Best Macro Lens for Canon in 2021
Best Macro Lens for Canon in 2021
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There are a number of ways to shoot macro photos, but for the best results and for professional quality output, a dedicated macro lens is the best option.
And that’s what this article is all about. We’re going to share the absolute best macro lenses for Canon cameras in 2021, including RF, EF, and EF-M lenses. No matter your Canon system, there’s a stellar macro lens here for you.
Let’s get started.
Top 5 Macro Lens for Canon
Top 5 Macro Lens for Canon
Content list:
1.Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
2.Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM Lens
3.Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM Lens
✔ Excellent color reproduction
✔ Weather-sealed
✔ Image stabilization
✔ Internal focusing mechanism
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS is probably one lens that most macro photography enthusiasts have already seen in action. It’s one of Canon’s more popular special purpose lenses. At 100mm, it gives the right balance between focal length and magnification, which ensures photographers that they have almost everything covered.
The 100mm f/2.8L produces a 1:1 reproduction of a subject. It features powerful image stabilization and is powered by a ring-type ultra-sonic auto-focusing motor. This AF motor is quieter and more reliable than the older micro-motor-type AF mechanism that Canon lenses sported. This technology is backed by a full-time manual focusing override.
The lens features an internal focusing mechanism. Internal focusing ensures that the barrel length of the lens does not change when focusing. This is suitable for macro photography because a barrel that changes length when focusing can scare away insects and other creepy crawlies.
Note the ‘L’ moniker, which means that this lens is well-designed, as with all Canon L-series lenses. It comes with weather sealing and should be able to handle inclement weather without issue.
✔ Image stabilization
✔ Close minimum focusing distance
✔ Compatible with Canon’s range of speedlight flashes
✔ Good optical quality
The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM Lens may only have a magnification ratio of 0.5x, but it deserves a place on our list of the best macro lenses for Canon.
Designed for the EOS R range of mirrorless cameras, it’s a lightweight, compact lens that packs a big punch in terms of image quality.
35mm is a versatile focal length, and this lens is a good choice for street, travel, and portrait photography. It’s also great for macro shots of flowers, jewelry, food, or anything else you want to get up close to. The minimum focusing distance is a mere 17 cm (6.6 in), which is far closer than most 35mm lenses will go, and the bokeh effect is very good.
Another handy feature of the Canon RF 35mm: it’s compatible with Canon’s range of macro speedlight flashes. This flash range includes the Macro Twin Lites and Macro Ring Lites, and enables you to have high-quality, controlled lighting for your macro subjects.
Image quality and sharpness are excellent, especially between f/2.8 and f/11, although there can be some vignetting and barrel distortion when shooting wide open.
The Canon RF 35mm is also a smart buy because you get a lot of versatility as well as good image quality for your money. It won’t suit a dedicated macro shooter who wants ultra-magnification but is great for most everyday macro and close-up shooting, as well as being an excellent walk-around lens.
✔ Super Macro capability
✔ Built-in LED semi-ring lights
✔ Image stabilization
✔ Excellent image quality
If you own a Canon M series mirrorless camera, then the Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM Lens is a solid choice for a macro lens. It’s 28mm, but when mounted on an EF-M body with a crop factor of 1.6x, it has an effective focal length of around 45mm. This length almost perfectly replicates the focal length of the human eye, so what you see through this lens equates to how you see it with your own eyes.
This lens is great for most types of general photography, but make no mistake: the Canon EF-M 28mm is a genuine macro lens, which means it can produce a life-size image of small objects (1:1). This lens even takes it one step further, though, with a Super Macro Mode that allows you to go even bigger than life-size up to 1.2x magnification.
This lens is almost unbelievably tiny and very light, and comes with a pair of LED macro lights built into the front of the lens. One limitation of this lens when shooting macro on the shortest setting is that the front of the lens barrel is around 1 cm (0.3 in) from the subject. This makes it hard to photograph insects as they will be spooked by the closeness of the lens, and, at this distance, you will definitely need to use the built-in macro lights to avoid shadows.
That said, image quality and color rendition is excellent, and the macro capabilities on this tiny, inexpensive lens are awesome. Add in the small size and light weight, and you have a lens that suits standard applications and macro applications.
