Photographers .. lens help please

Budget

and "nice close up" shots could mean a macro lens, or maybe not, depends on exactly what they mean.

Budget .. well I was going to say no budget as such, but I've just had a quick google and it appears they aren't cheap! I need to find out whether it's cheaper to buy here or at home considering the current X-rate.

As for what kind, I'd hazard a guess at a macro. He just has the camera and whatever lens it came with .. a general purpose one I think. Can you tell I know diddly squat about the subject?!

I really have no idea what to go for. Does this mean I need to ask him? He said exactly what I said earlier .. nice close up shots. Not much help, I know.

I've had the Tamron 90mm Di Macro 1:1 f2.8 recommended as a good macro lens - would be interested to hear if there are any users of it on here if they can back it up.

I find this website good for comparing prices: https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

Depends on your timeframe (and where you're going to buy), but I have a Sigma 100mmf/1.8 macro lens in immaculate condition (boxed and with protective filter) that I was going to stick on ebay as I never use it. If you're buying new, you can't go far wrong with it and it's a nice lens for portraits too.

Thanks Zebedee & Baron

You know what? I know absolutely nothing .. nothing about cameras at all. Apart from the point and shoot kind. My logic is telling me to go to a shop and ask, but it would all be over my head anyway, and I'd just glass over when they start getting technical. Usually that's about 30 seconds into the conversation, if that.

Baron, if you were the recipient of the lens you have (and I trust it would fit his camera?), would you be happy, or pissed off Mrs Greenback didn't ask you first?

What sort of money would you be looking at for your lens? And would you be able to get it to me before Christmas (in the UK)

I'm going to have to glass over at a shop, aren't I ?

Or ask him what he wants exactly

Baron, would your lens fit both Mr P's camera and any subsequent (Canon?) ones if he upgraded one day?

Someone has advised I get him this ... Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro as it is transferable to other Canons.

What do you reckon?

As i said, it depends on exactly what he wants it for. because the 40d is not a full frame camera, the actual focal length will be around 125mm ish.

tbh i d just ask him for exactly what he wants to avoid disappointment. that lens is ok as an amateur lens to play with, but its not a *fantastic* lens. if he says he wants the "L" lens, then be in for a large bill.

btw, all canon lenses are interchangeable - the mounts are the same on all canon (SLR and DSLR) cameras.

I'd also probably just ask him what exactly he wants... being able to take things close up 'might' mean that he wants to be able to zoom in on them (which is a different kind of lens).

I've got the Tamron 90mm macro - seems okay but I'm no pro and I've not played with it a lot.

Just one thing to (why did my font change?) to qualify what Nick said about lenses fitting canons. The canon 40d is a crop camera not a full frame camera. Recently there have been a number of lenses designed for the canon crop cameras... these will not fit a full frame. So, all full frame lenses will fit crop cameras, but ones that have been designed for crops will only fit crops.

Don't think for a second I know squat about this subject lol .. but this is what the guy said ..

There are two good choices for your husband's camera: The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro or the Canon EF-S 60mm Macro.

Either one will get him what he wants. The EF-S 60mm will be less expensive for you to purchase. One minor drawback: This lens will not work on all Canon camera bodies. If your husband ever wants to upgrade to one of Canon's full frame sensor cameras like the 5D or 5D Mk II, it won't work on that body.

A good suggestion is to purchase the lens from a reputable local store. If you give it for a Christmas gift, you can always let him decide after he opens it if he wants the 100mm Macro lens and then exchange it.

... hence me mentioning the interchangeable aspect.

I'd rather not ask him unless I really have to as he mentioned it a while back, and I hope he's forgotten. I'll buy it here, regardless of the £v$ rate so he can change it at will.

Thanks for replying. Especially to someone who clearly hasn't a clue! (is it worth going on a course btw?)

Hell. You're talking double-Dutch to me! Full frame - crop?

Does that mean what you see through the lens isn't what you get in the picture? (crop). But full frame you do? Why would he go for a crop camera then? Was it a sensible purchase in the first place?

Sorry ?

It's to do with the size of the sensor. And I'm not an expert on it (I could attempt an explanation but I don't think it would hep. Or necessarily be right!!)

But basically the guy in the camera shop is right, that the 60mm will only fit cameras like the 40d and the 400d (or their replacements like the 50d and the 450. Or their predecessors, for that matter) but not other cameras in their range like the 5d, 1d, etc. That said, that might only be a problem 'if' he decides to upgrade at any point... and these tend to be pretty pricey.

For what it's worth, I'm a gadget girl and I love buying lenses (and cameras for that matter) and I've decided not to let it worry me. I have lenses that will only fit the 450d / 40d, etc, and also ones that will fit all. I've not particularly let it sway my decision one way or the other... but then I'm perfectly happy with my camera and couldn't physically use the 5d anyway (hands too small).

Tbh he could mean anything from a macro to a zoom. safer to just get him a voucher for somewhere like warehouseexpress or calumet.

Thanks both.

I might make a pretendy lens out of an empty toilet roll and sticky-back plastic and put a voucher inside it! (was joking, but that's not a bad idea lol)

Would still like to buy him a tangible lens though. Will have a further think about it. (Warehouseexpress are only in the UK I think, and Calumet aren't in Texas)

Peaches, you have FB mail. ?