macro lens choice

[MOmilkman]

Originally Posted by crunch

Not really "lack" of DOF. The fact that something is out of focus is because of the lack of depth of field.

If you look closely at these out of focus areas, you'll see it's not necessarily a smooth background. Sometimes it looks blotchy, sometimes it can look harsh. This is what "bokeh" refers to - the quality of the out of focus areas. The smoother, less "edgy" the out of focus areas, the better the bokeh. It's very noticable if you have out of focus highlights (like a city skyline) - "good" bokeh will have perfectly round highlights whereas "bad" bokeh will have pentagonal or hexagonal highlights (caused by the aperture blades in the lens). This is just one example of what bokeh refers to.

Bokeh is also very subjective - it's not something one can measure and/or quantify justifibaly. However, it's easy to spot really bad or really good bokeh. It's the middle ground where opinions start to differ.

Thanks so much. That helps break it down for me.

[yorkiemom]

I have the Canon 100mm too...and I love it!

[velvet4269]

I absolutely LOVE my Sigma 105mm EX DG Macro lens. I bought it a little over a year ago, and it has very seldom come off my camera. I get a LOT of general-purpose use out of the lens, and have been very happy with the macro shots I've gotten from it. You can see them here (as well as my progression with the lens, as I've gotten better with it ).

Like any lens, there's going to be a learning curve, but I've found after using a prime lens for the last year, that it's so much easier to use now than a zoom (but I'm also a manual focus person).

[pjl]

Trusty old paint:
Nikkor AF 60 2.8 D.
I use it on manual for macros; all my macros have been hand-held.
Decent enough lens to use for portraits and such, AF works well for those.

[Aperture Nine]

Also search google for "60mm vs 105mm" (without quotes) or something similar. Some people explain the difference between them IN PRACTICE very well.

[qunox]

I read that 60mm macro is a bad choice. Command?

[Aperture Nine]

Nikon 60mm Micro vs. 105mm Micro - Photo.net Nikon Forum

Some experiences there. I have a 105mm and I would not like to have to get closer to the motives, my own shadow is often a problem.

[Thanh]

I had one macro lens, it was the Tamron 90mm. Very good but it is quite noisy. I wish a had the 135mm L from Canon, I keep it in my wish list.

[seraphicimago]

I own a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro lens - my choice for the close-in shots. I don't get real heavy into macro- I don't own any reversal rings- frankly I can't seem to find anything that will sit still long enough.

I often use the 100mm lens for abstract shots of flowers - that real narrow DoF from the macro lens and it's 1x magnification generate some "odd" things

[drkimber]

I love my Canon Ef-S 60mm. It is sharp, small, and just the right solution for many macro shots. Great value for the price.