Sigma 50mm 2.8 macro

[faisal]

Does any one have any experience with this lens??

It's available for $210 second hand........$100 less than a new one

[michaelb]

Faisal,
I've owned this lens, twice actually.

My first copy I used with my old XT and it was a very sharp lens (its actually difficult to find an optically bad macro lens). It is very small and compact which is nice and its well built. It has two drawbacks though - it does tend to hunt a bit when focusing, and it extends. This isn't a problem for macro, but its not a good "action" lens. Its a good FL on 1.6X crop as long as you don't want it for bugs. I ended up purchasing the 60mm macro, which I prefer because its very fast focusing and doesn't extend.

When I got the 5D I couldn't use my 60mm macro on it so I picked up another copy (got it used at B&H for under $200). It was plenty sharp but 50mm is too short for macro on FF, so I sold it.

If your looking to get into macro, its a great way to start.


Here's a couple of shots from the Sigma 50 on my old XT...

[faisal]

Thanks Michael for the insight. Hmm....bugs were something I want to use a macro for apart from product shots. Looks like I'll have to save for a Canon 60mm macro or the 100mm.

Even if I end up with the Sigma, I'm wondering when focusing at 1:1, does the extended part of the lens create a shadow when using the external flash mounted on to the camera....

[michaelb]

Thanks Michael for the insight. Hmm....bugs were something I want to use a macro for apart from product shots. Looks like I'll have to save for a Canon 60mm macro or the 100mm.

Even if I end up with the Sigma, I'm wondering when focusing at 1:1, does the extended part of the lens create a shadow when using the external flash mounted on to the camera....

If your shooting shy bugs then you may want the 100mm macro. I can't really answer your flash question as I almost never used flash with that lens. Its a fantastic lens optically though.

[drama]

I would reccomend the canon 60 or 100 over the Tamron & Sigma's because of the ease of use (FTM,non extending, USM,silence)
On a crop, I would prefer a 60 over a 100 for crop cameras

[faisal]

If your shooting shy bugs then you may want the 100mm macro. I can't really answer your flash question as I almost never used flash with that lens. Its a fantastic lens optically though.

I've been reading a lot of reviews and most of the people have said that optically its a real bang for the buck. I don't know if the bugs are the shy types cause if I do get a macro lens then only I'll be hunting down bugs more keenly cause till now I just shoo them away...

I would reccomend the canon 60 or 100 over the Tamron & Sigma's because of the ease of use (FTM,non extending, USM,silence)
On a crop, I would prefer a 60 over a 100 for crop cameras

hmm....yeah the extending bit is really putting me off it. Why do you recommend a 60mm over a 100m for a crop sensor?? (I won't be going FF for a looooong time)

[Rhys]

I am very interested to read this debate. I currently have extension tubes. I have looked into a genuine macro lens but haven't purchased one. My interest would be close-ups of the rings at a wedding. I can get pretty darned close with my 17-85 IS and my Tamron 28-75 but they're not so hot with tubes.

I did consider the Sigma 50 but my experiences with non Canon lenses is that they just don't perform all that well compared to a genuine Canon lens. Having said that I've had and seen some ropey Canon lenses too. The ropiest Canon lenses that I've encountered are the 70-300 IS, 18-55 and 50 f1.8. Basically, those lenses are landfill.

I am looking with interest at the Canon 50 f2.5 half-macro. I don't really need 1:1 for a ring shot - I just need to get closer than I can with my existing lenses. Of course - you know the problem with close-up - depth of field suffers horribly the closer you get. I did fleetingly consider the 60 Macro but I'm trying to move away from EF-S lenses as I feel full-frame is where I need to be.

Anyway, here's a hand-held quickie tube shot.

[michaelb]

I love my 60 macro, one of my best lenses; if you don't mind spending the money, go for it. I agree with Drama; I like the 60mm FL on 1.6X crop; its like 100mm on FF. And you actually can use it on FF, if you use ext tubes with it.

[Rhys]

The thing that's a pain with tubes and zoom lenses is that the zoom does the focussing and the focus doesn't do much at all. AF tubes are some kind of a joke!

The sole advantages of a dedicated macro lens are:
1. Flat field
2. AF works.

[faisal]

I love my 60 macro, one of my best lenses; if you don't mind spending the money, go for it. I agree with Drama; I like the 60mm FL on 1.6X crop; its like 100mm on FF. And you actually can use it on FF, if you use ext tubes with it.

hmm...I would save a bit by going for a 60mm over the 100mm...lets see how my finances look in a few months...

The thing that's a pain with tubes and zoom lenses is that the zoom does the focussing and the focus doesn't do much at all. AF tubes are some kind of a joke!

The sole advantages of a dedicated macro lens are:
1. Flat field
2. AF works.

I didn't know that about tubes....that is a pain. It's just like reverse mounting a lens which I tried with my Kit lens (without physically mounting it)...that was a mess though I did get some cool shots like this one...