Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Lens for Canon $149 free shipping! or Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens $289 shipped

Quote from bestco : would like to know the answer too, the Canon one costs about $400, and this one is much cheaper, anyone has experience with these two?

The "macro mode" of this lens solely allows you to shorten the minimal focal distance at a certain focal length, according to its description on Amazon:

"The lens features a switch that converts the lens to macro photography at focal lengths between 200 millimeters and 300 millimeters, with a minimum focusing distance of 37.4 inches. In normal mode the minimum focusing distance is 59.1 inches at all zoom settings."

In other words, macro photography is enabled by zooming into an object and therefore magnifying it. The downside? You'll need to be standing more than 3 feet away to take the picture.

Compare to the minimal focal distance of "true" macro lens here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macr...phy_lenses

With such a lens, you will be able to go closer to an object and take magnified pictures. Therefore, you won't have to stand 3 feet away. The downside? The object will need to be well-lit by either strong natural light or with a macro ring light.

Quote from thumper300zx : SO, that said, what does anyone recommend for a 'cheap', but decent TRUE macro lens? I currently use some extension tubes and get some decent shots with the 18-55mm Canon lens, but I'd like something that's better.

Assuming the 18-55mm you refer to is the EF-S, then the 60mm f2.8 EF-S macro is a gem. Very sharp and great colors but personally I don't find the 60mm focal length to be extremely useful as a walk-around.

Short of uploading a 9mb jpeg, here's a sample of how close it'll shoot:

Quote from SerafinM : any nikon deals? ;/

Like to see one on nikon too

Quote from OopsMyDeals : Like to see one on nikon too

dig50 worked for me on the 70-300mm Nikon