Finally picked up an R5 for my jewelry photography side hustle, but now Im totally stuck on which macro glass to get. Ive been looking at the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L, and everyone says the autofocus is great but I read some forums complaining about focus breathing issues when doing really tight shots. Also saw some budget options like the Laowa 100mm but I dont know if I want to commit to manual focus only. Im based in Chicago and need something reliable by next month for a big catalog project. Is that extra cash for the L-series actually worth it for studio work, or should I just save some money?
Just catching up on this thread. Honestly, the focus breathing on the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is way overblown for static jewelry work. I used a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art for a while and was pretty happy with the sharpness tbh.
- Use a solid tripod.
- Remote trigger helps tons. Save the cash if you dont need the fancy bokeh control, but manual focus gets old real fast for catalog stuff.
@Reply #2 - good point! Honestly though, if you are doing jewelry for a catalog, manual focus is actually your best friend. Relying on AF for those tiny details can be a nightmare anyway. If you want to save a massive chunk of cash for lights or better backdrops, I suggest looking at the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO. It gives you 2x magnification which is huge for small pieces, and the optical quality is honestly just as sharp as the L-series for way less money. Just be careful with your lighting setups since manual glass doesnt talk to the R5 for aperture control, but you get used to it fast. Save the extra cash for a really solid tripod, like the Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber 3-Section Tripod, because that is gonna matter way more for sharp jewelry shots than paying extra for AF.
Honestly, just grab the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. The stabilization is a lifesaver for jewelry and honestly, that autofocus speed is worth every penny in the studio.