Lens suggestion please.

[Rob Ekins]

Hi All,

I would really appreciate some direction on purchasing a lens for table top photography, if the lens has a secondary use such as portraiture that's fine too but the reason for purchase is tabletop.

Some factors that will influence the choice.

Maximum distance from camera sensor to subject - 1200mm preferably 1000mm (Small home studio for fun)
Subjects - 50mm high kids toys up to wine bottles. (Keep the whole family involved )
Full frame - Canon 6D, crops as back up but prefer using the WIFI that the 6D offers
Flash lighting only
Budget - < USD $800
Second hand is OK.


All input appreciated.

[William W]

. . . lens for table top photography, if the lens has a secondary use such as portraiture that's fine too but the reason for purchase is tabletop.
Some factors that will influence the choice.
Maximum [SD] preferably 1000mm (Small home studio for fun)
Subjects - 50mm high kids toys up to wine bottles. (Keep the whole family involved )
Full frame - Canon 6D, crops as back up but prefer using the WIFI that the 6D offers
Flash lighting only
Budget - < USD $800
Second hand is OK.

Second hand TS-E 90 F/2.8.

WW

[Rob Ekins]

Second hand TS-E 90 F/2.8.

WW

Thanks Bill.
I am familiar with Shift systems (Would love a 24 for interiors) but will have to do some research on your recommendation a 90 never entered my mind, Can I pick your brain in a couple of days when I have done some study?

[chontrell]

Check http://www.dxomark.com/ archives for the best suitable lenses for your camera as well as for your purpose!

Chontrell

[chauncey]

I would look very hard at the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx

[Saorsa]

How much room do you have?

I recall starting to make digital copies of an artists work and finding that my 105 Macro didn't leave me enough room to work and ended up using a 60mm.

[inkista]

Second hand TS-E 90 F/2.8.

B&H has an condition "8" used one for $900. Given that new, it's $1400 and not a widely purchased lens, it's gonna be a bit of a hunt to get it down to the $800 price range from someone reputable or in good condition. And you still have to budget for extension tubes if you're going to be doing close-up work with it. While I have an old cheap-ish Hartblei Super-Rotator 80mm, I tend to grab the EF‑S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro and my flashes for closeup work more often, just for ease of use ('course, can't use the 60 macro on my 5D2).

I'd say the EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro (non-L) or a used version of the L might be a more reasonable suggestion. (Right now, B&H has the new L for $850). But I like thin DoF.

...I recall starting to make digital copies of an artist's work and finding that my 105 Macro didn't leave me enough room to work and ended up using a 60mm.

Given that you're mentioning a 60, it sounds like you're shooting crop? OP is on a 6D, so wider field of view with a longer lens and can't use EF-S lenses. The 100 on full frame would look a lot like 60 on a crop.

[Mike Buckley]

Subjects - 50mm high kids toys up to wine bottles.

You didn't mention the size of the wine bottles. A Melchizedek, also called a Midas, holds 40 times more wine than a standard wine bottle.

Seriously, enjoy your tabletop photography!

[Mike Buckley]

Don't forget the cup holder. No decent tabletop studio should be without one.

All input appreciated.

You really set yourself up.

[William W]

. . . Can I pick your brain in a couple of days when I have done some study?

Yes, no problem.

***

. . . it's gonna be a bit of a hunt to get [a TS-E 90 F/2.8] down to the $800 price range from someone reputable or in good condition. And you still have to budget for extension tubes if you're going to be doing close-up work with it.

I'd say the EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro (non-L) or a used version of the L might be a more reasonable suggestion. (Right now, B&H has the new L for $850). But I like thin DoF.

I think that sums up one of the first questions Rob should address:

"Table Top" - I'd defer to TS-E for maximum flexibility, but cost might be an area where compromise is required.

Any other lens at SD = 1000mm means Focus Stacking is required for flexibility.

Yes, I agree tubes (and x1.4 Tele Extender) are very useful with the 90mm for "Table Top"

WW

[rpcrowe]

Going from low-ball to high priced in macro lenses (however, you man not need a macro lens for table top work). I would not expect that you would either want or need al long macro lens 150mm or 200mm

Tamron 90mm f/2.8 AF SP Di which runs about $500 new and can often be had for $250-300 used...
This lens has very good to excellent image quality, fair build quality but if my older 90mm f/2.8 AF SP is any indicator, the autofocus is slow and somewhat erratic. While I don't use AF for macro work, it is nice to have a lens that provides smooth and faster AF. Another "problem" with this lens for some photographers is that the front element extends out greatly during focusing...

Canon 100mm f/2.8 (Non-L) Macro IMO this is the very best price to quality Macro lens available. You will pay about $550 for this lens and less if you can find a good used copy. Everything about this lens is very-good to excellent. IMO 100mm is the best compromise for a macro lens on a full frame camera.

Canon 100mm f/2.8L is IMO the epitomy of 100mm macro glass. I have used it once and love it for hand holding macros and for also using it as a short telephoto lens. Additionally, it is nice when you want to hand hold at very small apertures with correspondingly slow shutter speeds.

Both the Canon 90mm lenses are internal focusing and do not extend to focus.

When the L version with Image Stabilization was about twice the price of the non-L version, I would have gone for the non-L and non-IS lens. However, B&H (a most reputable firm) has the L version NEW for $749. If I were in the market for a macro lens, this would be a no brainer for me, I'd get the L version for the additional two hundred bucks.

There is another possible dilemma that you might face. Depending on the size of your table top setups, you might not have enough room to back off enough to shoot with a 100mm lens. In that case possibly a used 50mm Canon or Sigma macro might be an addition to your kit. The 50mm Canon needs an adapter to get 1:1 imagery while the 50mm Sigma can get 1:1 without any additions. If you have to back off to get your table top subjects in the frame, lack of 1:1 would be no worry.

One GREAT CAVAET regarding Sigma lenses. Due to the reverse engineering that Sigma uses on its Canon mount lenses, you cannot guarantee that a Sigma lens will fit successive Canon cameras. I have a nice Canon mount Sigma 28mm f/2.8 lens that will not work on any Canon more recent than a Canon 10D. Additionally, Sigma will not or cannot (amounts to the same thing) rechip this lens for later Canon cameras.

Luckily, I have an ancient Canon D60 (not the 60D) 1.6x DSLR camera that has been converted to full-time Infra-Red photography. The Sigma works on that camera.

[Rob Ekins]

Thanks for the helpful input every one...and Mike

I will spend some time over the weekend looking at all of your recommendations (I am in no rush to purchase) And get back with more questions.

Thanks again.