I am looking for a macro lens for my Canon 2000D. I am an enthusiast and not a professional photographer so I am looking for something mid-range. I have been searching but there are quite a few to choose from so any advice would be welcome. I generally photograph plants and flowers. Many thanks.
Ideally the best macro is the one you can afford. You can get halfway there with close focusing lenses or using magnifying filters but any try 1:1 macro lens will work. They come in 50/100 and 180 mm options generally and you surely do not need a pro level one for your use. if you can find a good deal on a used copy that may be just the ticket. I have the canon 100mm macro, but have used a friends 50mm sigma back 15 years ago before I bought mine and it actually was a real nice option. Again I don't think you can go wrong with any actual true macro lens, but I would probably make sure it is EF not ef-s if possible, so you can use it on a future camera easily if/when you upgrade.
a lens i have just ordered new is the sigma 105mm ƒ2.8 EX OS macro lens, i do already have a couple of dedicated 2:1 manual macro lenses but i wanted an OS casual shooter macro lens around the 100mm mark i've looked at the sigma 105mm macro second hand a few time but then i realized how cheap it is brand new, got the one i ordered for £250 uk the sigma EX lenses so far have been very impressive, i have the newer art series lenses but they cost alot more and thats second hand. it should be arriving in a couple of days going for a 1:1 macro lens like this is recommended over a dedicated one that does 2:1 + as at macro distances things get a bit screwy and the light and depth of field fall off will leave you pulling your hair out, i tend to use the 2:1 lenses at home on a tripod with focus stacking etc
I purchased a Canon 100mm f/2.8L macro lens last week. I haven't managed to take any better photo's with it than with the normal lens the camera came with so a little frustrated. I think more practice is needed as I am sure it is down to me rather than the lens
Quite possible, "better" is a subjective term, let us know what you feel is lacking there and we may be able to provide some critique .....I assume you can focus closer to the object than with your other lens?
Is there any chance that you can take a couple of images and post them of the same subject? One with your original lens, and one with your macro lens. If possible, try and do the image taking exactly the same. Same exposure, and distance to subject. We then maybe able to give you a few pointers. Gary
when you say better do you mean in image quality or the ability to get a more magnified / close macro image? though its a boring target try taking you best close up / macro image of a tape measure / ruler, that way we and you can see just how good or bad a lens is at getting close just a simple jpeg without cropping it obviously, i'll take a couple with my relevant lenses, ie the ef ef-s ones as you wont be able to use any i have for ef-m after dinner tonight 2mm or ruler on the M50 sensor ( a crop sensor like yours is the best i have done with an ef lens is a 100-400mm at 100mm with added extension tubes and two 2x extenders, i won't add anything in the new images just what the lenses can do on their own. lenses i think you will be able to use that i'll test will be the 105mm sigma EX OS, still available new, around £300 uk, cheaper second hand. the Laowa 100mm 2:1 macro, around £450 new, might be harder to find second hand
