[tufty]

I hope to very soon now actually get my DSLR at last, not sure which it'll be yet, the new Fuji S3 pro or the old S2 pro.
I will then be looking at buying a macro lens for Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies.
It seems a couple of highly recommended lenses (at a reasonable price !!!) are the Tamron 90mm and the Sigma 105mm. Does anyone have any experience of either of these lenses and if so what are the pros' and con's.
Obviously with the Digital multiplying factor they will be approx 135mm and 160mm, will this be to my advantage ?
What will be the effect to the close focussing distance ?
There are other longer focal length macro lenses available, I think Tamron have a 180mm one, would these be too large on a DSLR ?
Many thanks to any responses.

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by tufty

I hope to very soon now actually get my DSLR at last, not sure which it'll be yet, the new Fuji S3 pro or the old S2 pro.
I will then be looking at buying a macro lens for Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies.
It seems a couple of highly recommended lenses (at a reasonable price !!!) are the Tamron 90mm and the Sigma 105mm. Does anyone have any experience of either of these lenses and if so what are the pros' and con's.
Obviously with the Digital multiplying factor they will be approx 135mm and 160mm, will this be to my advantage ?
What will be the effect to the close focussing distance ?
There are other longer focal length macro lenses available, I think Tamron have a 180mm one, would these be too large on a DSLR ?
Many thanks to any responses.

I shoot a Nikon D100 and F100 (35mm) with a 105mm Nikkor Micro AF lens - superb results. The multiplying factor with the D100 is about x1.4. This does not seem to be much of a problem and I can switch easily over to the F100 if I cannot get what I want. I would recommend you try the lenses you are looking at with manual focus as well as auto - I do find myself using my cameras in manual focus mode quite a lot in doing close up work.

There are typically 60, 85, 105, 200 and even a 70-180 zoom available for close up stuff - I chose 105mm f2.8 as it provided a good balance of depth of field, close focus, mignifaction and particulary speed when needed. The longer the focal length you go to the more difficult you may find effective use of the lens - the 90 and 105 would be fine - have fun and good luck!

[Doug Greenberg]

The Tamron and Sigma macro lenses both are very well-liked by photographers. One bit of information that might be relevant to you is that Tamron has just announced a digital version of its 90mm. macro lens. I don't know the technical details, but it's supposedly optimized for digital format, etc. It probably won't be available for a while, but you might watch for it.

[tufty]

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll just have to have a try out with the various lenses. The new Tamron 'digital' lens sounds very interesting, I still haven't bought my DSLR yet so theres no big rush.

Thanks again.

[AndyC]

I have an older Manual focus versiopn of the Tamron 90.
Its a very good piece of kit-easy to focus and a bright image. The downside is that you need to get quite close to your subject to get a reasonable image size and dragonflys etc can be tricky! A longer focal length lets you 'standoff' your target a little further.

AndyC

[digi-birder]

This month's Practical Photographer magazine has a review of macro lenses (if you can believe reviews!). The new issue isn't out till 25th March, so you may be able to get hold of a copy - or at least read the appropriate pages in the shop!

[tufty]

Thanks for that Diane, I'll have a trip to WH Smiths

[digi-birder]

After reading those reviews, I think I may get the Tamron 90mm - I was going to go for the Sigma 105mm, but I have also had recommendation from someone else about the Tamron lens.

I would prefer one of the longer lenses, maybe the 180mm Sigma, in order to take the shots a bit further away from the subject, but my budget doesn't run to £500+ at the moment. Mind you, it doesn't even run to £250 until I get my old camera sold!

[Adey Baker]

As a general point on Macro lens figures the distance quoted for life-size or half life-size (or whatever) reproduction is from the subject to the film plane not the front of the lens.

So there's not a huge difference from one focal-length range to the next as lenses have to extend by the same amount as their focal-length to achieve life-size 1:1 reproduction. However, to confuse matters, longer ones, such as the 180mm's are often internal-focussing optics which change focal-length as you focus closer!

