Best lens for macro photography ?

[Xilikon]

I recently purchased a Nikon D60 DSLR and so far, I love it but I find the AF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 a bit limiting for macro photography (manual focus cannot be adjusted all the way to get the right focus on certain focal distance). I'm wondering if the 50mm F1.8 lens will be better for that or is there a special macro lens ?

Autofocus control is not really needed as I prefer to control the focus manually.

[smee]

Hey Xilikon,

Well first off, what would be your budget for a macro lens?
Lenses are the most expensive part of photography.. xD

Also, a Light Box help a little bit with Macro, I believe ZeniTH (http://www.realredraider.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=48) will be doing a DIY on building a light box. :up:

Also, the best places to buy camera's/lenses are:

B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/)
Adorama (http://www.adorama.com/)
Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/)

Let me know your budget, and I'll help you out. :)
~Parker

[Xilikon]

Well, I'm thinking about 200$ for the lens. I know lenses is a big part of the budget :p

I will be doing a light box for sure as well later.

Here's what I think is my best picture :

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/Xilikon/DSC_00211-1.jpg

[ZeniTH]

I recently purchased a Nikon D60 DSLR and so far, I love it but I find the AF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 a bit limiting for macro photography (manual focus cannot be adjusted all the way to get the right focus on certain focal distance). I'm wondering if the 50mm F1.8 lens will be better for that or is there a special macro lens ?

Autofocus control is not really needed as I prefer to control the focus manually.


The Nikon 50mm f/1.8D is a good lens... and its cheap too $109 usd... and its very good for night shots and portraits...
But to get tack sharp macros buy a tripod and DIY a light box.


I will be doing a DIY on the light box tomorrow!!

[smee]

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8D is a good lens... and its cheap too $109 usd... and its very good for night shots and portraits...
But to get tack sharp macros buy a tripod and DIY a light box.


I will be doing a DIY on the light box tomorrow!!

+1, I think since you've got a pretty small budget (for a lens at least. xD), the 50mm f/1.8D would be the best.
If you can stretch just a bit more, the 50mm f/1.4D is even better (with the bigger aperture,1.4, meaning you can catch more light at a quicker shutter speed).

Edit: With a little more money (lol..) you can grab the 60mm f/2.8D, it'll allow you to get even closer, giving you more detail, and match that with a good tripod and light box... you've got a wicked macro setup. :up:

[Xilikon]

+1, I think since you've got a pretty small budget (for a lens at least. xD), the 50mm f/1.8D (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-Nikkor-Digital-Cameras/dp/B00005LEN4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1230082573&sr=8-4) would be the best.
If you can stretch just a bit more, the 50mm f/1.4D (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-Nikkor-Digital-Cameras/dp/B00005LENO/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1230082573&sr=8-6) is even better (with the bigger aperture,1.4, meaning you can catch more light at a quicker shutter speed).

Edit: With a little more money (lol..) you can grab the 60mm f/2.8D, it'll allow you to get even closer, giving you more detail, and match that with a good tripod and light box... you've got a wicked macro setup. :up:

After making that quote, I checked some of the macro lens and it's indeed in the 300-400$ range... Guess I need to work harder :crack:

I'm still getting the 50mm F/1.8 (or F/1.4 if I get one at a good price) then get a good macro lens.

[smee]

After making that quote, I checked some of the macro lens and it's indeed in the 300-400$ range... Guess I need to work harder :crack:

I'm still getting the 50mm F/1.8 (or F/1.4 if I get one at a good price) then get a good macro lens.

Sounds good, 50mm F1.8 is a GREAT starter macro, I'm thinkin' of picking up a Canon 50mm 1.8 myself soon, then buildin' a Light Box... once cough cough... ZeniTH finish's that DIY cough cough.... hehe... ;)

[Snyxxx]

Smee,

I use a Canon 60mm Macro lens for a 30D. Though many say the 100mm Macro is the best, but would be long for a crop camera. The first picture in the PET THREAD I took was with the 60mm. The second was with the 70-200 F4L IS which I love.

[ZeniTH]

Smee,

I use a Canon 60mm Macro lens for a 30D. Though many say the 100mm Macro is the best, but would be long for a crop camera. The first picture in the PET THREAD I took was with the 60mm. The second was with the 70-200 F4L IS which I love.


