Looks Like Ramen for me!!!

[downtrodden]

Well, I'm going to be eating Ramen noodles for a while! Just picked up the 24-70 F2.8L tonight! So far i'm loving it and cannot wait to put it through it's paces.

My next purchase, I need your guys help on- i want it to be a dedicated macro lens- as spring is right around the corner, which means- SPIDERS! And I don't understand the magnification properties of Macro lenses, so I will just describe what i want to be able to do.

I want the lens to magnify much like the Raynox DCR250 macro on my S3 and S5, in other words, I want to be able to take a critter this tiny:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/536902748_2aecc22d5e.jpg

And magnify him to fill the frame, like this:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1352/536872936_337632864d.jpg

So, what lens is going to be my best bet? Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X????

[Nickcanada]

Very nice my friend. I would think with a macro for small jumpy critters you would want a longer focal length like the 100mm or the 180mm.

[AdamW]

Very nice my friend. I would think with a macro for small jumpy critters you would want a longer focal lengths like the 100mm or the 180mm.

Nick's right. I strongly suggest you try the those out in a store before you buy one. The 180 will give you more reach, but it is bigger and heavier. I love my Canon 100 mm, it is a really fun lens and I use it a lot. From what I've heard, the 180 is great, too. So I think it comes down to convenience and comfort.

[cdifoto]

Ramen ain't so bad.

[FlashX83]

I've heard good things about the Sigma macro lenses too, the 150mm seems like a nice lens for the price.

The MP-E 65mm is a specialty lens that's designed to be used under controlled conditions on a tripod with focus racks. While I'm sure it's possible to take critter pictures with it, I can't imagine it's ideal.

And congrats on your 24-70L! It's a superb lens and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[TheWengler]

I think Rooz uses the Sigma 150mm with a set of extension tubes to chase spiders around.

[downtrodden]

Also guys, I haven't got to fully put the new lens through it's paces yet, but anyone who has had experience with it, where are this lens' weak points? Anywhere it just goes soft? or doesn't focus well?

[Rooz]

cory. i've used a bunch of macro lens' to try and find the right one for bugs/ spiders and the sigma 150mm with extension tubes was the best option. it's hell sharp, has superb bokeh and excellent contrast even at wide apertures. the other options i considered were the tammie 180mm/ nikkor 200mm; which were too big. the nikon 105VR/ tammie 90mm, not long enuf.

On the downside, it is a little heavy compared to ay the tamron f2.8 which was superb and i had some AF problems with the d80 at the extreme AF points, (no such issues with the d300 yet). anything under 100mm will frustrate you. i even get frustrated on occasion only having 150mm.

the magnification is pretty cool for a while but you soon get pretty bored with it and just want to take nice shots with good composition and colour as opposed to insane detail. but thats just me.

in a couple of years time i will have 2 macro lens'. the nikkor 200mm for bugs and the nikkor 105VR for flowers. the sigma 150 is just a nice compromise between the 2.

some examples with and without tubes. cant remember which is which. with extension tubes, you will fill the frame with a spider thats around 5cm quite easily then you can crop if you want to. another option for insane magnification is what this lunatic does, (reversed 50mm, sigma 150mm, extension tubes.), http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtwizx/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2142/1823625551_afc7c14224_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2290/2236549112_deda28d2e5_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2121/2238154153_a1f71080d4_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2416/2211216803_9776c6ced7_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2103/2236549380_7144388c39_o.jpg

[cdr116]

Ramen ain't so bad.

That depends on how long you've had to eat nothing but... :p

[michaelb]

Rooz,
Those are some fantastic macros.