APS-C 60mm or 100mm macro lens?

[sandymandy]

Hi,

im not sure if to buy the ef-s 60mm for my APS-C or the EF 100mm.

pro thing would be that i could use the 100mm on a FF camera too. contra perhaps that 100mm on APS-C is really shaky. but i wanna use a monopod anyway.
price wise they are not so much different. so which one should i go for? thought im gonna go with the YN 14 EX flash. original canon flashes are like extremly expensive for macro shooting...

 

[Vivid Color]

I'm not sure that you haven't set up a false "contra" scenario, but why don't you just go to a camera store and try out the 100 mm macro? If you don't live near a store which sells the 100 mm macro, then just order it from someone with free shipping, try it out, and worst-case scenario you send it back and pay a few dollars for shipping. When I bought my Canon T1i in 2009, it never occurred to me that I would someday buy a full frame camera. In those days, the price differential between crop and full frame was huge. So, I bought a 60 mm macro. Later, when I bought my Canon 6D, I needed to buy a new macro lens. I ended up buying Canon's 100 mm L version, but the Non-L version also has excellent IQ and had I bought it in the beginning, I would've been set. I sold the 60 mm for a pretty good price but at some loss.

 

[9VIII]

I love my Sigma 150mm macro, the extra working distance is great. Like with any telephoto, you can shoot handheld as long as you keep your shutter above 1/1000 (which normally requires daylight).
The only 60mm macro I would consider is the one with a 5x zoom, I've spent too much time bumping into things trying to get close to bother with shorter focal lengths anymore.

 

[dcm]

Faced the same dilemma a while back. Chose the 100L since I knew I would upgrade to FF in a few years. The IS was really helpful. Quite happy with the choice even though it cost more up front. Even happier when I went full frame and didn't need to upgrade the lens.

 

[Click]

Faced the same dilemma a while back. Chose the 100L since I knew I would upgrade to FF in a few years.

Same here.

+1 for the 100L

 

[Marsu42]

price wise they are not so much different. so which one should i go for?

The 100L is the better choice hands down - sealed and longer working distance so your shadow doesn't get in the way.

I admit I'm a bit puzzled why Canon insisted on releasing a ef-s macro lens at all, the 100L performance on crop is very good even if you can pixel-peep a slight sharpness difference wide open vs. ff. But actually imho the bokeh is *better* on crop as the 100L has a "radial" bokeh which can be distracting on ff.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Everyone seems to think you are asking about the 100mm L, but I think you are referring to the 100mm f/2.8 or the 100mm f/2.8 USM. There are three Canon 100mm Macros in existence, but the non USM version is long discontinued.

Of course, the 100mmL is wonderful, Ilve had all three 100mm Macros.

If you are worried about shaking, then you are trying to handhold a Macro shot?? IMHO, only the 100L allows you to consistently handhold the camera at near macro distances due to its hybrid IS.

Otherwise, you may find that a macro rack and tripod will be on your shopping list for a non is macro. That evens the price up a bit.

Here re a couple of hand held shots with the 100mmL (I really never was able to use my other 100mm macros for macro distances handheld)

 

[Marsu42]

If you are worried about shaking, then you are trying to handhold a Macro shot?? IMHO, only the 100L allows you to consistently handhold the camera at near macro distances due to its hybrid IS.

Oh my, my favorite fallacy - my observation is that IS near 1:1 is next to useless, though it makes soothing sounds so you think it probably does something

As for the non-L (I've got both): It's nearly as fine as the L, but not sealed and a more nervous bokeh which actually can be more interesting than the "boring" smooth L. As the non-L is rather expensive in comparison, I'd go for the L or get the non-L used.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

If you are worried about shaking, then you are trying to handhold a Macro shot?? IMHO, only the 100L allows you to consistently handhold the camera at near macro distances due to its hybrid IS.

Oh my, my favorite fallacy - my observation is that IS near 1:1 is next to useless, though it makes soothing sounds so you think it probably does something

As for the non-L (I've got both): It's nearly as fine as the L, but not sealed and a more nervous bokeh which actually can be more interesting than the "boring" smooth L. As the non-L is rather expensive in comparison, I'd go for the L or get the non-L used.

I and many others use the 100L at MFD handheld, so its not a fallacy. Perhaps your IS is defective? Its certainly not easy, you need to hold very still or use high shutter speeds, but it works. I could have never taken those images handheld without the IS, I've tried with my other 100L Macro's.

There is little doubt that use of the proper tripod and head will give better results, but when I see a bug or item that I only have seconds to capture, I can now do it by grabbing the camera, lens, and snapping a few quick shots. I certainly do not get 100% keepers, more like 70% under those conditions.

 

[danski0224]

Hi,

im not sure if to buy the ef-s 60mm for my APS-C or the EF 100mm.

pro thing would be that i could use the 100mm on a FF camera too. contra perhaps that 100mm on APS-C is really shaky. but i wanna use a monopod anyway.
price wise they are not so much different. so which one should i go for? thought im gonna go with the YN 14 EX flash. original canon flashes are like extremly expensive for macro shooting...

The 60mm ef-s is designed for the APS-C cameras. It is razor sharp.

It may come down to minimum focus distance of either lens.

The 100mm may give you a bit more working distance, but it isn't optimized for the APS-C sensor.

About $130 at new retail separates the 60 from the non-L 100 and the L is almost $1k (plus the lens collar). Used/refurbished is always an option.

The EF-S seems to hold value reasonably well in the used market, so if there are no plans to move to a FF camera, and if the minimum focus distance is good...

 

[Marsu42]

I and many others use the 100L at MFD handheld, so its not a fallacy. Perhaps your IS is defective? Its certainly not easy, you need to hold very still or use high shutter speeds, but it works.

