Sigma Macro telephoto lense

[Mkbailey755]

I bought a sigma 70-300 macro/telephoto Af lense for my Canon 300d, when i use it i have to be atleast 4ft away from wht im taking and from my take on a macro lense you use it very close to the target, it seems like it is really telephoto only or am I doing something wrong??

[MatsP]

"Macro" is quite often added to budget zoom lenses to make them more attractive. According to B&H's info, the close-up focus distance is 3'1" at 300mm, which is just over 4ft, and that gives a 1:2 scale (so 2 inches becomes 1 inch on the sensor). This is of course better than for example my 100-400L that at best gets down to about 6' from the subject.

Real macro lenses have much closer close-up range than generic "macro added as a secondary feature". For example, my 100mm Macro has a close-up range of 0.3m/1ft - and that's from the "film-plane", so from the front end of the lens is about 2-3 inches or so (mine is an older 100mm macro, the new 100mm macro has internal focusing - the older one is longer the closer you focus).

Sigma's 105mm and 180mm Macro are both 1:1, which gives a close-up limit of 32cm (12.5") and 46cm (18") respectively.

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Mats

[MatsP]

Just another further comment: This is probably taking a regular car, adding 4WD to it, and then compare it to a "proper" 4WD off-road vehicle, wondering why it's not doing quite so well off-road. Both are 4WD, but one is designed for off-road use, the other just has 4WD, but none of the other features that makes a good off-road vehicle.

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Mats

[agesilaus]

To be blunt, there is no such thing as a zoom macro lens. All real macros are primes. And the use of macro in the title of zoom lenses is a cynical lie designed to fool the unsophisticated buyer.

[swartzphotography]

Originally Posted by agesilaus

To be blunt, there is no such thing as a zoom macro lens. All real macros are primes. And the use of macro in the title of zoom lenses is a cynical lie designed to fool the unsophisticated buyer.

im curious does this mean my 28-80 macro by sigma does or is not a true macro lens even though when i turn on the macro feature it allows me to get much much closer to the subject. it is a 1:2 ratio lens also it only works as a macro if its zoomed out to 80 mm then you can turn on the macro. which is odd cuz on my point and shoot and on most point and shoot the macro only works when your at the widest angle.

[jliechty]

No, that 28-80mm lens is not a macro lens, by strict definition. Macro means being capable of at least 1:1 reproduction, and I know of no zoom that can reach that ratio. While it bothers me that companies abuse the term "macro" for marketing reasons, all that really matters is that the lens can attain as much magnification as you need to get the shots that you want. If it can do this, then don't worry about it not being a true macro lens.

[rjgleason]

Originally Posted by Mkbailey755

I bought a sigma 70-300 macro/telephoto Af lense for my Canon 300d, when i use it i have to be atleast 4ft away from wht im taking and from my take on a macro lense you use it very close to the target, it seems like it is really telephoto only or am I doing something wrong??

Return it..........

[megan.c.lynch]

Not sure if this applies to the new lenses, but I had an FD mount zoom for my old Canon A-1 that also had a macro function. It did let me get rather close to objects - certainly closer than 4 feet - and I was able to focus at just a couple of inches, although the physical length of the lens also added about 5 inches to that, making it maybe about 1 foot or so. I will have to look at it when I get home to see exactly what lens it was, but I believe it was a 70-210. You slid the zoom all the way forward, and then turned it one way for zoom focus, and the other way for macro focus.

[Jeffphoto]

MK,

I'm currently researching the lens market. If you are looking for a lens that can give you some macro capability, but also some telephoto capability, then you may want to consider Canon's Telephoto EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Autofocus Lens.

I am hearing good things about it and seeing some good reviews for it.

[MatsP]

Originally Posted by Jeffphoto

MK,

I'm currently researching the lens market. If you are looking for a lens that can give you some macro capability, but also some telephoto capability, then you may want to consider Canon's Telephoto EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Autofocus Lens.

I am hearing good things about it and seeing some good reviews for it.

Indeed a good choice. It's possible to save a little bit of money by going with one of the Sigma Macro 50mm or 105mm lenses, and if you need proof that they are good enough, just ask Gary Parr (gparr) on this forum. He's got (or had) all three of Sigma's macro lenses, and I'm sure anyone who's been following the forum for a while knows that Gary is pretty decent (or better than that ;-) ) at macro photography, and I think he can tell a good lens from one that isn't.

I have the older Canon EF100/2.8 Macro (without USM), which would probably be the second last lense I'd give up if I had to sell my lenses (god forbid) [the last one being my "walkaround" 20-35/2.8L].
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Mats

[David C]

It really depends on how small an object you want to shoot. A 1:2 lens is not enough for tiny objects, but is generally fine for most flowers etc and most larger insects. Though it does not reach full 'macro' (ie 1:1 or larger), the sigma 70-300 is capable of very good close-up images, as long as due care is taken (ie steady hands or tripod required, and careful focussing - generally delicate manual focus for the narrow DOF subjects entailed...)

It is the only macro lens I am likely to afford for a fair while, but I have already got quite decent results with it.

eg: a midge and flower -
http://www.dphoto.us/forumphotos/sho...44/ppuser/1516 ;

this bee shot,



and this butterfly shot
http://www.dphoto.us/forumphotos/sho...02/ppuser/1516

do not even go close to the minimum focus distance allowed by that sigma lens (used here on a Pentax K10D)...

[David C]

As Josh says, the 28-80mm is not a true 'macro' lens - but I do not really mind lens manufacturers bending the terminology somewhat by badging 1:2 capable lenses with a "Macro" tag, as their close-up ability is normally fine - it is when I see 1:5 lenses with a big "Macro" after their name that I get pretty sceptical...

As far I know, there is only one zoom lens that is a true macro, the Vivitar Series 1 90-180mm f/4.5 Flat Field Macro, made for Pentax. Supposed to be a great lens, but hasn't been made for many years, and apparently needs some pin alteration to be used on modern cams (and is so rare now that it typically sells for a small fortune if one ever pops up on ebay...)