Macro lens?

GlasgowGunner

GlasgowGunner

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Kevin
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Hi all i am looking for your help on the choice of a Macro lens.

My camera is a Nikon D90 and have been looking at both Nikon and Sigma lenses, The Sigma 180mm macro looks good but dont no if its maybe to way out there as i have not shot much macro.

I have a loan of a friends Sigma 70mm macro lens and it seems fine though i dont like the idea of having to be right next to the item you are shooting.


Thanks Folk.
 
Depends what you want to shoot with it. If you want it for insects etc then the 180mm would be good for the longer working distance... less chance of scaring it away.
 
Well i would like to do a range of things with the lens.

I have read that the 70mm is good for portrait shots too will this be true of the 180mm too?
 
You'd need the room to stand back from the subject by quite a distance, so i guess the 180 wouldn't be as good for portraits.
You could get the 180 for macro and a cheap "nifty fifty" for portraits maybe?

All depends on your priorities
 
If you are confused on this, and have the 180 in sight, you may want to think of the 150/2.8 Sigma and a Sigma 1.4 teleconverter :shrug:

The combination of these two would be just about the same price, but the 150/2.8 is lighter to handhold and hence better for your portrait shots. It also gives you that much flexibility.

On the flip side, the 180/3.5 is a simpler, all in one, solution.

There was a 180/3.5 on offer in the For Sale here, the seller has pulled it out; but I am sure if you contact him you may reach an agreement.
 
I have the sigma 105 which i bought as a compromise between the 70 and the 180. Still gettiing used to it at the moment, but liking what I have seen so far.
 
So if i get the 150 and the 1.4 converter i could use it for both and still have the near 180mm at the end?
 
get the sigma 150 f2.8 it's awesome, you'll love it. I promise!

Cheers Paul
 
Best to go and try the 150 on your camera, it's a heavy lens. I've got the 105 and (amazingly for me) I can't speak highly enough of it :thumbs:
 
GlasgowGunner said:
So if i get the 150 and the 1.4 converter i could use it for both and still have the near 180mm at the end?
Click to expand...


Exactly!

If you go for the Sigma 150/2.8 along with the 1.4 teleconverter; then you get that as your lens, and coupled together you get the more reach which is effectively a 210mm.

The two work together and alone the 150/2.8 is a fantastic lens. Not to say that the 180/3.5 is not a beauty in its own right; but the 180 is hard to handhold, and can never be a 150mm, should you need a 150mm.
 
I can't speak of any Sigma macros as I don't own any, but I have the Nikkor micro 105VR f2.8 and it is truly awesome; fast, sharp and a very accurate AF.
I've seen portrait style shots with this lens also and they are outstanding. At the end of the day, it's down to your budget.

Gary
 
The Sigma 180mm is excellent, but also huge.
The Tamron 90mm is superb - that would be my first port of call.
The Sigma 150mm is also excellent.

Out of those three, my choice would be:

Tamron 90mm, Sigma 150mm, Sigma 180mm (purely on size, not optics)

You could also get an old manual focus macro, they all have superb optics and you'll be MF'ing anyway.
 
GlasgowGunner said:
So if i get the 150 and the 1.4 converter i could use it for both and still have the near 180mm at the end?
Click to expand...
Indeed you could and it would be longer then too :thumbs:
I have this lens and it is definitly a keeper.
 
:plusone: The 150 is my favourite lens, but it does depend on what you want to shoot
The 150 is best for insects but for things like flowers the Sigma 105 or Tamron 90 will be easier to handhold
Pete
 
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