Suggest me a good lense

[mohan_subramanyan]

Friends, I am new to photography and want to buy a Macro lens. I am thinking of go for Sigma lenses as they are under my budget (around 200$)

Is this lens http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/len...86&navigator=6good for Macro photography? the magnification factor is as 1:3.5 max. Also I want to know whether Macro lenses are good for Portrait photography?

[matthewchj]

mohan_subramanyan, welcome.

Any macro lens with the exception of Canon's MP-E 65mm can be used as an ordinary portrait/short telephoto lens.

If you want a lens that is proper for macro photography, I would suggest you get a proper macro lens with a magnification of 1:1. This means that the object you are photographing appears life size on the image sensor.

If you can afford to increase your budget slightly, here's a Sigma lens that does 1:1 magnification. It costs $239.89 US on amazon.
Link: Amazon
Link: review

Of course, if you don't want to buy/can't afford a macro lens, you can attach extension tubes or close-up lenses to your existing lenses to increase their magnification ratio.

[wulf]

If your budget is very limited, then I think the cheaper add-ons are definitely worth a look. I am enjoying what I can see with my Raynox DCR-250 (see sample pictures).

The advantage of that approach is that you get something you can play with but without making such a hole in your budget that it sets you too far back if you decide you want to proceed with a more serious dedicated macro lens.

Wulf

[Avv604]

If you could find the Sigma 105mm Macro lens, it would be worth it to purchase it.
The 50mm would be easier with poritraits but for flowers, butterflies, bees, etc... I like having the 105mm. Get you further back as to not disturb them or them disturb you!

A true macro lens is a prime lens. Not a zoom.
Get a prime lens if you are wanting a real macro lens. However, to get the most bang for the buck, a zoom will work.. not as good but it will work.