@@##$%%$^&^ you!! i want that 70-200 f4L.... once you go "L" you never go back!!!

[smee]

Smee,

I use a Canon 60mm Macro lens for a 30D. Though many say the 100mm Macro is the best, but would be long for a crop camera. The first picture in the PET THREAD I took was with the 60mm. The second was with the 70-200 F4L IS which I love.

WHOA, very nice pic of the cat! :up:
That's gonna be one of my next lenses for sure!!

@@##$%%$^&^ you!! i want that 70-200 f4L.... once you go "L" you never go back!!!

I haz 70-200mm F/2.8L.... :p

:hide:

[ZeniTH]

WHOA, very nice pic of the cat! :up:
That's gonna be one of my next lenses for sure!!



I haz 70-200mm F/2.8L.... :p

:hide:


Comee on !!!!

bye bye bonusss...

[smee]

Comee on !!!!

bye bye bonusss...

My dad owns it. :p

But I'm the one who use's it the most. xD

[Snyxxx]

Yes, the 70-200 2.8 is wonderful. However, that thing is a beast to carry around.

I am actually quite happy at F4. I also have the 17-55 2.8, but I guess I do not work the depth of field right and a lot of pictures are out of focus. DOF is so thin. Oh well, always learning.

[Snyxxx]

WHOA, very nice pic of the cat! :up:

:hide:

Thanks.

[ZeniTH]

Yes, the 70-200 2.8 is wonderful. However, that thing is a beast to carry around.

I am actually quite happy at F4. I also have the 17-55 2.8, but I guess I do not work the depth of field right and a lot of pictures are out of focus. DOF is so thin. Oh well, always learning.

same thing here!!!! I'm always open mind to any advice....

[Lu(ky]

I used the following Nikon lenses on a Nikon D200 & D80 and my favorite lens is the Nikon 18-200mm VR. And not to mention the Nikon 17-55mm 2.8, Nikon Normal Macro 60mm f/2.8D is a great pick as well. I took these shots in my back yard of a bee landing and my cat.

Nikon D200 w/ Nikon 18-200MM VR lens
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/russb3n/ONLINE%20STUFF%20do%20not%20delete/BukinD200Bikon18-200VRlens.jpg
Nikon D200 w/ Nikon 18-200MM VR lens
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/russb3n/ONLINE%20STUFF%20do%20not%20delete/Meowhead.jpg

[smee]

Nice Luc(y! your cat likes to swim?

[Cutless009]

Take ur 18-55mm lense and duck tape it backwards to the camera body. No Im not kidding, I've seen people get shots of spiders eyes in high res that way.

[smee]

Take ur 18-55mm lense and duck tape it backwards to the camera body. No Im not kidding, I've seen people get shots of spiders eyes in high res that way.

I believe it was two 18-55mm lenses stuck together, the first one was put on normally, the second was put on backwards to the other lens with duck tape.
Correct me if I'm wrong. xD

But it will work, but it's not..... the best... thing.... to do.... :rolleyes:

[Xilikon]

I believe it was two 18-55mm lenses stuck together, the first one was put on normally, the second was put on backwards to the other lens with duck tape.
Correct me if I'm wrong. xD

But it will work, but it's not..... the best... thing.... to do.... :rolleyes:

Agreed, It would suck if the 2nd lens fall off on the ground :eek:

Best to get the proper lens even if it cost a arm and left nut.

[smee]

Agreed, It would suck if the 2nd lens fall off on the ground :eek:

Best to get the proper lens even if it cost a arm and left nut.

Yes it would.... but some guy did it for a test, and it sure worked... I was surprised.
But of course it wasn't the BEST quality, do to the fact that the image (light) had to go through about 8 glass' inside the lenses... The less glass' the light has to travel through to the body of the camera, the more quality you will get, but the bigger the size of the lens (mm, like 300mm Telephoto), the more glass' you will need.
So for any Telephoto lenses, stick with Canon lenses only, because they are built with the purest, clearest, best kind of glass'. :up:
For other lenses, it depends, good company's like Tamron and Tokina are ok in some instances; such as Wide angle lenses, as there a little cheaper than Canon wide angles, yet there pretty good quality. :up:

Sigma also makes some ok lenses, but I try to steer away from them do to reviews I've read about the lens coming loose on the body, and the cheap feeling they have to them sometime.
BUT, they still do make some good lenses. :)

Haha, wow... mini rant. :D

[Super-Genius]

This guy gives good advice on how to do it cheap with reverse rings.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/663112
I havn't done any yet but will soon.

