very cool! love the ornament shot! "Scotty! I NEED more aperture!!"

Looking for opinions from the Canon guys. I've got the hankering for macro lens and am trying to decide between the 180mm 3.5 and the 100mm 2.8. Both have pretty amazing MTF charts and I like the new technology in the 100. Any opinions or experience with either?

Not a Canon user but can shed some insight. If you have a crop sensor camera, the 100mm has enough reach for most macro stuff and can double as a great portrait lens. The 180mm is gonna give you the reach if you plan on taking pics of tiny insects from a greater working distance. I wouldn't worry to much about image stabilization or Auto Focus tech since macro work is easier if done manually. The 3.5 vs 2.8 isn't much of a difference since it becomes razor thin. Truthfully, the 100mm is more than enough....but it really depends on what you shoot and what you shoot with. You could always add extension tubes.

I have the old 100mm. Agree this is long enough mostly, on a crop body. If full frame would want the 180. I have done a lot of macro work. I disagree that IS isn't useful, could be very helpful. Both great lenses. Agree that 2.8 isn't a useful aperture if actually shooting macro subjects. But can make for a nice portrait lens

I meant for macro work. IS isn't really useful since you're more than likely using a smaller apertures, a tripod and strobes. If you're gonna use it as a portrait lens, then yes, it does help.

Just picked up a LensAlign Mark II for calibrating lenses. Found out my Canon 70-200 F4 was waaaay out of calibration. Anxious to take some shots in the daylight to see the difference.

do you use microadjust to make corrections?

Yes. I had to go -13 on the 70-200.

I swear a couple of my lens's need a calibration. I might have to check this out.

Your camera has to have micro-adjustment capabilities.

The only complaint that I have is that there were no real instructions for use. I had to go online and do some searching to find good info.
Tip for anyone using this. After you take your shots, the best way to see the focus is to take your images into Photoshop and apply the emboss filter. It's very obvious once you do this.

:icon18:

If anyone is looking for a bitchin' lens, I'm selling my canon 50mm 1.4. PM me if interested.

PMd

I think he sold it already.



On another note, I picked up a D7000 for my camera bag :). As much as I'd like to go Full-Frame, I just can't justify the cost at the moment considering I'd have to also sell & replace a few of my lenses as well. I was looking at the D300s at first, but most of the one's I found were in rough shape or still a bit pricey. Aside from the pro body, the D7000 also has a few features that out match it. I'm really liking the cleaner high ISO.


The D600 was pretty much just a D7000 with a FF sensor at twice the price. If they come down in price, I may consider trading for it later. They also introduce the new D7100 last week, so the price dropped a bit for the D7000.

I'm selling my D90 if anyone is interested.