www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Looking to buy a macro lens for my Canon EOS 400D and these 2 keep popping up. I can get the Sigma second hand for £250 ish and the Canon second hand for around £350, and the Canon also doesn't extend as it focuses. Is it worth paying the extra £100 and having a bit more working distance?

Cheers
Matt

I would look for a Sigma EX DG HSM Macro 150mm f/2.8 (Not OS of course).
Probably a bit dearer than the other two second-hand, but you will not regret the extra working distance.

Just my humble opinion of course.

I agree with Roger, for £350 you should be able to pick up a used Sigma 150. Your used prices for the other lenses are quite high. If you look around you can pick up a new Canon 100 for £399, and the Sigma 105 for £349.

Regards Gruditch

Ok thanks are there any sites you recommend to start looking on? Had a bit of a look around and can't find one cheaper than £600 or so.

Cheers
Matt

http://www.mifsuds.com/acatalog/Used_Ca ... enses.html
These guys have one for £429,
http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Sigma-15 ... 58490.html
Here is one for £400
and they are both dealers with a mark up.
Keep watching the auction sites.
Remember that these are very popular and much loved lenses, and don't come up for sale that often.
Good luck

One other that no one has mentioned is the Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro, a non-IS lens; it is not quite as sharp as the other brands, but nearly so and does cost a lot less than the others, if budget is an issue. You should be able to pick one up for around £250-£260 new. It is not as robust as the other lenses, but as a consequence, it is very light.
If you want a longer working distance, despite what Rogerdodge said, I have used a Kenco Pro 3000 1.4TC with it and got acceptable results; the images are slightly soft, but a bit of post-processing can overcome this. I know others on UKB probably use that one; any comments, guys?

NickB wrote:any comments, guys?

I use the same combination: Tamron 90mm and Kenko 1.4x (on a Nikon).

Independent tests rate the Tamron 90 very highly. You can spend hours poring over the results listed at http://www.photozone.de/active/survey/q ... 20AF%27%22

Mike

Been looking at the London Camera Exchange sites and there are some Sigma 180mm f/3.5 for £300 ish how do they compare to the 150mm one?

Buy one, great lens.

Gruditch

Buy one, great lens.

As Gary knows, I have this lens myself, and have used it for about 10 years.
I love it to bits.
I was tempted to change to a 150 when they first came out - but I couldn't bear to part with it.
I was tempted when they bought out the OS version of the 150, but couldn't really justify it as I use a tripod for 90% of my shots.
I was tempted when the OS version of the 180 was announced - and I have played with one and it is fabulous, but I shall stick with my old 180 thank you very much.

The only reason I didn't mention it earlier as a possible is that they so rarely crop up on the second-hand market.
BUY IT!
p.s.
Gary is correct (as usual)