Nikkor 60mm Micro or Nikkor 85mm

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Shorty

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Hi guys, it's me again -it's looking like I'll possibly have some money 'spare' for a second lens and was wondering what evryone's opinions on these two lenses COMPARED are? Which is better and why?

From what I've read, the 85mm is sharper[correct me if wrong] but the 60mm has the benefit of being a Macro, which I really like. There's also the fact the 85mm is either f/1.8/1.4 and the 60mm is 'only' f/2.8
Also the fact that I have a Nifty Fifty, so there's not much difference[obviously] in range from that and the 60...


Has anyone got/had both these lenses enough to be able to a produce a good enough opinion/list on the pros and cons of each lens, and then against eachother?

:help:
 
You don't say how much "spare" money you have , but if price is an issue the 85mm f/1.4 is a piece of "pro" glass costing three times as much as the other two......
 
Oh, sorry. It's enough to cover the 60mm Micro, and the 85mm f/1.8 [not both, but either] Unfortunatley not enough for the 1.4
 
Its all about what focal length you want to shoot, and subject you are shooting.

Looking at all the images of dogs on your link, I am thinking fast focusing would be an advantage. It does not appear that getting close is a problem either.

The 85mm f1.8 is a really sharp lens, the f1.8 coupled with its longer focal length would lend itself to some nice portrait / subject isolation shots.

The 60mm is too close to your 50mm, and at f2.8 not different enough to what you already have at that focal length.

I have the 85mm f1.8 and can thoroughly recommend it.
 
Also Nikon have recently anounced a 85mm micro lens if you want both that focal length and macro ability. However no one knows how good it is yet (as it hasn't been released) and it is slower than either of the other lenses (f3.5)
 
Mhayes said:
Also Nikon have recently anounced a 85mm micro lens if you want both that focal length and macro ability. However no one knows how good it is yet (as it hasn't been released) and it is slower than either of the other lenses (f3.5)
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According to Thom Hogan its MTF figures are superb, however at f3.5 the OP is not going to achieve any advantage over the existing lenses.
 
I have the 60mm and it is very sharp and the af is quick. Good for macro and portraits but it is very close to the nifty in many respects so maybe the 85mm would be better.

Andy
 
Martyn... said:
According to Thom Hogan its MTF figures are superb, however at f3.5 the OP is not going to achieve any advantage over the existing lenses.
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According to Nikon its MTF figures are superb...however the MTF is misleading as it's wide-open focused to infinity, so not ideal for comparing lenses of different apertures. Proper macro lenses tend to be silly-sharp, so the 85/3.5 is basically par for the course.
 
I took my nifty up to the rescue yesterday [I mainly do outdoor portraits - so light isn't always an issue] and OK, it was harsh light, but it was nice being able to use ISO100 and still get some damn high shutter speeds!

Think he 85mm does make most sense really - just like the idea of a macro lens - but you're right, it is too near to a nifty for it to make sense really.

That 85mm Macro does sound tempting, however the slower speed is a litltle off-putting, and somewhat surprising to me if I'm honest. So i probably won't be going for that unfortunatley.

It is looking like 85mm is my best bet, isn't it - which isn't a bad thing, I needed some sensible/knowledgable ears to ask - and if I could go for both, I would!
 
Shorty said:
That 85mm Macro does sound tempting, however the slower speed is a litltle off-putting, and somewhat surprising to me if I'm honest. So i probably won't be going for that unfortunatley.
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I will explain, the closer you get to the subject the shallower your depth of focus gets, so most macro stuff is shot in the realms of f16, so f3.5 is not unusual as a maximum aperture for a macro lens.

If you want a macro you want 105mm - 150mm range really, to give you greater camera to subject working distance.
 
Martyn - thing is I don't excluivley want a Macro, I just thought it'd be nice for a lens to have the capablilites for Macro, should I want to do so. If that makes sense? I like the idea of a Macro lens, but a prime in the higher lengths of lenses would only get used for Macro work - which wouldn't be used much at all.

I do know/understand why the fnumber wasn't a problem for Macro work, but when I wouldn't be using the [hypothetically] 85mm Macro for...Macro, it'd be used for other stuff where a slightly faster lens would be needed that's all.
 
If you want a macro lens around 60mm, then I would get a 55mm Nikon AI-S instead.

Lovely lenses and still reference standard for micro Nikkors.

The 60mm f/2.8 AF-S is a very nice lens, but the working distance is very poor. Super optics though (but not as good as the AI-S at infinity)

The 85mm DX I suspect is a joke - its a "what on earth are Nikon thinking?" lens. You'd be mental to buy a DX macro lens, utterly pointless concept.
 
i have just got the 85mm 1.4 and its a great piece of kit but you do have to pay for it!
 
DX macro lens pointless...I have no idea what the means Andy.

Any more info for the lame brains
 
Bruce120 said:
DX macro lens pointless...I have no idea what the means Andy.

Any more info for the lame brains
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Nikon makes an excellent full frame 60mm and an excellent 105mm full frame lens.

And you also have full frame lenses from Tamron, Tokina and Sigma between 90mm and 105mm.

So what on earth made Nikon make a slow f/3.5 DX lens, when everyone else is making f/2.8 full frame macro lens?

IMHO there is a little Japan man laughing his tits off over this one - its got to be a joke.
 
Tamron 90mm macro would be another option.
 
puddleduck said:
Nikon makes an excellent full frame 60mm and an excellent 105mm full frame lens.

And you also have full frame lenses from Tamron, Tokina and Sigma between 90mm and 105mm.

So what on earth made Nikon make a slow f/3.5 DX lens, when everyone else is making f/2.8 full frame macro lens?

IMHO there is a little Japan man laughing his tits off over this one - its got to be a joke.
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I did not think the answer was going to be that simple, Ta:)
 
puddleduck said:
If you want a macro lens around 60mm, then I would get a 55mm Nikon AI-S instead.

Lovely lenses and still reference standard for micro Nikkors.

The 60mm f/2.8 AF-S is a very nice lens, but the working distance is very poor. Super optics though (but not as good as the AI-S at infinity)

The 85mm DX I suspect is a joke - its a "what on earth are Nikon thinking?" lens. You'd be mental to buy a DX macro lens, utterly pointless concept.
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That's OK then :D

photon said:
Tamron 90mm macro would be another option.
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Oh dear - you had to throw something else into the pot. Will take a look at lens and some sample pics.

Any opinions on the better lens - Nikkor 85mm or Tamron 90mm - then, whilst I go look at the Tamron?


From quick looks online, the Tamron doesn't seem anywhere near as sharp?
 
Shorty said:
That's OK then :D



Oh dear - you had to throw something else into the pot. Will take a look at lens and some sample pics.

Any opinions on the better lens - Nikkor 85mm or Tamron 90mm - then, whilst I go look at the Tamron?


From quick looks online, the Tamron doesn't seem anywhere near as sharp?
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Get the Nikon 85mm f1.8, it is faster (aperture wise) and will yield some great shallow depth of field shots, plus it is as sharp as a sharp thing.

The Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di is sharp but slower (aperture wise) and slower to auto focus, not usually a problem with macro stuff, but could get frustrating with a moving target.
 
Thanks for that Martyn :D once I've got things sorta I'll hopefully order this lens in a couple of weeks :)

And thanks everyone else, your input has been really helpful!
 
do not discount the nikkor 105 2.8 vr a lovely lens that is excellent at macro goes 1:1 but is also a great every day prime.
 
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