New Lens (Opinion & Help)

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Beanbag Brain
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Hi guys, just an update, Im looking into getting a new lens for the 400D. seeing as the Tamron & Kit lens are slow and not sharp enough. So here are the few I've been looking at.

Im going to be using the lens for mainly marco shots of plants.

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM - £629.00 - $1137
Canon EF 70-200mm f4L IS USM - £724.00 - $1309

or my dream...

Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM - £849.00 - $1535

So do any of you guys have one of these lenses? how do they perform and what are you using them for, I know the first two are zoom and maybe this will give me more scope to use them for more subjects rather than the intended target, but the EF 180 is such a nice performing and pro lens that its too hard not to consider. just the price is still a bit steep.

All prices were the cheapest I could find in the UK without resorting to dodgy ebay imports. The conversions to USD is from the GBP to USD.
 
Neither of your first two choices will give you true (i.e. 1:1) macro. 24-105 is a great touring walkaround lens, but its minimum focusing distance of 0.45m is too far to great great closeups. The Image Stabiliser is a 2-stop (2nd gen) model. Great lens, but not for macro.

I don't have the 70-200 F/4L IS, so I can't really comment on it, except to relay hearsay, which is that it is a superb lens. Again, not for macro though. My 70-200 F/2.8L IS has a MFD of 1.4m. It's a 4th-gen (4-stop) IS unit. You could use extension tubes with it (as with the 24-105).

Have you thought of the Canon EF100 F/2.8 USM Macro lens? It does true 1:1 at MFD of 0.32m, and doubles as a more than acceptable portrait lens. At £300-ish, it's pretty economical too.

Oh, and go to the eBay shop "Flash-Camera", and contact the owner privately. He'll do you prices at around 40% off UK high street for genuine, brand new Canon gear.
 
Thanks will have to give him a look, and thanks for input, I will read some reviews on the EF 100 Macro, sounds interesting, the reason I've been looking at the Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM (so expensive :( ) is because I've got an article on one of my favorite garden photographers Clive Nichols and its one of his main lenses.
 
The 180L is supposed to be awesome, but the primary advantage of it for macro photographers is the increased working distance, which is good for shooting timid bugs. Flowers tend not to fly off!!! The 100 Macro is a great lens, and only one third of the price. I would probably only get the 180L if I were making money from the shoots.

Most of these shots were taken with one on a 5d.
 
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