I've a lot of photos to do for publication.
Most will be close up, studio style, - reels, gut eyed flies etc, - so what is the best affordable (stress affordable) lens that will give me better quality than my old Sony A200 with Minolta AF 75-300.
[to be fair this combination has done quite well, but I'd like to go up a level]

I'd appreciate the views of those that know on the pros and cons of "adaptors" - ie, is there any merit in using (say) a good Canon/Leica/whatever lens with the appropriate Alpha adaptor?

And what do I need to get?

Thanks
Brian

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“Let’s TACKLE Cancer” supporter

I've no experience of Sony or Minolta gear. However, your subject matter sounds like it would benefit from a good macro lens. The Tamron 90 mm always seems to do well in tests and is available to fit Sony cameras, so it might be the sort of thing you are looking for.

Try checking it out here...

Tamron 90 mm macro at DP Reviews

Col

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My hovercraft is full of eels

Thanks for that, I am looking for a macro to fit a Canon and this lens might work.
Col your in box is full.

Tamron on watch list, thanks Col

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“Let’s TACKLE Cancer” supporter

Have a look at Sigma. My daughter has them for her Nikon. I also have them for an old Minolta 5000 35mm film camera.
If you want cheep, try close up filters. I have a set of 55mm which I have used with the Minolta. Not as good as a dedicated macro but still very good pics produced.

For sure, nothing wrong with Sigma - my wide angle is the Sigma 10-20 mm and it gives good results. Which Sigma would you recommend for the job in question?

BTW: the reason I avoided suggesting close up filters and the likes was that I reckoned the object of the exercise was to invest some cash into getting top notch results fit for publication. Not sure close-up filters will do that?

Col

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My hovercraft is full of eels

Without googling, am I correct in thinking that Close-up filters still need a host lens? Presumably this lens still needs to have good glass?

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“Let’s TACKLE Cancer” supporter

Yep, close-up filters are effectively spectacles (or more accurately a monocle) for your camera lens. They allow it to focus on objects closer to it than its native minimum focusing distance. We've posted some results with close-up filters in other threads. As Wobbly Face says, they give not bad results, but I suspect that if you are looking for top notch results fit for publication, you might be better to bite the bullet and get a proper macro lens.

Col

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My hovercraft is full of eels

Found one of them... just 2 threads below...

See the bit about close-up filters

I remember now that one of the criticisms we had about them was that the light fall-off is quite severe

Col

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My hovercraft is full of eels

Your certainly correct about the lighting when using filters something shocking.
As for the Tamron that Col mentioned I bought one of these a couple of months back and think it is a cracking lens and not just for macro.