I am trying to decide which macro lens to buy for my Sony A200 and am tossing up between the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 and the Sigma 50mm f/2.8. Both are budget lenses than the higher end Sony lenses, but get good reviews.
I’d love to hear any feedback and comments, criticisms – whatever! I have seen the Tamron for $380.00 free postage and the Sigma for $320.00 also with free postage.
Thanks for any comments and feedback. :)
georgieboy98
Good morning Anne-Marie. I have the Sigma for my A350 (it also fits the A33 & A55)and have always been very pleased with it. Takes great macros.
Hugs
Peter
Anne-Marie Lad...:
Thank you Peter – I recall when you bought it you were very happy with this lens. Which f the Sigma lenses is it?:)
yolanda
I have the Tamron 90mm macro lens on my Canon 500D and I am very happy with the lens and the images achieved :-)
Anne-Marie Lad...:
Thanks, Yolanda. :)
julie anne gr...
I have a 18/200 Tamron lens which they also call a macro lens
I purchased it from Harvey Norman for 188 was 499
I have used it a few times ane it seems ok
i will put a photo I took with it on R/ b
Anne-Marie Lad...:
Cheers, Julie Anne – I already have the 18-250mm which I find a very useful everyday lens, but I want something that will take really sharp close-up shots, for insects and plants, maybe portraits down the track.
drec
The Tamron 90mm can also double up as a decent portrait lens.
Depending on what you’ll be taking Macro Images of should come into consideration. 50mm might be a little short/harder to use chasing Insects as you’ll need to get a little closer to the subject.
Anne-Marie Lad...:
Hey thanks for your useful feedback, drec – will keep your thoughts in mind. I thought the same about the Sigma 50mm. :)
drec
You can have some fun with the Tamron. I like stacking Kenko Extension Tubes on to really get in close. Either way you go it’ll make Macro Photography a lot better.
Anne-Marie Lad...:
Thanks for that suggestion, drec – I was not sure how well those extension tubes work. I also have a 2X TelePlus MC7 Convertor given to me by a friend, so maybe I’ll try that too!
georgieboy98
Mine is the f2.8 and it’s fine for flowers but probably wouldn’t be ideal if you’re going to be photographing insects close up. For those you would want something with a longer focal length (say 100mm). The 50mm gets me good clear shots of bees etc but I have to enlarge them in CS3 to get the REAL size I’m after. That’s the trouble with lenses – there’s different ones for different jobs and before you know it you’ve got several that you hardly ever use. For instance, I seldom use my 70/200 because it doesn’t suit the kind of photography I tend to specialise in, ie land and seascapes – if I find when I’m going through them that a close up would have been better then I use the software! Not everyone’s choice I know but it works for me! The plus is that, because I’m not after a whole swag of lenses I can afford to spend a bit more to get the better quality. Rather than buy 2 lenses for the new a55 I lashed out on a Carl Zeiss 16-80 which is magnificent and the 16+ mps of the sensor enable me to crop to an amazing degree if necessary! Not perfect photographic practice but what the heck!! LOL
Take care and I hope the big move goes OK
Hugs
Peter
Anne-Marie Lad...:
I can see what you mean – that’s why I am leaning toward the Tamron f/2.8 90mm – not top end but I am happy with what it can do and I can buy it for a tad under $400.00. :)
I rarely use my old Minolta 70-300mm either, now that I have the Tamron 18-250mm which gives me wide angle, zoom and macro for everyday kind of shots, plus I have the big old Reflex 500mm and a tele-convertor, neither of which are used very much!
Thanks again, Peter – will let you now when I have bought the lens! Might be a little way off yet!
The big move is looming ever closer and boxes are gathering around me!!!
Cheers, Anne-Marie xx
Michelle Munday
I am only just starting out and have the Tamron 18-270 so I actually found a lot this useful as I want a macro lens for shooting insects …
I find nature SO inspiring
Anne-Marie Lad...:
Yes, I have also found my 18-250mm quite good for macro’s but you can’t get really close. I would like a lens that I can use very close to the subject if need be, but am also considering buying one of the really good Canon Powershot compact cameras that take fantastic macros. Cheaper to buy a second hand camera than a new lens! :)
Michelle Munday
I have a canon powershot A410 …… The only problem I have with it is the quality, I think its only 3.2 megapixels but its also about 5 years old. Having said that I LOVE it, and still use it for my everday photos all the time. It was this camera that got me hooked on macro :) Mine also has the My Colour feature which is VERY hard to find in cameras, if you get a Canon Powershot for super macro see if you can get one with this feature :)