I'm interested in an EF 25 ex tube I mostly work with my 28-70 f2.8. I would spring for a 50mm macro but they are so loud and seem so crappy plus they need an accessory lens to get 1:1. I think that a 100mm might be to long and I usually a very big lens switcher. I've played around with the 28-70/EF25 combo and it seems to get me where I want to be but I was wondering if any body knew of any drawbacks. Thanks in advance!

-- john (dogspleen@juno.com), October 18, 2001

Answers

50mm macro....crappy? In what sense? Optically, the 50mm F2.5 compact macro makes the 28-70 F2.8L look "crappy". It is, in fact, the best 50mm lens in the canon system in terms of its optics. Noisy? AF is hardly an issue when doing macro work. Accessory lens to get to 1:1...well, the 28-70 F2.8L needs the accessory tube to get beyond 0.18X, so this is hardly a big deal. Exactly what are you trying to photograph, and from what distance? What kind of magnification level do you need?

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), October 18, 2001.

Easy there. I know that the 50mm is opticaly better on its own I,m saying the focus bothers me as well as switching from my main lens to a 50mm then also adding an extender if neccessary. Then there is the issue of carring extra stuff arond. I'm not trying to be lazy and I,m not tring to save money. It would be nice to keep an extender in my pocket or leave it in the car in case I needed it. I just wouldn't feel comfortable constantly leaving any lens in the car through Chicago weather.

-- john (dogspleen@juno.com), October 18, 2001.