cheap macro lens for nikon d3100

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monkeytennis

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Looking for a cheap macro option for my Nikon
Preferred with auto focus.tried the macro filters bbut they ain't all that great on my kit lens.any suggestions?
 
What lenses do you have? Have you thought of extension tubes?
 
There are cheap ones for £10 which won't allow autofocua. Then there are ones around £60 which will allow autofocus still.

I've use them with my 55-300mm lens, but not my kit lens.
 
monkeytennis said:
Looking for a cheap macro option for my Nikon
Preferred with auto focus.tried the macro filters bbut they ain't all that great on my kit lens.any suggestions?
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What size of lens are you looking for / what are you wanting to shoot ?

We have the Sigma 50mm 2.8 Macro and it's a very nice lens, my daughter uses it for still life - flowers etc, so a longer focal length isn't needed.

If you are shooting bugs etc, then I would suggest 100mm +
 
The problem with manual extension tubes and the kit lens isn't so much the auto-focus, but that the 18-55 has no aperture ring, so you're going to be limited to either the maximum aperture value (edit: f/36) OR if you use the 'remove lens while in DoF preview' trick, to a single preset aperture. Neither is a particularly low frustration entry to macro use.

So I'd recommend either going for auto extension tubes only, or buying a set of adapter, extension tubes and cheap ~50mm lens in M42 or pentax-K mount.
 
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I agree with John. Besides the big advantage of greater working distance, 100mm focal length will just about allow you to use the camera flash provided you remove the hood. Any shorter and you'll need a separate flash or be stuck with available light.
 
monkeytennis said:
Now that is tempting!!!!where's good to get them second hand?
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If you mean the nikon 40mm, I don't think I've seen any second hand, they don't seem to be that popular - probably because the working distance is fairly short and at that price you're over half way to a Sigma 105mm or Tamron 90mm macro lens.

Given how rarely they seem to come up used, probably ebay is going to be the best bet, or somewhere like grays (who don't seem to have any macro lenses shorter than 105mm atm).
 
If you don't mind not having AF the tamron 90mm f/2.5 adaptall is a good option. A few on ebay at the moment around the £100 mark a couple even have the 1:1 adapter (without the adapter it's a 1:2 macro lens but in my opinion very versatile. You can always get the cheapest extension tubes and get even closer.
 
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