Which alpha for macro

[sagarmatha]

I'm still struggling between buying a Panasonic or a Sony. Interested in macro I would like your opinions which body is best suited for this. Lens recommendations?

[pakodominguez]

basically: buy the Alpha that you can afford...
I think an A358/A380 and both 50 mm and 100 mm Macro will be a good kit. But all depends on your budget...
For more technical stuff, probably the new 30mm Macro will help too.

Regards

[sagarmatha]

basically: buy the Alpha that you can afford...
I think an A358/A380 and both 50 mm and 100 mm Macro will be a good kit. But all depends on your budget...
For more technical stuff, probably the new 30mm Macro will help too.

Well since I'm more interested in dragon- and butterflies I think I'll have to look in to some telezoom and some extension tube.

S

[Dr. Harout]

Well since I'm more interested in dragon- and butterflies I think I'll have to look in to some telezoom and some extension tube.

S

That might be an option, but do think of the 100mm/2.8 Macro.

[Birma]

If you will be shooting (and chasing?) dragon flies handholding the camera then all of the Sony dslr bodies are stabilised (Super Steady Shot or SSS) and so which ever lens you put on them you get the advantage of the stabilisation (i.e. reducing the risk of hand-shake and allowing smaller appertures to be used). If you intend to shoot macro from a tripod then this doesn't make any difference as you should probably swtch SSS off on a tripod.

Panasonic G1, GH1 and GF1 (I think) don't have stabilised bodies and so you need stabilised lenses which reduces choices and I'm not even sure if they have newer stabilised macro lenses. The Panasonics rely on live-view or electronic view finders. Some people may prefer an optical view finder which all of the Sony dslrs have.

The Panasonics are small and light which may help? I suggest you read DK's review of the new A550 and decide if any of the downsides would affect your style of macro.

[pakodominguez]

basically: buy the Alpha that you can afford...
I think an A358/A380 and both 50 mm and 100 mm Macro will be a good kit. But all depends on your budget...
For more technical stuff, probably the new 30mm Macro will help too.

Well since I'm more interested in dragon- and butterflies I think I'll have to look in to some telezoom and some extension tube.

S

I took this photographs with the A700 and Tamron 70-200 f2.8 (that supposed to be corrected for macro, not just close focus) The quality is quite good in this condition, I'm not that sure of the quality with a teleconverter (I have an old Hoya X1.4 that I have to try with...)
But I took this photograph with the 70-200 because it was the lens I had on the camera. Otherwise I'll take the 100 mm f2.8 macro even if the focus is slower. You can try to get the Minolta 200 mm f2.8 Macro, that apparently is a gem too.
Shoot as RAW+JPG -this is the in-camera JPG with no corrections.
1/250 @ f10


100% crop


This pic is with the 70-210 f4 "Beercan"

100% crop

[Clarke]

For a micro four-thirds body there is an image-stabilized lens: Panasonic Leica DG 45mm f2.8 Asph OIS. This is reviewed on the web site DPReview.

[Heidfirst]

Well since I'm more interested in dragon- and butterflies I think I'll have to look in to some telezoom and some extension tube.

depends how good you are at getting close without disturbing your subjects
I use a Tamron 180mm (nice apart from a focus limiter) but the 70-400mm G SSM actually works surprisingly well for those flightier ones that won't let you too close.

[sagarmatha]

depends how good you are at getting close without disturbing your subjects
I use a Tamron 180mm (nice apart from a focus limiter) but the 70-400mm G SSM actually works surprisingly well for those flightier ones that won't let you too close.

This is taken with my FZ50 at 400 mm (35 mm eq.) + diopter MCON40
http://foto.staffanmalmberg.se/photos/5 ... hxLx-M.jpg