i am looking to buy a macro lense for close up photography. i have been looking at the canon 100mm 2.8 macro and the sigma 105mm 2.8 macro lenses. i was wondering about the quality in the sigma vs the canon. also is this a good choice for close uo photography? (insects) i use a canon eos 630...

-- Scott Currie (src60seven@sympatico.ca), April 06, 2002

Answers

As you will find in this forum there is always the Sigma vs canon debate with most pros on the canon side.the main reason is future compatibility with canons. this has been a long standing problem with sigma in ef mount, as well as resale value. Since there is a small difference in price, you may want to go with the discontinued non- ultrasonic canon. this is tack sharp even at 16x20. by the way, the 630 is a great camera but without mirror lockup, you may find macro photography less than optimal, use a sturdy tripod.

-- joe cap (joemocap@yahoo.com), April 06, 2002.

If price is the criterion for your choice, then the Vivitar/Phoenix 100mm f/3.5 macro is the cheapest dedicated macro lens for EOS mount.

If you want to shoot dead insects, any macro lens, including the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro, will work. If ever you upgrade from your EOS 630, there is a chance that non-Canon lenses will be incompatible with a newer EOS camera.

If you want to shoot live insects on the move, several features of the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro USM lens might let you get shots not otherwise possible. For instance, internal focus, optional tripod mount ring, swift and silent focussing, full-time manual focus.

Specifically, the technique of Almost Trap Focus was developed using my EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM on my Elan 7E.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), April 07, 2002.