Looking for a good macro lens for my Photography AS Level.

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overkill-gb

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Rob Macdonald
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Hi,

Im currently studying photography AS at king edward vii sixth form, and I was just wondering whether you recommended any type of macro lens I can spend up too £100 i've had a look on ebay for macro lenses but i dont really know what im looking for...

My film camera is a Nikon F80 and im aiming to take close ups of plants, textures, unique shapes and patterns. Theme's I have been told to do so far are natural forms, human forms, man made forms, and now angles and perspective.

Thankyou (:
 
What lenses do you currently have?

With your budget it may be worth looking at an older 2nd hand manual focus Nikkor. Much macro photography is acheived using manual focus, You could also look at a Tamron SP 90mm.
 
True macro lens have a 1:1 ratio irrespective of focal length , so this should be your guide. You may see some makes claiming a lens is for macro use as well, but the giveaway is the ratio of 1:2 which to my mind isn't, its just a compromise


Take a look at the Tamron 90mm SP DI F2.8 macro but you will have to increase your budget somewhat to double what you have to spend. This lens I have and is superb for macro work. The other alternative is what are called reversing rings or you could try magnifying filters if your on a tight budget.


Realspeed
 
old manual nikkor as long as you buy a good condition one is probably easiest way of getting good quality optics.
 
I know nothing about macro photography but I'm just insanely jealous that there's a Photography AS Level.

If only there'd been such a thing 6 years ago then I could have done it as well. Plus, are you at KEGS in Chelmsford?!
 
Simplest option extension tubes.
 
If you are looking for a dedicated macro lens, Sony/Minolta users swear by the Cosina macro. I don't know whether it is available in Nikon fit but if you get past the poor build quality, the optical quality is meant to be excellent and it can be found for £100.

But extension tubes, reversing rings or macro adapter lenses will be cheaper.
 
£250 quid! Arghhh that's incredibly
expensive for a student surely this course has been so expensive. Is there know cheaper alternatives thAt I could perhaps find on eBay such as sigma. I have a crappy 28mm -100mm nikkor lens 1.8f it's terrible for close ups and it seems quite cheap and low quality. The camera plus that lens cost me
only 60 pounds on eBay. Is there honestly know other lens which I could buy from eBay which would give me good close up
images? Or will I have to seriously save up? Thanks
 
overkill-gb said:
£250 quid! Arghhh that's incredibly
expensive for a student surely this course has been so expensive. Is there know cheaper alternatives thAt I could perhaps find on eBay such as sigma. I have a crappy 28mm -100mm nikkor lens 1.8f it's terrible for close ups and it seems quite cheap and low quality. The camera plus that lens cost me
only 60 pounds on eBay. Is there honestly know other lens which I could buy from eBay which would give me good close up
images? Or will I have to seriously save up? Thanks
Click to expand...

As you'll be shooting small apertures (upto F16) to get a usable DOF you'll also need a flash to get the best out of any lens.
 
With a limited budget, I'd go for extension tubes and/or a reversing ring. I don't have a dedicated macro lens. but have had reasonable close up success with tubes and reversing rings.
 
 
Recommend the MF Nikkor AIS 55/2.8 or a MF Kiron 105/2.8 or a Sigma 50/2.8 EX AF (old type), the AF is not really useful. http://joergvetter.oyla.de/cgi-bin/hpm_homepage.cgi

Just I started to make experiments with the Sigma 50-200 OS HSM and a close up Achromat +1 - goes to about 1:2,2 than you have also a great distance !!! BR Atomino
 
 
 
Sounds like alot of you reccomended the Tamron, I've found quite a few on ebay, is it worth spending the extra 50 - 60 quid on top of the standard 2.5F model? for the 2.8?

Thanks.
 
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