Sure it works, but here's the thing: With the high shutter speed required and holding the lens veeeeeery still, turning IS on makes no or nearly no difference ... but it's simplest to agree to disagree on this and recommend a tripod in any case.

About $130 at new retail separates the 60 from the non-L 100 and the L is almost $1k (plus the lens collar). Used/refurbished is always an option.

Good point there, I didn't look at the price difference - a lot of €€€ for more working distance. Just make sure not to get the lens wet or work outdoors near ground level, I broke my 100 non-L twice due to moisture :-\

 

[sandymandy]

well from my experience tripods are really huge and not so comfortable for me since i like to stroll around a lot and not only take macros of insects but also other interesting stuff i find on the way. and sometimes a tripod just gets in my way. so i think a monopod should be a better option and also im gonna use a flash for quick shutter speeds.

so should i go for the NON L 100 or 60mm ? im not changing to FF soon. i just feel its a bit silly if i have to throw away some lenses if i go to FF some day.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dlkAw43cLC0/Sb-aTUb7DJI/AAAAAAAAD5E/tA5bJxRoz8c/s800/eye-macros-human-eye2.jpg

would something like this be possible with the 60 aps-c or 100mm FF ? maybe even a tad closer ? can somebody try it out with their lense for me? it should be not too hard with connecting it to the pc nadusing live preview.

 

[beforeEos Camaras]

well from my experience tripods are really huge and not so comfortable for me since i like to stroll around a lot and not only take macros of insects but also other interesting stuff i find on the way. and sometimes a tripod just gets in my way. so i think a monopod should be a better option and also im gonna use a flash for quick shutter speeds.

so should i go for the NON L 100 or 60mm ? im not changing to FF soon. i just feel its a bit silly if i have to throw away some lenses if i go to FF some day.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dlkAw43cLC0/Sb-aTUb7DJI/AAAAAAAAD5E/tA5bJxRoz8c/s800/eye-macros-human-eye2.jpg

would something like this be possible with the 60 aps-c or 100mm FF ? maybe even a tad closer ? can somebody try it out with their lense for me? it should be not too hard with connecting it to the pc nadusing live preview.

both lens can take photos of a eye how ever the 60 can take on the fly stills with out a tripod or monopod you will lose depth of field as you will shoot very close to wide open. with a macro you really need a tripod and a remote release to get the most out of the lens. I have done walking around with the 60 macro and using it free hand. f 10 plus works the best with a macro as it gives you the needed depth of field. if your really not going to go full frame in the next 2-3 years get the 60 if not get the 100. I will most likely get both as I have 2 crop cameras and the t1i will go to my grand daughter and any ef-s lens I wont be needing. so don't think ef-s as throwaway lens most are well made outside the kit 18-55 lens.

 

[bmwzimmer]

The longer the working distance the better in my opinion if you don't want to scare away bugs and things. I don't shoot macro all that often but was intrigued at the Canon 180L after owning and selling the 100L twice over the years. I shoot at f/16-22 so the only thing the sensor sees is the flash so IS or tripods don't matter that much. Anyways i found a Sigma 180mm f/3.5 macro for $375 on Craigslist and see them on Ebay from $350-450. The 180L might be sharper at f/3.5 but i don't use macro lenses wide open. They are more or less equal optically after f/11. The siggy's construction is not as solid as the L but slightly better than a 100 USM.

 

[sagittariansrock]

I am not sure I can see any benefit of getting the 60mm except for slower minimum shutter speed required. The DoF advantage of a wider FL vanishes due to a shorter working distance, I believe (please check DoFmaster).
Advantages of the 100mm on the other hand:
1. Greater working distance- always useful.
2. Compression will allow a smaller part of the background to be visible, and look less busy
(see the comparison between 60, 100 and 180mm in http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-180mm-f-3.5-L-USM-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx)
3. No worries if and when you move to FF.
Given your intention to hand hold, I think 100L might be worth saving up for. I believe most people won't be repulsed by a smoother bokeh than the non-L, and will be able to hand hold it reasonably well at 1:1 (I was, and I am no great shakes at steady handholding).

 

[danski0224]

There are no hard and fast rules for macro photography.

It doesn't matter if you shoot handheld, monopod or tripod. Those methods and more all exist to be used as the photographer sees fit.

There are people that use the MPE-65 handheld...

The big advantage of the 100 over the 60 is about 4" of working distance at MFD.

The special IS in the 100L is there for macro work and probably worth it if that lens is in your budget.

 

[Berowne]

The EF-S 60/2.8 is a Bargain: it is small, AF very fast, very sharp, Bokeh nice. The resolution is excellent from the beginning and increases in the corners slightly with maximum at f5.6. For Canon APS-C Cameras you cannot have more quality for your money.

EOS 550D, EF-S 60/2.8; ISO 250; f3.2; 1/1000sec.

 

[Marsu42]

so should i go for the NON L 100 or 60mm?

This comes down to the question only you can answer: Do you want longer working distance (100mm ef) or slightly better iq (60mm efs)?

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=107&Camera=736&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=335&CameraComp=736&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=4

 

[mjbehnke]

You may want to Consider the Tokina 100 f2.8 Macro. It is a super sharp lens. Runs about 380US.

 

[GmwDarkroom]

All three lenses -- 60mm, 100mm, and 100mm L -- are all super sharp and will focus very well. I think the working distance and the flexibility of working on full frame cameras makes the 100mm your best choice.

They can be had for good deals on Craigslist and eBay quite a lot as well. If you go for the 100mm, go on eBay and get a tripod collar for ~$20 -- don't pay for the Canon one, it's not worth it. The collar will greatly improve the balance of the camera on a tripod.