Tell me about Macro lenses

markyboy.1967

markyboy.1967

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Im looking to start getting detail shots of my watches and im thinking of buying a macro lens to allow this, the problem is i know nothing about them.

I want extreme closeups of the workings/dials etc etc that i enjoy with my watches.

I see longer focal length eg.150mm but also see much shorter which allows you closer so what are the issues around longer and shorter lengths and which lens to suit my Nikon cameras. Must be quality and sharp with good detail in the corners etc etc. Any info would help. ( no specific budget for this so all price ranges looked at).Cheers.
 
You'll want the longest length you can get if you're going to take photos of things other than your watches like bugs etc (I'd recommend a min of 100mm). A short focal length means you have to get within a centimeter etc and bug's won't like that. Also shorter lenses also require more light because you tend to shield the subject with the lens. You also would struggle to put a lens hood on a shorter one. A longer focal length will get you just as close but you'll physically be further away.

You'll want something that an for 1:1 magnification which is true macro.

You could test the waters with a Raynox DCR250 as they're inexpensive in comparison to a macro lens.

Also you don't need a macro lens for macro photography. You can get a reversing ring that you put on a filter thread then you screw a manual aperture lens onto the front of it. Or you can get mounts that do the same thing but mount a lens backwards onto the body direct instead of lens to lens. Food for thought.
 
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If you're using a true macro lens which will give you 1:1 or so the focal length doesn't really affect the size of the subject in the frame so 50 or 150mm will probably do the job similarly well. Longer macro lenses give you more working distance and this could be important when photographic stuff like creepy crawlies and anything else that may get skittish and run, hop or fly away if frightened by a big lens heading its way. Longer lenses also give you a different perspective. However, for watches and the like working distance and perspective may or may not matter so a 50/60mm macro lens might be worth looking at as they may be smaller, lighter and cheaper than the longer alternatives.

Reversing lenses, extension tubes and screw on magnification filters are all alternatives as is using a non macro lens and cropping the picture post capture to get the framing you want. This could be an option and if you just want it a picture to view on screen or a printed picture smaller than a barn door a close focusing non macro lens could be an option and still give you a big enough picture for the vast majority of uses.

PS.
As macro/close up stuff is normally done using manual focus maybe a macro lens from the film era is an option? I think my Sigma 50mm f2.8 cost £60 and it's 1:1.

Lighting could be an issue. Have you thought about that or will you be taking pictures in good natural light?
 
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You'll also want to learn how to focus stack images because the FOV is shallow so to get something like a bug etc sharp from front to back.
 
I will be using both 1 or 2 studio lights to light the watches depending on what i want. I will mainly be using my D850 so can crop if required but quality is a main concern. Im likely to be focus stacking to allow a large depth of field on many occasions and the camera has a function for doing this automatically. My worry about adaptors etc is losing a bit of quality.

So what lens for superb quality and sharpness.
 
Don't Nikon do a nice 60mm f1:1 macro?

Used examples seem to be readily available for under £100.
 
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Theres a few "new" macro lens about these days, one I saw goes down the 2x1, and was reasonably priced if I remember rightly. Never tried these though. Check out the Laowa 100mm and the 7artisians. Theres the much cheaper option of a cheap old 28mm and a reversing ring.
 
The lens I use is The sigma 150 os version.
I hardly ever use the lens but when I do I’m always impressed with it and wonder why I don’t use it more.
 
I had the sigma 105, with my D810 (but since moved to fuji). Stacking in PS is so easy, if you have it, or there are some decent software stacking packages out there too. Also a tabletop tripod will help ;)
 
I use a tokina 100mm macro with my D810 and find it performs brilliantly. I also have a nikon 55mm AF-micro nikkor too and that is probably the sharpest lens I own. It's the precursor to the 60mm f2.8 AF-D. The cheapest way to get close ups of things like watches would be extension tubes combined with a decent 50mm+ prime lens. You suffer light fall off and cannot focus to infinity with it fitted, but the quality is generally excellent, generally a lot better than most screw on macro attachments and less expensive too.
 
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Ganton Gunner said:
The lens I use is The sigma 150 os version.
I hardly ever use the lens but when I do I’m always impressed with it and wonder why I don’t use it more.
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Sigma has discontinued their 150mm and 180mm macro lenses. Second-hand (and left-over stock) are likely available.

If you plan to use the Nikon D850 internal focus stacking, you will need an auto-focus lens.

The Sigma 105mm macro should be a good lens for your needs
 
ruckers said:
Sigma has discontinued their 150mm and 180mm macro lenses. Second-hand (and left-over stock) are likely available.

If you plan to use the Nikon D850 internal focus stacking, you will need an auto-focus lens.

The Sigma 105mm macro should be a good lens for your needs
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What? Why??? I loved my Sigma 150mm f2.8.

Hopefully they've got a new version in the pipeline?
 
woof woof said:
What? Why??? I loved my Sigma 150mm f2.8.

Hopefully they've got a new version in the pipeline?
Click to expand...

I wrote to Sigma on Sept 1 because I couldn't find the 150mm on my main shopping site (B&H). They confirmed that both the 150mm and 180mm have been discontinued and that they have no information about a replacement in the works :(. Their explanation was:

I can report to you that these lenses were extremely slow sellers and difficult to manufacture
 
The Nikon 60mm macro is a superb A/F lens that will be ideal for your needs
 
toohuge said:
Any specific reason you’re looking for the af-s? I think the af-d maybe superior and cheaper
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The afs for servicing and reliability. At some point Nikon will stop servicing af-d lenses and i tend to keep my lenses for very very long times and i dont want to be stuck with a lebs which cant be serviced properly.
 
Having used both the 60mm (both af-d and af-s), the 105mm (both af-d and af-s) and the 70-180 macro I would pick the 85mm Macro PC lens, I have only used the older version, but is the sharpest Nikon macro I have used and the tilt allows you massive control on the depth of field that can be used really creatively. It is 1:2 macro, but easily goes to 1:1 with a short tube, it is manual focus, but this is not a limitation on a macro lens.
 
Sigma 105 macro is a nice lens, had one for 2 years. Currently have the 150 os version for insects and it's very sharp, recently got the sigma 70mm macro and it's even sharper, very pleased with it.
 
I would definitely keep in the 100mm or above range for a macro lens without question . If this still leaves magnification issues then add extension tubes , which have no glass and so wont affect image quality . This set up will always give you options . One short Macro lens of 50 or 60 mm , is very limiting in my opinion .
 
markyboy.1967 said:
The afs for servicing and reliability. At some point Nikon will stop servicing af-d lenses and i tend to keep my lenses for very very long times and i dont want to be stuck with a lebs which cant be serviced properly.
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AF-D lenses have proven to be extremely reliable. My nikon 55mm AF macro predates the 60mm version and is still working perfectly after 33 years. I have serious doubts about AF-S motors lasting anywhere close to that. Equally, my 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D is also over 20 years old and working well. There is little that can go wrong in them as they have no built in AF motor.
 
ruckers said:
I wrote to Sigma on Sept 1 because I couldn't find the 150mm on my main shopping site (B&H). They confirmed that both the 150mm and 180mm have been discontinued and that they have no information about a replacement in the works :(. Their explanation was:

I can report to you that these lenses were extremely slow sellers and difficult to manufacture
Click to expand...
Oh that’s really bad news
 
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