning that you can photograph a subject roughly 15mm x 22mm with your camera). True macro lenses are fastest and easiest to use, plus are designed for close focusing, so typically will give the best image quality (sharp from corner to corner with minimal vignetting). There are a lot of macro lenses to choose among... for general purpose macro outdoors, I recommend a lens in the 60mm to 105mm focal length range. This gives you adequate working distance for most subjects, without being so long that it's difficult to handhold your shots. In this range there currently are:
Canon EF-S 60/2.8 USM Macro (crop only)
Tamron 60mm f2.0 Di II Macro/Portrait (crop only)
Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro
Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di Macro
Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di VC USD Macro
Tokina 100mm f2.8 AT-X Macro
Canon 100mm f2.8 USM Macro
Canon 100mm f2.8L IS USM Macro
Zeiss 100mm f2.0 ZE Makro
Sigma 105mm f2.8 DG OS HSM Macro
There also are some pretty darned good discontinued models and possibly millions of excellent vintage macro lenses that can easily be adapted for use (manual aperture and manual focus only) on Canon cameras. Nikon, Pentax, Olympus and several other manufacturers' vintage lenses are easily adapted to use on Canon EOS cameras, if interested.
Personally I use the Tamron SP 60/2.0 (for it's compact size, large aperture); a vintage Tamron SP 90mm Macro; and the Canon 100/2.8 USM (the cheaper non-IS, non-L version... it's versatile and full featured, and can be fitted with a tripod ring).
I also use the Canon 180/3.5L USM Macro, Canon TS-E 45mm Tilt-Shift for a lot of close-up work (and will eventually be getting a TS-E 90mm); and the Canon MP-E 65mm (an extra high magnification, manual focus macro lens). These are all rather specialized to I didn't include them in the above list.
I also have Canon 12mm (two) and 25mm extension tubes, the Kenko tube set, and Canon 500D close-up lens in 77mm size. I've got some other macro gear, but these are the main items.
So, there are lots of ways to "do macro" or at least "close-up" shooting. There is no doubt that a modern, true macro lens is the fastest, easiest and most enjoyable way to shoot high quality macro images. The Canon 100/2.8 I use is hard to beat and probably my most used. It is one of very few lens around this focal length that can be fitted with a tripod mounting ring (an optional accessory). It has USM and a focus limiter to help with focus speed (macro lenses can be very slow auto focusing, needing to emphasize accuracy over speed), which may be as much or more of a benefit when using it for non-macro purposes. It also is an "IF" or "internal focusing lens", meaning it doesn't grow in length when focused closer. Some macro lenses do... in some cases a lot! The MP-E 65mm more than doubles in length. On the above list, I know for certain the Canon and Tamron 60mm lenses and the two Canon 100mm are all "IF" lenses. Check on any of the others that might interest you. A lens that extends when focused cuts into working distance between the front of the lens and the subject, so an IF lens can be helpful.
To give you some idea of pricing...
Canon EF 100/2.8 USM (non-L/IS) sells new for about $530 from reputable stores (after a $70 instant rebate... this price doesn't include the lens hood or tripod mounting ring).
Tamron SP 60/2.0 Di II currently sells for $524 new (incl. lens hood... I got mine for $400 on sale).
Canon EF-S 60/2.8 USM sells for around $470 new (lens hood sold separately).
Tokina 100/2.8 AT-X is one of the most affordable, currently costing $380 new (incl. lens hood).
You also might look at used... Heck, I bought my vintage Tamron 90mm macro for $20 and spent another $40 adapting it for use on Canon (it's a 1:2 lens, but I got the 1:1 adapter with it and use it with extension tubes at times). I don't think this is bad, for a $60 lens...
Have fun shopping!