What Nikon lens do I need for close up phootgraphy?

XEyedBear

XEyedBear

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Tony
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I have found that two photographic subjects give me more pleasure than others - architecture and flowers. My current set up (Nikon D80 and 18-200 VR lens) seems to be adequate (and nearly affordable!) for architecture work, but I would like a lens that would allow me to get very much closer to the flowers.

What are the recommended options from the Nikkor range? Where is the most likely place to find one, bearing in mind that I would have to buy a used one. I don't really mind how old it is, as long as it will operate on my D80 body (not necessarily with auto-focus either).
 
I have been messing with macro photography as my wife is a goldsmith. The only lens I can offer an opinion on is the "Nikon 105mm AF-S VR Micro" as this is the lens that I bought. It gives fantastic close up results and can also be used as a 105mm prime lens to good effect. I cannot tell you how it compares as I have not used the others!

There are a number of alternatives to buying lenses if you are a bit skint.

I bought some macro tubes but these were not very successful (basically they sit between your current lens and the camera so that a smaller part of the picture produced hits the CCD effectively magnifying the subject BUT in the process much less light is emitted meaning that you have to use much longer exposures and you loose auto metering and auto focus).

Macro filters (not actually filters but a dioptra lens that you screw onto your existing lens). My wife bought one of these and I have used it attached to my 105 macro and nifty 50. These do not affect AF or metering and I have been really pleased with the effect. My wife used one to take several flower pictures and they are really good.

All in all I think it is worth buying a dioptra "filter" as they do give you a "macro" facility and they are cheap. They are not as good as a dedicated macro lens but they cost less than £20.
 
Sigma 105mm macro for me or 50mm f1.8 and a set of Kenko tubes , which will retain focusing / metering with the D80 and get you 1:1 macro.
 
I'd be looking at the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di or Sigma 150mm f/2.8 HSM before I considered either of the Nikkor lens you mentioned personally.
 
I’ve never heard of a bad macro lens so any macro (Micro-Nikkor in Nikon speak) will give good sharp results.
Macro lenses generally come in three sizes:-

50-60mm
These offer the greatest depth of field but the shortest working distance from the subject.
Great for stamps, coins, flowers and anything that won’t run away.

90-100mm
Offer a greater working distance than a 50mm but less depth of field.
Recommended for insects and other creepy crawlies that would be scared off if you were too close. Although limited depth of field would be an issue for flowers a little more space to work in might be helpful so you don’t cast shadows on the flowers

180-200mm
The largest working distance with the least depth of field.
Good for small animals that bite especially if they are venomous!
The limited depth of field pretty much precludes flowers however.

Sigma, Tamron and Tokina all make very good macro lenses, that you will be delighted with, although the Micro-Nikkors are traditionally the bench mark by which others are measured.

If I remember correctly at 1:1 reproduction (1cm on a rule will appear as 1cm on the film or chip) the working distance is twice the focal length i.e. 1 50mm lens will be 100mm away from the point of focus.

Don’t forget a tripod, a Benbo or Gitzo Explorer would be great (personally I would avoid the Benbo trekker however, but the others in the range would be excellent). Many people here also find the Manfrotto 190/055 pro tripods handy as the centre column can be placed parallel to the ground, this is not a flexible as the first two but a good all rounder.
You may well want a micro focus rail as well as for the most part you will choose the magnification you want and then manoeuvre the camera and lens to bring the subject sharp at the preset magnification.
 
puddleduck said:
I'd be looking at the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di or Sigma 150mm f/2.8 HSM before I considered either of the Nikkor lens you mentioned personally.
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The 150 Sigma is a very heavy lens for it's size, I tried one and felt it unbalanced the D300. Probably not an issue when tripod mounted, but a pain when handholding
 
Flash In The Pan said:
The 150 Sigma is a very heavy lens for it's size, I tried one and felt it unbalanced the D300. Probably not an issue when tripod mounted, but a pain when handholding
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If you are going to handhold at macro distances, then might as well just buy close-up filters as to me that would indicate that quality wasn't really important.

You might get a lucky sharp shot handheld, but macro really needs to be tripodded not handheld.
 
puddleduck said:
If you are going to handhold at macro distances, then might as well just buy close-up filters as to me that would indicate that quality wasn't really important.

You might get a lucky sharp shot handheld, but macro really needs to be tripodded not handheld.
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Thats crap its virtually impossible to use a tripod for bug shots and you can take sharp shots hand held.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Thats crap its virtually impossible to use a tripod for bug shots and you can take sharp shots hand held.
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Show me some 100% crops please if you will?

Then I'll show you some 100% tripoded ones? Deal? :)
 
puddleduck said:
If you are going to handhold at macro distances, then might as well just buy close-up filters as to me that would indicate that quality wasn't really important.

You might get a lucky sharp shot handheld, but macro really needs to be tripodded not handheld.
Click to expand...

I didn't make my self clear, I meant for non-macro use, such as portraiture. As I said, when mounted on a tripod it wouldn't be an issue..
 
Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t we trying to help Xeyedbear who wants to photograph flowers, not insects?
For my two pence worth you could use a ring flash and shoot hand held all day if you wished. Good for insects but not normally very flattering for flowers.
 
OOH! thats a big step, first a true macro lens then a front flash for dark subjects. I was so shocked at the price of a comercial front flash I made my own.
 
PD Not sure if i got this right :shrug: - just opened the image zoomed to 100% and cropped - and i know you will get a better shot with a tripod but you can get accepable results hand held

crop.jpg


full image

dragon.jpg
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Thats crap its virtually impossible to use a tripod for bug shots and you can take sharp shots hand held.
Click to expand...

Come on, no need to be reticent; tell us what you REALLY think....
 
ilikebowens said:
Sigma, Tamron and Tokina all make very good macro lenses, that you will be delighted with, although the Micro-Nikkors are traditionally the bench mark by which others are measured.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all this advice. I think my original post must have been read by a collection of lucky fellows who have been on the right end of the Hedge Fund business. All the lenses that are mentioned are typically in the range of 250 to 350 pounds. I guess if I stood on a tall pile of currently worthless banking share certificates I might be able to see that far into the financial distance - but that's not my option today.

I have to settle for second-user. Ebay has nothing of relevance at the time of writing. Who are the recommended, truly-knowledgeable, used photographic equipment dealers in UK these days?
 
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