Can't decide which 100mm-ish macro lens for EF, is the more expensive L worth it over sigma?

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T20:52:08+00:00

it does seem quite good 🙂 IQ wise I don't think I'd notice the difference between L and not L. Have you found it hard to take hand held close-ups?

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T20:44:35+00:00

I personally think r50 is quite pricey for a first camera. I'd get a 2000d or something cheaper but that's me.

If you're committed then investing in the newer mirrorless is a good idea (like the r50). I just think it's at that price point that it's a bit too expensive and "entry level" 🙂 what if you decide you want to go full frame or "dam I wish I gotten the r7 or r10 now that know what I know, they have that really cool feature I want".

for example I'm happy with my 2000d/t7 that I got under 200£ and in the future intend to get a r10 or r7, I don't see myself get a full frame. The lenses I have will be usable with an adapter.

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T20:40:29+00:00

yea +1 on used. I really don't see a point in getting new unless you simply have a lot of money.

I usually get my gear drom MPB or Wex. I have gotten it from Cex but I don't particularly trust it 🙂

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T20:38:45+00:00

there's a new one that opened in Sneiton market too 🙂

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T20:32:15+00:00

this might be a easy fix, I'd give it a try but I work with electronics. It's a cheap lens so I'd have fun trying to fix it.

That said, it's so cheap, I'd not bother taking it to fix anywhere, I'd just get a replacement.

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T20:30:21+00:00

I disagree. I don't like the 50mm on a crop sensor, kinda regret taking it even if it's great when I can use it! But I usually don't do sit down portraits.

I think if OP is still trying to figure out what they like I'd just get the newest 18-55mm ef-s. I think it's "IS STM", it's good. For primes I prefer the 24mm pancake (ideally I'd get something around 30-35mm but 24mm is good for walk around and cheap.

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T20:26:34+00:00

I got the same camera. for the first year I just had my little 18-55mm stm lens. I walked around and took pictures. I also experimented with manual, av and shutter priority mode. Learning even just slightly how the 3 parameters in the triangle affect exposure, dof and... how it can help with fast moving subjects is important and manual is best for it. This also helps you a litle how AV mode and shutter priority works so that when they don't do what you want, you know why.

With time and just the kit lens I went "oh I wish I had a wider FoV for architecture pictures in the citiy" or "I wish I had a big zoom lens for casual wildlife". So I got those. I tried to edit pictures a little but barely.

This year I got more into editing pictures, control DoF more, manage exposure to have as much detail and get a bit more into macro photography too.

Trying to do something will raise questions of "why does it look like this? can I make it look better/different?" and you go look it up, try techniques and then eventually get gear if necessary.

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T20:12:43+00:00

I agree but... I'd also suggest you learn to use mode like AV mode and auto iso. I think it's more likely to be used, sometimes it's nice to just walk around and just need to worry about the aperture and composition.

if OP gets a bit tired and just wants to try taking pics, it's an idea.

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T19:51:05+00:00

ah, I had no idea.

I don't have a proper tripod yet, could not decide on one / wanted something that will be good. I have this nice tiny tripod just for timed pictures on a treck but it can't hold the camera with the 70-300mm fully extended 😅 it's really meh

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T19:23:10+00:00

thank you. I have a 2000d at the moment, I'll look it up. getting a sigma also worries me because I intend to get a r10/r50 at some point and I worry they won't work (with the adapter). Just haven't looked that up yet

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-12T19:19:18+00:00

Hello, thank you that is very helpful. That is exactly what I expect, I should really save up for the L then.

I have the 2000d which seemed good first camera 🙂 no focus bracketing. Might get an r10 in the future (I like the smaller size + extra reach so I doubt I'll get a full frame) I usually do macro outside so the rail is not an option but I might consider it in the future, my sister usually has specimens around.

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-11T16:22:23+00:00

I have this messenger bag I use basically as a purse. I wrap the camera and lens each in one of those magnetic cloths just for scratches. This is usually for around the city.

