 Greg L. Anderson |
Zoom Lense Reviews I recently bought a Canon Rebel TI and it came with a macro 28-90 lense but I need a zoom lense 70-300 under $200.00. I thought I would purchase a Tamron 70-300 until I read a review on here that said it was awful. I don't have much to put into this but want something good. What do you recommend, and if my smaller lense has macro why would I need macro on the zoom lense also?
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Jon Close |
I personally think the Canon EF 75-500 f/4-5.6 USM, Canon EF 100-300 f/4.5-5.6 USM, Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6 APO Macro, and Tamron 75-300 f/4-5.6 LD, and Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 LD Macro are interchangeable with respect to sharpness, the Sigma DL model a step below. Of those I prefer the EF 100-300 f/4.5-5.6 because of its fast silent ring-USM and it is the only one of the group with a non-rotating front element, a definite advantage when using a polarizing filter. "Macro" is a term used very loosely when applied to consumer zooms. It refers to the lens's minimum focus distance/maximum image magnification. True macro lenses can produce a life-sized image on the film frame. The Sigma and Tamron "Macro" models have a setting that allow them to focus down to .95 m, giving maximum image size of 1/2 life size (1:2) on film v. 1.5 m and 1/4 life size (1:4) for the non-"macro" Canon and Tamron models. The reason you might want macro on a longer focal length lens is that it would give you a little more distance between the subject and the front of the lens, allowing a little more flexibility in lighting. To get 1:4 macro with the 28-90 zoom your focus distance is only .45 m compared to 1.5m with the xx-300 zoom.
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John A. Lind |
I disagree with Jon's definition that a "true" macro lens will go to 1:1 magnification (life-size on film). The general break-point and definition of a "macro photograph" is 1:4 (1/4th life-size on film) and higher magnification. Most "true" macro lenses will go to 1:2 (1/2 life-size on film) and require extension tubes or bellows for greater magnification. By comparison, highest magnification of a "non-macro" lens at its minimum focus distance is usually between 1:6 to 1:9 depending on focal length and specific design. Zooms (without a macro or close focus feature) are usually at the lower magnification end. Some can be 1:10 or less magnification at minimum focus distance due to limitations of their internal focusing schemes that move lens elements. -- John
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