The Buyers guide to...Best macro lenses

As a true macro lens, the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art lens is capable of lifesize reproduction at its closest focusing point of 29.5cm. That distance translates to 14.1cm from the front element of the lens, which is a nice working distance enabling a good amount of natural light to reach the subject.

Sigma redesigned the 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art from the ground up and it’s constructed from 17 elements in 12 groups with one SLD (special low dispersion) element. There are also elements with Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer coating to suppress ghosting and flare, while the front element has an oil and water repellant coating to make it easier to keep clean.

In addition to the wide manual focus ring, which has a lovely action, the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art has an aperture ring with settings from f/2.8 to f/22 in 1/3EV steps. This can operate with clicks or it can be ‘declicked’ using the switch dedicated switch on the barrel.

There’s also a focus limiter switch with three settings, full, 0.5m to infinity and 29.5cm to 50cm.

You can find the Sigma 105mm on Amazon US.

Read our Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro Art Review

The Canon RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM, is the world’s first AF macro lens that offers a 1.4x magnification. Aimed at macro, still life and portrait photographers, its 1.4:1 magnification ratio is delivered by its floating system and short back focusing.

What’s more, the Canon RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM introduces a new Spherical Aberration Control ring that allows users to adjust the shape and look of the background and foreground bokeh, as well as create a soft focus effect on the subject.

Other features include a maximum f/2.8 aperture for shallow depth of field effects, dual nano USM motors for faster AF and up to five stops of optical image stabilisation (and up to eight stops when used with the Canon EOS R5 or EOS R6).

You can find the Canon RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Read our Canon launches RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM, RF 400mm F2.8L, RF 600mm F4L IS USM lenses

Like other full macro lenses, this one has a 1.0x maximum magnification factor, so it can reproduce small objects at full life size on the image sensor of a camera, when used at its minimum focus distance.

Typical L-series luxuries include weather-seals and a hood that’s supplied with the lens instead of being sold as optional extra. That’s a bit of a saving but you’ll still need to splash a lot of extra cash if you want the genuine edition of Canon’s optional ‘D-type’ tripod mounting ring.

A headline feature of this lens is that it has a specially designed ‘hybrid’ image stabilizer. Whereas the stabilizers fitted to many other Canon lenses correct for vibration in handheld photography, this one also corrects for axial shift (up-down or side-to-side movement).

This makes it much more effective when shooting close-ups. Before we get too carried away, however, Canon states that the four-stop benefit of the stabilizer shrinks to three stops at 0.5x magnification and just two stops at full 1.0x magnification.

Even so, that’s better than nothing and helps to make consistently sharp, handheld close-up photography a real possibility. As you’d hope from one of the best macro lens, this one remains nicely sharp even when shooting at very narrow apertures.

You can find the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Read our Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM Review

Canon’s compact and lightweight RF 85mm F2 IS STM portrait prime lens both picks out beautiful detail and also utilises its fast f/2 aperture for exceptional shallow depth of field effects. With its short telephoto 85mm focal length, this is an ideal lens for portraiture, yet macro photographers will also appreciate its ability to pick out details with close focusing at up to 35cm.

It’s also equipped with five stops of Image Stabilization, or eight stops when used with the Canon EOS R6 or EOS R5, also announced today.

With its 1:2 macro shooting capability, the RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM captures subjects at 50% life size.

The RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM also employs STM Autofocus for faster, smoother focusing in both stills and video.

You can find the Canon RF 85mm F2 STM at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Read our Canon debuts RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM lens

Canon’s RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM is compact and lightweight that is quite a unique wide-angle prime in that it offers the versatility you get from this focal length and adding in the capability of a 1:2 macro optic.

A Super Spectra coating helps keep ghosting and flare at bay, which also helps for more accurate colours. Also, an STM motor helps it achieve quiet, smooth AF performance, making it one of the best 35mm lenses on this list for video.

What’s more, it boasts a five-stop image stabilisation and a customisable Control Ring where you can adjust exposure settings. All of this for a very affordable price tag.

Read our Best Canon EF lenses to start your collection

The Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is a professional S-line macro lens capable of 1:1 reproduction. Nikon has optimised the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S for macro shooting in stills or video mode, but its focal length also makes it a good choice for portraiture. When filming macro video, the Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S promises quiet AF and smooth, stable aperture control, with limited focus breathing so you can shift focus without affecting the shot’s angle of view.

Other great features include a smooth and silent multi-focusing system and fixed f/2.8 rounded 9-blade aperture enable rounded, natural-looking bokeh.

Nikon’s anti-reflective ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings combat ghosting and flare. In-lens Vibration Reduction (VR) combines with in-camera VR for steady handheld shots even in low light.

