Lens other than 100mm

[rogerwilco357]

Has anyone taken shots with lens other than the 100mm macro type lens or is that simply the best lens for the shot when it comes to corals and tanks?

 

[reelfishy]

Taggin along.. Just ordered a t3i and in the market for a macro. I used a 100mm "L" with my last dslr set up. Took amazing macros but I can't afford to dish out that much this time around.

 

[VoidRaven]

Tamron has an excellent 90mm f/2.8 1:1 macro lens for Nikon, Canon, Sony, that performs outstandingly and only runs $500 new. (right now the Nikon version has a $50 rebate from B&H) My wife has been using it and I must say that it ranks right up there with the main competitors.

There are also 60mm macro lenses with most companies as well. Depends on how much reach you need. For working on a 120g like yours you are going to want that longer reach that a 90mm, 100/105, or even a 150 (Sigma makes a really nice 150) will give you.

 

[smoq]

I have a Tamron 90mm macro, I've used a 60mm few times but the minimal focusing distance is to small. I would really like to try Sigma's 150mm macro, that has to be a killer lens.

 

[IslandCrow]

As far as full tank shots go, I'm generally not going to use my macro. My 50mm is generally my lens of choice there. For pictures of fish or specific corals, though, you definitely want a macro lens, but as others have said, there are other focal lengths out there. 90-100mm tends to be well suited for aquariums, as a 50-60mm macro lens may not get you close enough for some shots, and you can always move further away from the tank with a longer lens. I've even used my 300mm, which isn't actually a macro lens, but actually fairly close focus lens. Another option is using extension tubes, which allow you to effectively turn any lens into a macro.

 

[reelfishy]

OP don't mean to threadjack but I don't want to start another thread.

Will a Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM be able to get shots of coral in the back of my 24" deep tank?

Or will the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 be better suited?

 

[Misled]

I don't believe the 85 is a macro lens, so the Tamron would be a better choice.

 

[reelfishy]

Cool. Thanks.

 

[smoq]

The Tamron will focus to infinity, but it won't give you a 1:1 magnification at 24". The Canon 85mm is not a macro lens, it's minimum focusing distance is 2.8 ft so you have to be almost 3' from your subject to focus. That is the main difference and advantage of macro lenses- they can focus from very close, my Tamron for example can focus from as close as 11.4″ (that's not a distance to the front of the lens, but to the focusing point which is somewhere between the sensor and the lens. Unfortunately, most true macro lenses (those with reproduction ratio 1:1) have a rather shallow depth of field and are are to use without tripod (I'm usually armed with two flashes when doing shots handheld). I would post link to my aquarium photography articles but I don't want to violate site rules-anyway, Hope that helps

 

[reelfishy]

That helps alot.. No need to join a photography forum when you have RC huh?