✔ Impressive image quality
✔ Good bokeh
✔ Built-in macro lights
✔ Image stabilization system
If you want a good prime macro lens for your Canon APS-C format DSLR, then the Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is a true macro lens, with life-size (1:1) magnification and an integrated Macro Lite LED on the front of the lens to give much-needed illumination for close-up subjects.
This lens is ideal for traveling light and can also be used on Canon’s mirrorless (EOS M) cameras with an adapter. Most experienced macro shooters won’t want to shoot much handheld, but this hybrid IS system makes it easier to create sharp macro shots without using a tripod or macro rail. This makes the 35mm macro lens a good choice for quickly taking macro images on your travels.
The big feature of this lens is the built-in Macro Lite LEDs. These lights can be adjusted to light only the left or right side as well as both sides. The brightness can be adjusted, and these lights really make a difference to your images when shooting macro, as they give back some of the light that’s lost at macro distances. Note that these lights are specifically designed for macro work, so don’t be disappointed when they fail to light up your portraits, as that’s not what they were made for!
As far as image quality goes, sharpness at wider apertures and color rendition is excellent. Bokeh is good quality, which is important when you have a lens that is capable of creating a strong background blur like this one.
✔ Well-priced for an RF lens
✔ Excellent image stabilization
✔ Outstanding sharpness even at f/2
✔ Beautiful bokeh
The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is smaller, lighter, and much more affordable than many other RF lenses. While it may not carry the Canon “L” series stamp, it can do something other RF lenses can’t – shoot macro images.
No, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro is not a true macro lens. The maximum image reproduction ratio is less than life-size (it’s 1:2), but for extreme close-ups, flowers, weddings, food, and product shots, it’s ideal.
The minimum focusing distance is only 35 cm (13.7 in), which is far closer than other 85mm lenses, so the RF 85mm f/2 Macro lends itself well to make-up and beauty product photography where close-up shots of eyes and lips are needed.
When it comes to image quality, the RF 85mm f/2 Macro is superb even when shooting close-up at f/2. Bokeh is smooth and good-looking, and there is minimal distortion or chromatic aberration.
This lens is excellent and comes at a bargain price compared to the other RF 85mm lens. It’s fast, has great image stabilization, and packs impressive macro capabilities, plus it’s a superb portrait lens. What’s not to like?
Best Macro Lenses for Canon in 2021: Conclusion
Best Macro Lenses for Canon in 2021: Conclusion
That’s our round-up of the top macro lenses for Canon! If you’re still struggling to decide, our top-notch pick has to be the fabulous Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. But if your budget doesn’t stretch to that there are plenty of other, less expensive choices, like the best third-party macro lens on our list (the Tokina atx-i 100mm Macro f/2.8 and the best budget pick (the Meike 85mm f/2.8 MF macro lens).
What is the best Canon macro lens?
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is definitely a highly rated lens and one that produces optimum sharpness and image quality. It offers a nice balance of price, performance, and focal length.
What is the best third-party macro lens for Canon cameras?
The Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 beats the competition in a stiff battle for the best third-party macro lens for Canon DSLRs.
Which is the cheapest OEM Canon Macro lens?
The Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is the cheapest Canon-made macro lens. The lens is designed for the APS-C Canon DSLRs. It comes with image stabilization and offers a 1:1 perspective.
Manual focus vs auto-focus lenses
A majority of the time photographers use manual focusing. So, technically speaking it does not really matter whether a lens auto-focuses or not. But it is still a feature that a lot of photographers use for the initial focus lock before switching to manual for fine-tuning. That said, it is great to have a full-time manual focus override.
Can I Use a 50mm Prime lens for macro photography?
A 50mm prime is a versatile lens for most everyday shooting situations. However, in its normal mounting position, it is not the most ideal lens for shooting macro photos.
Are longer focal length the best for macro photography?
Yes. Longer the focal length of a macro lens the more working room the photographer has. That prevents the photographer from accidentally coming between the light source and the subject being photographed. This is provided of course that the lens offers a true macro perspective.
What is the best aperture to shoot macro photography?
The best macro photography aperture will depend on the subject and the photographer’s idea of a great image of it. Usually, a shallow depth of field is not recommended when shooting a product like a wedding ring. But one can always use focus stacking techniques to produce an incredibly sharp image even with a wide-open aperture.
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