You can find the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Read our Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Review

Nikon’s ‘micro’ lenses (or ‘macro’ as most people call them) have been revealing extraordinary levels of fine detail over the last few decades. This one is a particularly high-tech example, with a fast and highly accurate ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system, late-generation VR II optical stabilization, ED glass and Nano Crystal Coat.

As with other full macro lenses, it delivers a 1:1 maximum reproduction ratio at its closest focus distance, which in this case is 31cm. This enables a comfortable working distance between the front edge of the lens and the subject being photographed, especially as the fully internal focus mechanism avoids the front of the lens extending at closer focus distances.

The lens is equally adept as a fairly fast, short telephoto optic for general shooting, where the optical stabilizer gives a benefit equal to around three f/stops. Its effectiveness is very much reduced for extreme close-up photography where there’s no real substitute for a tripod.

Sharpness is excellent throughout the aperture range, with minimal softening due to diffraction at very narrow aperture settings. This is a bonus when using narrow apertures in macro shooting, to enable anything more than a sliver of depth of field.

You can find the Nikkor AF-S 105mm f/2.8 G IF ED VR Micro on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Read our Nikon 105mm f/1.4E ED review

Sony has made great strides with its G-series and G Master lenses in recent years, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for that excellent image quality. Sony’s FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C format E-mount cameras, and it has no shortage of high-tech features.

Chief among these is a Dual DDSSM (Direct Drive Super Sonic wave Motor) autofocus system that delivers silent, rapid and accurate AF performance. What’s more, it incorporates built-in image stabilisation, allowing you greater flexibility to shoot handheld.

The lens is comprised of aspherical, ED and Super ED elements in a weather-sealed metal body. Not only is its build quality top-notch, but its handling is also superb, thanks to a precise focus ring.

Expect superb image quality and lots of nice, silky bokeh.

You can find the best deals on the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

The Fujifilm XF 80mm f2.8 LM OIS WR Macro is the company’s first 1:1 dedicated macro lens. It’s big (750g) and pricey, but it’s also packed with excellent features. Firstly, it has a superb OIS system that provides up to five stops of stabilisation. This makes all the difference when shooting handheld.

Image sharpness and overall quality is excellent. Images are sharp throughout the frame, with no signs of distortion or ghosting or flare. You’ll also love the bokeh that its nine-blade aperture provides.

It is a big lens. But it delivers, and that’s what is important. If your budget can accommodate it, Fujifilm’s Fujinon XF 80mm f2.8 LM OIS WR Macro is worth every penny.

You can find the best deals on the Fujifilm XF 80mm f2.8 LM OIS WR Macro at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Available for Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sony A-mount cameras, the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro is an excellent lens with superb image quality that’s a great alternative to branded lenses – though it’s price tag isn’t too far off thos.

New to this version of the popular Tamron macro lens is XY-Shift compensation to reinforce VC functionality, providing even further image stabilisation capability at any shooting distance from infinity to macro. Tamron has also increased its AF focusing speed and giving the lens a new Moisture-Proof and Dust-Resistant Construction. There’s also a new Fluorine Coating onthe top element to help prevent condensation.

Build and handling is nice in addition to its weather-sealing. The lens is fairly lightweight and handles well. And there are no real issues in terms of ghosting flare, distortion or chromatic aberrations. It’s a very well-balanced optic and one of the best macro lenses you can buy.

You can find the best deals on the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

One of the most lightweight, compact macro lenses you can buy, the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro M.ZUIKO Digital ED is a take-anywhere option for macro photographers. Its dust- and splash-proof body make it ideal for outdoor macro photography, and it lets you shoot subjects at very close range with a 0.19m minimum focusing distance.

The lens produces wonderful, circular bokeh, and a handy display on the lens barrel shows your shooting distance and magnification. What’s more, it’s fast, bright f/2.8 maximum aperture is great both for shooting in low light and for creating stunning shallow depth of field effects in your scenes.

And best of all, this lens doesn’t break the bank.

You can find the best deals on the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm F2.8 MACRO at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

One of the cheapest and most versatile options on our list of best macro lenses, the Samyang 100mm F2.8 ED UMC MACRO gives you 1:1 magnification and a fast f/2.8 aperture making it ideal for close-up images of flowers, insects and other popular subjects. Its 100mm focal length also makes it ideal for portraiture and landscapes.

Bokeh is nice, as are colours thanks to Samyang’s Ultra Multi Coating, which reduces flare and ghosting.

It’s a lot of lens for the price, and because it’s available on such a wide variety of mounts it should be an attractive option for many photographers.

You can find the Samyang 100mm f/2.8 ED UMC Macro on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Read our Samyang launches 85mm f/1.2, 14mm f/2.4 premium lenses