Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Dinarius on March 23, 2006, 03:38:29 am

Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: Dinarius on March 23, 2006, 03:38:29 am
I need a short telephoto for my Canon 5D and 20D.

Maximum focal length 105mm.

Cost is an issue, so Canon's 85mm f/1.2 is not a contender! ;-) In any case, the f/1.2 speed would be wasted on me. I shoot in controlled lighting situations, on a tripod, at f11/16.

Also, while I would consider a zoom, I don't need one. In general, I prefer primes. This lens will be used for table top product and 3D fine art documentation.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks.

D.
Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: francois on March 23, 2006, 04:01:53 am
- Canon 90mm TS-E f/2.8 (tilt and shift, manual focus)
- Canon 85mm f/1.8
- Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro

The Tilt & Shift lens is not inexpensive but it's a great lens for table top shooting and you can use extenders with it.
Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: madmanchan on March 23, 2006, 07:44:50 am
For your intended use and intended aperture range, I would recommend the Canon 100 f/2.8 macro.

Eric
Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: David R. Gurtcheff on March 23, 2006, 10:00:11 am
Quote
For your intended use and intended aperture range, I would recommend the Canon 100 f/2.8 macro.

Eric
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=60867\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I definately second the 100 macro. Would also double as a portrait lens. I just finished a job for a builder. He wanted 5"x7" invitations for an open house. I went to the job site where there they have a beautiful hand painted sign with their logo and graphics. The sign was abour 12"x18". Put my camera on tripod with cable release, and got excellent sharp images which I converted into the invitation. Great flat filed copy lens, can't say enough about it.
Regards
Dave G. in NJ
Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: Nigelfrommanchester on March 23, 2006, 12:51:11 pm
I'll recommend the 100 macro also, though it may be a little long on the 20D.

The only flaw of the 85mm f1.8 is that it doesn't focus very close.

If you do lots of table-top stuff the 90mm TSE would be a great idea, but its almost as expensive as the 85mm 1.2.

Nigel
Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: Dinarius on March 25, 2006, 01:28:13 pm
Cheers guys.

Another contender suggested to me is the Tamron 90mm macro.

Any views on this one, particularly as compared to the Canon 100mm that you all seem to like?

And while I'm at it........where might I find a test comparing the two?

Thanks again.

D.
Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: DarkPenguin on March 25, 2006, 02:09:49 pm
Try http://www.slrgear.com (http://www.slrgear.com)

Dunno if they have the two lenses reviewed.  I do know that the tamron 90 is a well loved lens.  I doubt you could go wrong with either.
Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: Peter Jon White on March 25, 2006, 04:45:06 pm
Quote
I need a short telephoto for my Canon 5D and 20D.

Maximum focal length 105mm.

Cost is an issue, so Canon's 85mm f/1.2 is not a contender! ;-) In any case, the f/1.2 speed would be wasted on me. I shoot in controlled lighting situations, on a tripod, at f11/16.

Also, while I would consider a zoom, I don't need one. In general, I prefer primes. This lens will be used for table top product and 3D fine art documentation.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks.

D.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=60861\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

For product photography you need a lens that tilts. Then you'll be able to get as much of the product in focus as possible. Your clients will appreciate that. The 90mm TS-E is your best choice.
Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: Dinarius on March 26, 2006, 08:30:39 am
Hhhhmmmmmmm......decisions, decisions! In an ideal world I would buy the TSE and either the 100mm or the Tamron 90mm.

Found this Tamron v. Canon tests.

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/can-tam-macro/ (http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/can-tam-macro/)

And another Tamron test.........

http://www.oncloserinspection.com/Products...on/tamron90.htm (http://www.oncloserinspection.com/Products/Tamron/tamron90.htm)

D.
Title: Which short telephoto for Canon?
Post by: Peter Jon White on March 26, 2006, 11:40:50 am
Quote
Hhhhmmmmmmm......decisions, decisions! In an ideal world I would buy the TSE and either the 100mm or the Tamron 90mm.

Found this Tamron v. Canon tests.

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/can-tam-macro/ (http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/can-tam-macro/)

And another Tamron test.........

http://www.oncloserinspection.com/Products...on/tamron90.htm (http://www.oncloserinspection.com/Products/Tamron/tamron90.htm)

D.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=61038\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

You can add extension tubes to the TS-E and get the best of both. I can't think of any advantage to the macro lenses, unless perhaps you were forced to do copy work at full aperture. I'm guessing that one of the macros would have a flatter field than the TS-E, but that's only a guess. And stopped down, depth of field should mitigate any difference in field flatness. So except for money saved, there's no advantage to one of the macros, at least none that I can think of.