There are some very cheap, and others a little more expensive, but all have a proven quality.
Macro photos? If you want to take photos close to your subject, these lenses will come in handy. Macro lenses can also focus at normal distances, so they can be used in many other situations.
All the lenses we recommend are Full Frame and can be used on Canon APS-C cameras.
Good macro lenses will allow you to take photos with a 1: 1 magnification (the photo will show us the real size of what we are photographing). If your subject is 1cm in size, the photo will appear with the same dimension.
Some things to keep in mind about macro lenses
- eye! There are some Canon lenses that allow you to get 5: 1 magnification. Spectacular!
- Ideally you should look for a 1: 1 magnification, but you will probably find some lenses that are 1: 2 or even less.
- Both DSLR and EVIL cameras can work very well with macro lenses.
- In macro photography, the higher pixel density of the sensor is what determines the maximum detail you can get when taking the photo. More number of pixels does not mean that the camera takes better macro photos (you have to look at their density).
What are the 7 best macro lenses for Canon?
1.-Canon EF 100MM F / 2.8 Macro USM
This is the lens if you want to start taking macro photos with your Canon DSLR. And you are very lucky. It is not excessively expensive, about 500 euros (You have a version with image stabilization that costs closer to 900 euros, the model, Canon 100 / 2.8L Macro IS USM ).
This 100mm lens is excellent for macro photography. If you’re looking for a sharp, high-quality lens in this focal length range, this is the model for you.
Perfect for macro photography, with the added advantage of having a comfortable work area, thanks to its 100mm focal length. It offers excellent optical performance and a medium focal length, along with a very suitable size and weight.
2.-Tamron SP 90mm f / 2.8 Di VC USD Macro
An excellent macro lens from Tamron with Optical Image Stabilizer (VC) and USD Autofocus and a totally new design compared to previous versions.
The ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system is optimized for macro shooting, but is fast and accurate at any distance. The image quality provided by this lens is impressive, with excellent contrast and sharpness.
This macro lens for Canon is sealed against bad weather and has only one small downside: it is somewhat expensive for what the brand’s lenses usually cost.
3.-Sigma 105mm f / 2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro
A spectacular macro lens for Canon. With excellent features and a really low price. It includes a fast and silent ultrasonic autofocus type ring and has a very effective four-stroke optical stabilizer.
It has 2 SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements that help produce excellent sharpness, even at the widest aperture.
The autofocus is tremendously good even in low light and its excellent workmanship with great grip. A safe bet for your macro photos. Unbeatable price.
4.-Samyang 100mm F2.8 ED UMC Macro
Okay, it doesn’t have an image stabilizer and the design isn’t the best in the world, but its image quality, great manual control, and great price make up for it all. Aperture control works like silk, and manual focus is awfully good.
Its optics are also very careful and it consists of 15 elements in 12 groups. It includes a high refractive (HR) lens and an extra low dispersion (ED) lens unit, which minimize unnecessary light distribution.
5.-Tokina 100mm f / 2.8 AT-X Pro Macro
- 100mm minimum focal length
- Filter size: 5.5cm
- Aperture: 2.8 – 32
- Dimensions: 7.3 x 7.3 x 9.51 centimeters
- Weight: 0.54 kg
Another macro lens to consider for your Canon. Its AF system is really good as the lens is very sharp.
eye! Its AF system is somewhat slower than in Canon models, but what strikes us the most is that the minimum focal length is 100 millimeters.
Spectacular! As long as you stay in manual focus everything will be perfect.
6.-Canon MP-E 65mm f / 2.8 – Macro lens for Canon
- Approximate focal length 65mm (35mm format)
- Manual focus and built-in tripod ring
- 24 cm minimum focusing distance, up to 5x actual size
- UD lens
- 58mm filter size
The best thing about this lens is that it allows a magnification from 1: 1 to 5: 1. Being able to take pictures with a 5x magnification is tremendous, you will really notice it.
Furthermore, it has a minimum focusing distance of 23cm, which is also quite impressive. The pity is that it only offers us manual focus and that it is quite expensive. It does not have image stabilization.
7.-Canon 50mm f / 2.5 EF Macro
- Magnification: 0.50x
- Maximum aperture: 32
- Closest focusing distance: 0.23m
- Lens structure (elements / groups): 9/8
- Focal length range: 50
- Length: 6.3 cm
- Number of diaphragm blades: 6
- Weight: 280 grams
- Filter size: 5.2cm
It is an excellent lens for photography beginners due to its simplicity of use and the good results obtained. The autofocus is somewhat slow.
It is not capable of capturing 1: 1 images (with an adapter it can), but it can capture 1: 2. It’s compact, lightweight, and the build quality is tremendous.
The image that you are going to obtain is sharp and with a good color representation.