Efs-60 vs Ef50mm f2.5

[rixtix]

I was thinking of trading up to the 60mm EF-S lens from the older 50mm f2.5.  For my work the 100 mm macro is over kill as I shoot jewelry product photography.  Is there any noticeable difference in the sharpness between the two?

[Bob Atkins]

I'm not aware any any issues of quality difference between the two lenses. Both are excellent, high contrast, high resolution, low sdistortion and flat field. The main differences are that the EF-S 60/2.8 can't be used on full frame, but goes to 1:1 without any adapters or accessories. The EF 50/2.5 on the other hand does work fine on full frame but only goes to 1:2 (1/2 life size). To get to 1:1 you need the special adapter, which is in effect a teleconverter. Unfortunately it pretty much doubles the price of the lens. The lens runs around $280 and the 1:1 converter around $290. The 60mm lens also has USM focus, while the 50mm still uses the AFD (arc form drive) motor I think.

• EF-S 60/2.8 macro USM
• EF 50/2.5 macro
• 1:1 life size converter for 50mm macro

[rixtix]

If I could swap out the lens and life size converter plus a hundred dollars is the EF-s 60 a better lens?  I cannot use the life size converter as it greatly reduces the maximum subject distance from the lens.  My photo tent, light set up doesn't permit me being closer than one foot.  Here is an example of what I shoot.

[Bob Atkins]

My understanding is that the life size converter doesn't change the focus distance of the 50/2.5 macro. Without the converter the focus range is 0.75ft (9") to infinity. With the converter the focus range is 0.75ft (9")to 1.4ft. Thos measurements are subject to film plane (sensor plane) though, so I guess the front element of the lens+converter ends up being closer to the subject by the length of the converter, so the working distance is reduced. My understanding is that with the life size converter attached, what you have is essentially a 70mm macro lens.

The focus range of the EF-S 60/2.8 is 0.66ft (8") to infinity, so it's still going to be pretty close to the subject at high magnification. I think the actual working distance at 1:1 is around 3.5".

The only way you can maintain magnification and get more working distance is to go to a longer focal length. The longer the better, so if you needed a true macro lens, you'd be looking at the Canon 180 macro (not cheap at close to $1600). That gives you about 10" between the subject and the front of the lens at 1:1 magnification.

The  100mm macro lens has a working distance of around 6" at 1:1 magnification (subject to front element), so that's still tight.

An alternative is to use a high quality 2 element closeup diopter lens on a telephoto lens. Something like a Canon 500D on a lens like the EF 70-300/4-5.6 IS USM. It would give you a working distance (subject to front of lens) of around 18" and a maximum magnification of around maybe 0.7x?

There's more info here - http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/eosfaq/closeup2.htm

The bottom line is that the EF-S 60 macro will give you higher magnification, but it won't give you significantly more working distance than the 50 macro, or at least not enough working distance if you need to go to 1:1 and can't get closer than 12" to your subject.