I have a EOS R7 and looking for the best macro lens

[Bellemere]

I’m looking at the RF85mm F2 Macro IS STM. I know next to nothing so I need help understanding why this is a good lens for what I’m doing. I understand that the macro and the 1.5 feel min focal distance is great for shooting art. But I’m confused on the f2. I was under the impression that an F8 aperture is best because that’s a sharper image. But I don’t know. Thanks for any help! 

[jrhoffman75]

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@Bellemere wrote:

I’m looking at the RF85mm F2 Macro IS STM. I know next to nothing so I need help understanding why this is a good lens for what I’m doing. I understand that the macro and the 1.5 feel min focal distance is great for shooting art. But I’m confused on the f2. I was under the impression that an F8 aperture is best because that’s a sharper image. But I don’t know. Thanks for any help! 

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That lens is an 85mm f/2 lens that has close focusing/macro capability. It can be used anytime you want a fixed 85mm focal length. You are correct that smaller apertures are desirable for macro photos of three-dimensional objects (more depth of field) plus f/8 would probably be sharper than wide open f/2.

[Bellemere]

I feel so stupid for having to ask this, but can I use a f8 on this lens or is it fixed at 2? 

[deebatman316]

Technically the RF 85mm F/2 Macro IS STM lens IS NOT a true Macro lens because it can focus down to 1:2. A true Macro lens has 1:1 magnification. The RF 100mm F/2.8L Macro IS USM is one of such lenses. Also note with Macro lenses is that the closer you focus to 1:1. Less light enters the camera because of what's know as effective aperture. The camera will NOT compensate and show you this change. Also in Macro work often very small apertures are used. Even at F/16 there is still very little depth of field. For instance the camera will report that the lens aperture is set at F/2.8 but the effective aperture is F/5.7 when the lens is focused at 1:1. Also Macro lenses tend to focus slower than other non-macro lenses even though the lens may have a fast Ring Type USM AF motor.

[deebatman316]

The lens aperture is NOT fixed like the RF 800mm F/11 lens. The usable aperture range of the lens is F/2-F/29. Its uncommon to come across a fixed aperture lens. There are constant aperture zoom lenses but this should NOT be confused with a Fixed aperture lens. A fixed aperture lens cannot have the aperture adjusted. A constant aperture lens can have the aperture adjusted.

[Bellemere]

Super helpful. Thank you!