Macro lens for D80

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Joshuashaw

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Joshua Shaw
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Currently looking around at Nikon's 105mm VR, I can get it for approx £400 because my parents are going to NY in a week or two. Is there any other lenses I should consider? Any help, much appreciated, sorry to be a nuisance.
 
If you check Fred Miranda for their reviews you'll find a lot of people prefer the Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro lens to the Nikon 105mm VR because its sharper.

It's very nice and much cheaper anyway. Get searching!
 
devitt said:
I have seen amazing results from the sigma 150mm macro. Similar price to the nikon 105vr iirc. Check out some pics on Pixel peeper:

http://www.pixel-peeper.com/lenses/?lens=912
Click to expand...

I have read & heard that anything over than 100mm on a macro lens is unessecery and I imagine that is also more expensive? In a perfect world, I don't want to exceed £400, £500 being my absolute maximum.
 
Sigma105mm Macro excellent lens and use the money saved to put towards a ring flash or R1C1 macro flash.
 
Have a look for the Nikor Micro 60mm f2.8 D lens - it is the predessor of the AFS version and is more user friendly - and because it is the "old" model you can get a new one for about £295.....with full guarantee, over here with UK cards. I bought one from Calumet. Glorious detail and the resolving power is just stunning - it is merely an update of the legendary 55mm f2.8 micro which mine has only just taken over from - even on the digi cameras the old AIS lens was stunning. The new D lens is just more convenient to use, and I fancied a change!
 
I was considering a smaller focal length macro lens, but I had read reviews of most macro lenses and the consumer had wished they had forked that extra bit more for the larger focal length and for what I am paying for that Nikon Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 I can get the Sigma 105mm for an extra bit of money but saying that for the price I would pay for the Nikon Nikkor 105mm VR, I could purchase the Sigma 150mm, for even cheaper actually.
 
It depends what you are going to shoot with it, flowers and still objects ok with 50-60mm but if you want to shoot anything live ,like bee,s insects or butterfly's,a long lens is necessary ,so as to give you a bit of room from the critter.
Then you want at least a 90mm or better still a 150mm.

The big lenses need to be tripod mounted in most cases,so if you are not using the lens on other occasions for portraits or as a good prime lens,the VR is IMHO not going to be used,so save money there.

The Sigma 150mm macro can be had for around £350.

It,s all down to what you are going to use it for....
 
I'm not going to be photographing anything specific so I'd like to try snapping everything with it whether it be facial portraits, creepy crawlies, flowers, still objects. Will even the larger focal length macro lenses specialise in everything or is the minimum focal length to big to do certain things if that makes sense.
 
Because I want the lens to be portable enough to carry around with me without tripods etc, would it be sensible to purchase the Sigma 105mm then extension tubes when I need to go closer? would a 105mm take me close enough for creepy crawlies & get good sharp images?
 
this was taken with the sigma 105mm

maybug.jpg


and with a full set of tubes

fly_tube.jpg
 
I agree with the Sigma 105mm choice, I have one, I just need pics like Dogfish`s now!
Allan
 
I've narrowed it down and made opinions on all lenses from other people's experience.

Nikon Nikkor 105mm - too expensive considering I can buy a Sigma 150mm for a cheaper price, much cheaper, so swaying away from that one.

Sigma 150mm - considering, but may be a little too big considering I want my lens portable and don't want to have to carry a tripod around for my lens, would prefer to buy the Sigma 105mm and then purchase extension tubes when I want to be closer to my subject.

Sigma 105mm - best bet at the moment, cheap compared to the the Nikkor 105mm lens, good reviews from everyone, not heard a bad thing about it, reccomendations for extension tubes?

Tamron 90mm - heard good reviews, not read up on it though.
 
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