In fact the difference may be more useful in keeping your shadow out of shot rather than in frightening the subject.

[digi-birder]

I thought I'd continue this subject in this thread, as it is more or less on the same lines.

First, Adey, thanks for the explanation above. I suppose I've been misunderstanding the blurb in the photo mags.

Having now sold my G3, I'm now seriously looking for a macro lens. I was going to go for a fixed focal length, such as the Tamron 90mm or the Sigma 105mm, but I'm now toying with the idea of a zoom such as the Sigma or Tamron 70-300. The only problem, if it is a problem, is that it is only 1:2 macro (at the 300mm end) and not life size.

How does this match up to something that takes macro at 1:1? I presume cropping would be an option?

The zoom would also be an option if ever I don't fancy lugging my 50-500 around. I don't think I will be able to use my 1.4x converter with it, though.

Decisions, decisions.

[Adey Baker]

Diane

The Tamron or Sigma macro would be a far better option if you want to do it seriously

Regard the macro option on the 70-300mm zooms as a nice 'extra' rather than the main reason for buying - the fact that it's at the 300mm end of the zoom range means you've got those problems of camera shake for hand-held shots that bedevil these types of lens for the unwary.

There's a quick review of the new Tamron 90mm lens in this weeks 'Amateur Photographer' magazine (not a test-report) It details the differences such as lens-coatings making it even better for digital camera use.

I've used a 50mm macro for many years, both a 1:2 lens on my old Olympus and more recently a life size 1:1 Sigma on a Canon body

The 1:1 is very close on this focal length so it's best with slow-moving creatures!

Obviously cropping is easier now with digitals than it used to be with 35mm film cameras but even so the continuous focus from infinity down to half or full life-size with a proper macro lens is a real boon to making photograhy an enjoyable experience and those razor-sharp, frame-filling shots of colourful insects will stun your audience!

Go for the proper macro lens - you won't regret it!

[digi-birder]

Thanks again, Adey. I'm convinced. The card will be coming out shortly!!

I've already compared the Sigma and Tamron reviews and, having already had the Tamron recommended to me, I think I'll be going for that one.

[checklg]

I'm sorry that I've entered this thread rather late in the day but I'd strongly recommend that you have a look at the Nikon 28-105. It's got a very respectable macro facility. For something more specialised there's the Nikon 200 micro...

Regards,
Graham.

[digi-birder]

Originally Posted by checklg

I'm sorry that I've entered this thread rather late in the day but I'd strongly recommend that you have a look at the Nikon 28-105. It's got a very respectable macro facility. For something more specialised there's the Nikon 200 micro...

Regards,
Graham.

Only one problem there - my camera is the Canon 10D.

I believe the Fuji SLRs take the Nikon lenses, though, so that might be OK for tufty, if that's the camera he goes for.

[AndyC]

Diane

I would agree with Adey. A proper Macro lense will always outperform a zoom that happens to have a macro facility at the long end of the zoom. The image will be sharper and will stand more enlargement. I have some dragonfly and damselfly slides taken with my old Tamron 90 that really do 'leap out' at you when projected on to a screen. If you do get a macro lense, I'm sure you won't regret it at all!

AndyC

[digi-birder]

Andy, I am still swaying between the Sigma and the Tamron lens (maybe more to the Tamron), but either way it will be a fixed length lens, not a zoom.

I'm just waiting for my sold camera money to clear then it will be spent.

[tufty]

I must admit I think I'm going to go for the Tamron, that is when I get my DSLR.
It will be a Nikon mount whichever camera I go for, was hoping for some expected price on the Fuji S3 pro (due Summer 2004 !!!)
I'm sure there'll be a few good deals on the S2 pro when that comes out.
I imagine the S3 will be overpriced on launch but will drop in price rapidly, the trouble is I've been waiting for months to get a DSLR and don't fancy waiting too much longer.
I know the Nikon D70 is out now but would prefer one of the Fuji's.
When I've got my camera then I can get my macro.