PhotoCamel: Your friendly photo community, with free discussion forums, digital photography reviews, photo sharing, galleries, downloads, blogs, photography contests, and prizes.
Photo of the Week Photo of the Week

Go Back   PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Community > Cameras and Lenses > Canon Forum

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-01-2005   #1 (permalink)
Alpaca
 
Posts: 44
Chris will become famous soon enough
CamelKarma: 12
Default 100 Macro as non-Macro

Being a poor college student I am looking at using some hard-earned birthday cash toward a new lens, and I'm considering either the 85 1.8 or 100 2.8 Macro. I'd really like to get the Macro, but my question is how versatile would it be? I'm wondering how able is in in everyday shooting, such as a portraits lens, or possibly even sports photography on campus here? I'm thinking basketball, is the AF on it decent for moving targets and such? I know the 85 excells at both, but I'd love to have a true macro lens if I could.

ChRis

__________________
__________________
Members don't see this ad. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Community, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.
Chris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2005   #2 (permalink)
F1 Camel
 
ohenry's Avatar
 
Location: Medford OR
Posts: 2,979
ohenry has a reputation beyond reputeohenry has a reputation beyond reputeohenry has a reputation beyond reputeohenry has a reputation beyond reputeohenry has a reputation beyond reputeohenry has a reputation beyond repute
CamelKarma: 657
Editing OK?: No
Default Re: 100 Macro as non-Macro

The 100mm f/2.8 macro performs well as a normal lens. It is sharp and the USM is fast and quiet. I don't think 100mm is a good focal length for sports photography, however. It will work, but your subjects will need to be close.
__________________
'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.
- Thomas Jefferson
ohenry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2005   #3 (permalink)
Bactrian
 
Location: Lowell, Michigan
Posts: 2,299
Kevin Barrett is a splendid one to beholdKevin Barrett is a splendid one to behold
CamelKarma: 102
Default Re: 100 Macro as non-Macro

The 100 Macro is a very flexible lens and totally up for portrait duty. Awesome bokeh etc.
However, I think the 85 f1.8 is a faster focusing lens and more suited to fast action.

The 100 is really nice, but it has a much wider focus range to cover. The distance switch
helps to improve the speed, but I still think the 85 f/1.8 would be better in a sports application.

I suppose you'll have to decide whether you like macros or sports shooting better...
__________________
KB

The influence of a well-balanced, well-ordered life is of inestimable value. . . . E.G. White
Kevin Barrett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2005   #4 (permalink)
Guanaco
 
Posts: 271
Narsuitus is a jewel in the rough
CamelKarma: 40
Default Re: 100 Macro as non-Macro

Since both focal lengths can be used for portraits and since both lenses can be used for sports (at least the sports where you are close to the action such as courtside basketball and ringside boxing), it really depends on what you need more—the macro feature of the 100mm or the light gathering speed of the 85mm.
Narsuitus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-11-2005   #5 (permalink)
Vicuna
 
Posts: 213
rpcrowe has a spectacular aura about
CamelKarma: 31
Default More than just getting by....

I have purchased a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP AF Macro lens (not the DI model) for less than $225 on Ebay (including postage). It has turned out to be an excellent macro and general purpose lens and competes very well with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro. In fact in some categories, the Tamron surpasses the Canon... although in most categories, they are a dead heat.

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/can-tam-macro/

The purchase price wasn't a fluke. These Tamron lenses usually sell in the neighborhood of $200-225 Used.

The lens has beautiful bokeh and has been called the "Macro Portrait Lens". It is easy and fun to use and the images appear to be extremelt sharp and crisp.

I am still getting acquainted with all the facets of this lens. It has been many years since I owned a dedicated macro lens. I have seen some absolutely wonderful macro images shot with this lens.

The reason I posted this is to let you know that there are other viable options than the Canon 100mm macro.
__________________
I'm a retired Navy Photographer with considerable commercial experience including weddings, portraits and pet photography.
rpcrowe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-2005   #6 (permalink)
Bactrian
 
Location: Lowell, Michigan
Posts: 2,299
Kevin Barrett is a splendid one to beholdKevin Barrett is a splendid one to behold
CamelKarma: 102
Default Re: 100 Macro as non-Macro

Quote:
Originally Posted by rpcrowe
I have purchased a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP AF Macro lens (not the DI model) for less than $225 on Ebay (including postage). It has turned out to be an excellent macro and general purpose lens and competes very well with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro. In fact in some categories, the Tamron surpasses the Canon... although in most categories, they are a dead heat.

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/can-tam-macro/

The purchase price wasn't a fluke. These Tamron lenses usually sell in the neighborhood of $200-225 Used.

The lens has beautiful bokeh and has been called the "Macro Portrait Lens". It is easy and fun to use and the images appear to be extremelt sharp and crisp.

I am still getting acquainted with all the facets of this lens. It has been many years since I owned a dedicated macro lens. I have seen some absolutely wonderful macro images shot with this lens.

The reason I posted this is to let you know that there are other viable options than the Canon 100mm macro.
Congrats on your purchase. It sounds like you've got a great copy. Post some results!
__________________
KB

The influence of a well-balanced, well-ordered life is of inestimable value. . . . E.G. White
Kevin Barrett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-2005   #7 (permalink)
Camel Breath
 
JDArt's Avatar
 
Location: Far out, man
Posts: 12,882
JDArt strides over the forum like a knight in shining armorJDArt strides over the forum like a knight in shining armorJDArt strides over the forum like a knight in shining armorJDArt strides over the forum like a knight in shining armorJDArt strides over the forum like a knight in shining armorJDArt strides over the forum like a knight in shining armorJDArt strides over the forum like a knight in shining armorJDArt strides over the forum like a knight in shining armorJDArt strides over the forum like a knight in shining armor
CamelKarma: 1114
Editing OK?: Yes
Default Re: 100 Macro as non-Macro

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
Being a poor college student I am looking at using some hard-earned birthday cash toward a new lens, and I'm considering either the 85 1.8 or 100 2.8 Macro. I'd really like to get the Macro, but my question is how versatile would it be?
Chris, you'll ultimately want both of these lenses, I think. I know I consider both indispensible, but if I were to have to choose one, it would be the 85 1.8, simply because it's smaller and as a walkaround lens, it's better, since it's easier to handhold without inducing camera shake. The 100mm macro is too long on 1.6x cameras, I think, for handholding.

The 1.8 *does not* focus close, however. That's a downside. They're really not interchangable at all.

__________________
__________________
Members don't see this ad. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Community, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.
__________________
Join PhotoCamel
JDArt is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

« PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Community > Cameras and Lenses > Canon Forum »


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
18-180 , 18-125 , 14-45 , 40-150, 50 macro , 25 ex fotobram Four Thirds Forum 7 01-03-2008 02:18 PM
Macro fotobram Four Thirds Forum 20 01-24-2007 02:20 PM
Macro Here ..... alishokri Macro and Close-up Photography 5 09-03-2006 12:24 PM
First real macro with my macro fotobram Macro and Close-up Photography 8 04-21-2006 11:39 AM
Various macro`s Raym Macro and Close-up Photography 20 01-17-2006 11:38 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:48 AM.



SEO by vBSEO 3.2.0