Which 50mm Macro lens is a better buy?

[Crackson]

If you haven't bought a lens yet.

I have the Sigma 50 f2.8 macro on my 5D. Its a great lens. Not as plasticy(sp?) as the canon 50 f2.8 macro and the glass is super crisp. Only gripe I have about the lens is that you can't have the lens hood on, then snap the lens cover on it. The lens hood screws onto the lens or filter and there's not enough room for the cover to lock in.

Otherwise its a great little lens if you do a lot of macro which you are doing or going to be doing. I also use it to do some street shots when I don't feel like freaking people out with a larger lens.

 

[Old Shooter]

I bought a 50mm 2.5 Macro with my first EOS body; a 10s film camera. That was 20 years ago and I still have the same lens. It is still one of the sharpest lenses I own; especially if you stop it down to f/5.6 or so. Every wedding I ever shot it came out of the bag to get a great shot of the rings; cheesy, but couples expect it... It's effectively an 80mm lens on a crop body, and I have used it for portraits in a pinch. It is almost too sharp; you can see every pore and glitch. You can still get the same lens today at B&H for $284. It will get you to 1:2 out of the box and 1:1 with the extender. The focusing is NOT USM and very noisy for those not used to it; but I don't think the food will mind...

 

[taxi]

Hello everyone

I am a food photographer and I shoot most of my food shots with my 100 and sometimes my 50mm 1.2 but i wanted to add a new dimension to my work by having closer shots done with a 50mm macro. The 2 options I have found is the Zeiss and the regular canon 50mm macro (non- L series). does anyone have experience with either lense or know someone who does?

Thanks for the help in advance

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy,

I just saw this post and I am in the position you were in. Did you purchase the Canon 50mm macro or Sigma 50mm macro? I am a food photographer as well, and shoot mostly with 100mm macro which is my favourite lens for food and portrait shoot. I need a wider lens to get more of the table setup in the frame, so I'm looking for a wider macro lens. Anyone has any input?

 

[JonAustin]

I bought a 50mm 2.5 Macro with my first EOS body; a 10s film camera. That was 20 years ago and I still have the same lens. It is still one of the sharpest lenses I own; especially if you stop it down to f/5.6 or so. Every wedding I ever shot it came out of the bag to get a great shot of the rings; cheesy, but couples expect it... It's effectively an 80mm lens on a crop body, and I have used it for portraits in a pinch. It is almost too sharp; you can see every pore and glitch. You can still get the same lens today at B&H for $284. It will get you to 1:2 out of the box and 1:1 with the extender. The focusing is NOT USM and very noisy for those not used to it; but I don't think the food will mind...

+1

I have and regularly use the Canon 50mm f/2.5 CM; it and the 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM are the only prime lenses I own. I've had the 50 for 11+ years, and it has always performed flawlessly for me. I'm not a food photographer per se, but have used this lens professionally to shoot a kitchenware gig.

Many here have called its AF motor noisy; I prefer to think of it as "buzzy." I first started using the lens with my APS-C EOS 10D; now that I've gone full frame, I use it more as a general purpose 50 than as a macro.

I'm very satisfied with its performance and small size & weight. I plan to keep it unless / until Canon releases a 50mm f/1.x IS USM that performs as well as the 35mm f/2.0 IS USM.

 

[Mr_Canuck]

I first got a 50/2.5 and now also have a 100L. I was disappointed in the 1:2 focus of the 50. I enjoyed my Minolta 50 more when I had it and felt it was better built. That said, the 50/2.5 is great optically and that's where it counts. If you get one used it's worth having for $250 or less. The focus is whiny and particularly noticeable because of the long focus throw of the macro, but it works. So, it doesn't look pretty, it doesn't sound pretty, it doesn't really feel pretty, but it takes pretty pictures. I'm hoping Canon comes out with SOME new 50 sometime soon. They are really overdue. I wouldn't hold my breath for a new 50 macro though.

 

[e17paul]

I have the Canon 50/2.5. I Have also read many great reviews of the Zeiss 50/2 makro planar, and would love to own that too.

It's strengths are the large travel on the focus ring, low distortion, compact size and of course the ability to focus very close for a 50. It's weaknesses are autofocus which can miss and hunt on my 6D, and a slightly cheap feeling. However, it has much better build than my previous 50/1.8 ii.

It will be a great complement to your 100L, which is another lens on my hit list. Unlike some here, I can see the point of a close focus 50. I just wish that Canon would release a 50 or 60 macro with both USM and IS. Meanwhile, the Zeiss is probably your best option. The misgivings I have about it are the lack of AF, which I sometimes want for non macro use, and the larger physical size which may block out light for close up photos. However, the Canon extends greatly when focussed close up.

If you have a crop sensor, there are two other options. Canon's 60 USM macro, and the 35 IS which focuses very close. If you have a full frame camera, then the 60 is eliminated and the 35 is probably too wide.

 

[Arty]

I have the Sigma 50F2.8 macro. It is very sharp. It is not a jewelry lens, but should be fine for food. AF is not as fast as the USM on Canons, but it is accurate. AF speed doesn't really matter for macro. It does go to 1:1, if that is a consideration.

 

[taxi]

I have the Sigma 50F2.8 macro. It is very sharp. It is not a jewelry lens, but should be fine for food. AF is not as fast as the USM on Canons, but it is accurate. AF speed doesn't really matter for macro. It does go to 1:1, if that is a consideration.

Thanks, Arty, I will try out Sigma F2.8 Macro.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Hello everyone

I am a food photographer and I shoot most of my food shots with my 100 and sometimes my 50mm 1.2 but i wanted to add a new dimension to my work by having closer shots done with a 50mm macro. The 2 options I have found is the Zeiss and the regular canon 50mm macro (non- L series). does anyone have experience with either lense or know someone who does?

Thanks for the help in advance

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy,

I just saw this post and I am in the position you were in. Did you purchase the Canon 50mm macro or Sigma 50mm macro? I am a food photographer as well, and shoot mostly with 100mm macro which is my favourite lens for food and portrait shoot. I need a wider lens to get more of the table setup in the frame, so I'm looking for a wider macro lens. Anyone has any input?

You are replying to a 2011 post, and the poster is no longer a member, so don't expect hime to answer you.

With old posts like this, sometimes its better to start a new topic, since things may have changed in 3 or 4 years.

 

[taxi]

I read the replies to my post. However, you are right, this post was started some years back. Better to start a new post altogether.

Thanks.