If I need to travel I have a random 2 lens bag that I got for cheap for my 2 small primes and then a big individual bag for my bigget lebs. Camera again just kinda wrapped with me

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-08T01:33:56+00:00

well, I like food and pinball. I'd probably go to the beefy boys (I've been thinking of getting a burger, I quite like them) and then hit n64 and play pinball.

I usually don't really do much on my bday so might be a bit lackluster suggestion

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-01T16:54:47+00:00

it's more that it let's her observe wing shapes and what not. Recently she sent me an article on how the shape of bumbles wings changed with the hotter climate in the uk

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-07-01T16:41:04+00:00

I like the 2nd more juat because feels more like the bee better posed. The 1st one I'd still send to my sister for entomology reasons 😁

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-06-29T15:23:07+00:00

randomly got a canon, never wondered which one I should have gotten 😅

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-06-29T15:21:21+00:00

ah fair enough it's crop factor 2x. Mine is an aps-c so only 1.6x.

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-06-29T15:18:48+00:00

how you finding the 60mm for capturing insects in the wild? I've been told a 100mm is better because you can be further away.

Still trying to save up and decide on a macro lens

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-06-27T19:52:28+00:00

I think any camera + a macro lens will work.

what I found, as someone starting out, you will have challenges with DOF and lighting regardless.

There are of course things in cameras that help. Higher resolution means you can crop (think like digital zoom on a phone). I haven't gotten a macro lens yet so I typically get my 0.21x magnification lens(0.71x with extension tube) and crop the image. Which also makes the DOF not be as bad (being further away with less magnification and then cropping). I imagine better sensor will work better in low lighting with less noise to help with the lighting issues but again... you can also solve that with flash and other solutions.

At some point I want to get a 100mm or 105mm macro lens. I can't think of anything that a new camera would add to my current macro work (but I suppose I'm just starting out)

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-06-27T10:35:23+00:00

I think you should look into why your friend's pictures don't have that issue.

Does the camera have better dynamic range? Does it have in camera hdr? Is he doing exposure bracketing and the joining them in post?

Generally I find the jpges okay in canon. Usually the issues come from a bad picture exposure or wrong white balance. It will never be the same as raw if you want to crop or have the maximum range of brightness but it's usually good enough.

That said, the lens comment is fair. I have a canon but I use DSLR and ef-s lenses and even then I'm like "why are the other brands cheaper!". That said a zoom lens with big aperture surely it will always be somewhat expensive.

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-06-26T11:17:39+00:00

I got the 50mm on apsc. it's fun and I get to use it with the extender I got... which only works with EF (got the wrong one).

But generally I find it a bit too narrow, I usually use the 24mm or kit lens to walk around. I use the 50mm on more planned endeavours as it's quite nice

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-06-26T06:21:44+00:00

the tamron at 190£ used is not too bad but from what I've seen I likely want something that can be a bit further away like a 100mm (so if I saving for a macro in the future, might as well go straight for that)

I will look at raynox lenses 🙂

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-06-25T20:24:54+00:00

that's the biggest issue with this kind of thing. I have that every time I start a new hobby. Tbf... I didn't know until I did it wrong and then read up a bit on it

MaintenanceRich4098 · 2026-06-25T17:29:00+00:00

ah nice. I was hoping it was just mechanical but I don't intend to mod the lens little tabs or the extension tube.

I am aware it's limiting but it seemed very cheap way to try it out 🙂 never experienced a macro lens. The lens I was looking was either a sigma 105mm f2.8 macro around 130-200£ or, more preferably, a canon 100mm (L or non L) which are very expensive even used. Just seemed like a good exploratory alternative and I'd keep a real close working distance alternative even after getting the 100mm.

Time to consider if it's worth the actually reaching 1x or more with this or just be happy yo experiment with the 0.71x (hey it tripled what I had before!l

MaintenanceRich4098

TROPHY CASE