The new Tamron 60mm f/2 macro

"Troy Piggins" wrote in message
...
* Ofnuts wrote :
Neil Harrington wrote:
I definitely absolutely positively want one of these.
http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/as...optest_909.pdf

Canon has a 60mm macro too in its EF-S range (for APS-C cameras), and
it's seldom mentioned in Canon forums, where everyone seems to use the
100mm Canon, or similar lenses from Tamron/Sigma.

What are the benefits of a 60mm lens for macro work? And of an f/2
aperture when shallow depth of field is a usually a problem?

I've come across a dentist how uses a 60mm macro lens for dental
work shots. Something to do with closer working distance in his
confined office space. He wouldn't have been shooting 1:1, but
still the difference in focal lengths and focusing distances was
enough for it to matter.

Agree about the f/2. You would virtually never be shooting macro
at f/2.8 let alone f/2

Macro lenses can be and frequently are used for other things than macro
work. They are generally exceptionally sharp, distortion-free and have flat
fields. These are very useful qualities for all sorts of photography.

Neil Harrington wrote:
"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...
Neil Harrington wrote:
"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...
Neil Harrington wrote:
I definitely absolutely positively want one of these.
http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/as...optest_909.pdf


It's abilities aside, the working distance with short (50-60mm) macros
blocks a lot of ambient light...
Not with this one, according to Tamron. They say its working distance is
about equal to that of the longer macro lenses. The front element is
right up front, rather than deeply recessed as it is on my Tamron 90 and
Tokina 100.
On my Minolta it is deeply recessed EXCEPT when taking macro. Then it's
way out there.

On both my Tamron 90mm and Tokina 100mm macro lenses, the front element is
deeply recessed in the barrel and that doesn't change a millimeter as it
goes from infinity to 1:1. When I say deeply recessed I mean about 30 mm on
the Tokina and about 40 mm on the Tamron.

I think we've had this conversation before....


I just checked my Minolta 100mm f/2.8 macro and focus @ 1:1 is at about
340mm from the film plane. Lots of room to get light on the subject.

Per dpreview the "working distance" at 1:1 of the 60mm Tamron is 100mm
which I assume is from the front element.

More likely the lens barrel, but since the Tamron 60's front element is
right up front there probably isn't much difference.

That means the camera is closer, so more ambient light is blocked (esp.
considering the photographer's head).

Well, if the photographer's head still needs to be there when the shot is
taken it might block *some* light but I don't think very much. It seems
unlikely that the light source would be behind his head in most cases.

Even with the lens I describe above, I've had some lighting issues along
the trail here and there. So metering with the head down, then getting
away to allow more light ... er, was the exposure locked?...


Anyway, you're comparing two different measurements. You say your Minolta
100 reaches 1:1 focus 340 mm from the film plane, but that tells nothing
about working distance.

True enough but I was more concerned with light and how close my hands
have to be to thing that bite and sting! The working distance is about
12 - 13 cm from the front element.


Trying it just now with my Tokina 100, focused at 1:1 the subject is about
310 mm from the focal plane and the working distance (i.e., to the front of
the lens barrel) is about 110 mm.

"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...
Neil Harrington wrote:
"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...
Neil Harrington wrote:
"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...
Neil Harrington wrote:
I definitely absolutely positively want one of these.
http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/as...optest_909.pdf


It's abilities aside, the working distance with short (50-60mm) macros
blocks a lot of ambient light...
Not with this one, according to Tamron. They say its working distance
is about equal to that of the longer macro lenses. The front element is
right up front, rather than deeply recessed as it is on my Tamron 90
and Tokina 100.
On my Minolta it is deeply recessed EXCEPT when taking macro. Then it's
way out there.

On both my Tamron 90mm and Tokina 100mm macro lenses, the front element
is deeply recessed in the barrel and that doesn't change a millimeter as
it goes from infinity to 1:1. When I say deeply recessed I mean about 30
mm on the Tokina and about 40 mm on the Tamron.

I think we've had this conversation before....

It seems somehow familiar to me, too, though I didn't recall who it was
with.



I just checked my Minolta 100mm f/2.8 macro and focus @ 1:1 is at about
340mm from the film plane. Lots of room to get light on the subject.

Per dpreview the "working distance" at 1:1 of the 60mm Tamron is 100mm
which I assume is from the front element.

More likely the lens barrel, but since the Tamron 60's front element is
right up front there probably isn't much difference.

That means the camera is closer, so more ambient light is blocked (esp.
considering the photographer's head).

Well, if the photographer's head still needs to be there when the shot is
taken it might block *some* light but I don't think very much. It seems
unlikely that the light source would be behind his head in most cases.

Even with the lens I describe above, I've had some lighting issues along
the trail here and there. So metering with the head down, then getting
away to allow more light ... er, was the exposure locked?...

Could be, or the eyepiece could be capped. In my case most macro stuff has
been done indoors, and what I have done outdoors the lighting arrangement
just hasn't been a bother..



Anyway, you're comparing two different measurements. You say your Minolta
100 reaches 1:1 focus 340 mm from the film plane, but that tells nothing
about working distance.

True enough but I was more concerned with light and how close my hands
have to be to thing that bite and sting! The working distance is about
12 - 13 cm from the front element.


Trying it just now with my Tokina 100, focused at 1:1 the subject is
about 310 mm from the focal plane and the working distance (i.e., to the
front of the lens barrel) is about 110 mm.