Mark

[Xilikon]

Ah, nice tip with reverse rings. I'm more comfortable with that method and with a nice 50mm F/1.4 or F/1.8, I can do macro photography without buying another lens.

Here's lots of macro reverse ring : http://shop.ebay.ca/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=macro+reverse+adapter&_sacat=See-All-Categories

[RedRaider]

Well I'll soon be deciding between the following two macro lens...

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G Micro ED-IF AF-S VR

Nikon 60mm f/2.8G Micro ED AF-S

Does anyone know anything about this older Nikon macro???

Nikon 60mm f/2.8D Macro AF

[RedRaider]

Well I'll soon be deciding between the following two macro lens...

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G Micro ED-IF AF-S VR

Nikon 60mm f/2.8G Micro ED AF-S

Does anyone know anything about this older Nikon macro???

Nikon 60mm f/2.8D Macro AF

Cat got people's tongue around here ??

I WANT DISCUSSION...:bat: :brokeknee:

[Snyxxx]

Well I'll soon be deciding between the following two macro lens...

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G Micro ED-IF AF-S VR

Nikon 60mm f/2.8G Micro ED AF-S

Does anyone know anything about this older Nikon macro???

Nikon 60mm f/2.8D Macro AF

I would be leary of any old lenses. They usually do not have the ultrasonic motors, etc. I think a 60mm on a crop is good.

[RedRaider]

On a crop??? :shrug: WTF does that mean???

[Snyxxx]

On a crop??? :shrug: WTF does that mean???

Crop means "not full frame". The sensor area for these cameras is a lot smaller than the traditioanl 35mm film equivalent. The full frame cameras (Nikon 700, Canon 5D2 and more expensive) are full frame and are equivalent to a film camera. Your D90 and all other "prosumer" cameras are crop.

Nikon has 1.5 crop factor (multiplier) and Canon has 1.6. So, a 60mm lens would be equivalent to a 90mm lens on an old film camera or high end DSLR camera.

Wide angle people like the full frame (no multiplier on lenses) and bird photographers love crop cameras because a 400mm lens turns into a 600mm lens at 1/3 the cost of the big zooms.

This is why you should have 17mm/18mm minimum focal length on your walk around lens. it would be equivalent to a 24mm on film.

I have a 17-55 which is equivalent to 27-88 and similar to 24-70, a film standard walkaround.

[RedRaider]

Thanks Snyxxx...;)

[Silverion77]

Exactly what Synxx said

The 105mm VR is an amazing lense from what i hear, but like any macro lens...insanely expensive. The newer 60mm is also great, but no VR (and half the cost)

To tell u the truth, before u jump the gun. The 18-55 u are getting (like mine) has a decent reproduction ratio of 1/3 (so max is 1/3 life size vs. life size on macros). Pretty good for a non-macro lens (and i think the best on nikon's list). U can try using that and then cropping. I kno it means u wont have 10mp shots, but those are huge. I do it on my D50 and the pics come out great.

[Snyxxx]

Exactly what Synxx said

The 105mm VR is an amazing lense from what i hear, but like any macro lens...insanely expensive. The newer 60mm is also great, but no VR (and half the cost)

To tell u the truth, before u jump the gun. The 18-55 u are getting (like mine) has a decent reproduction ratio of 1/3 (so max is 1/3 life size vs. life size on macros). Pretty good for a non-macro lens (and i think the best on nikon's list). U can try using that and then cropping. I kno it means u wont have 10mp shots, but those are huge. I do it on my D50 and the pics come out great.

Another option if available to Nikon are lens extension tubes. I know canon people that use a 70-200 with an extension tube for macro. I think there are some down sides such as losing auto focuse, so check it out first.

[Silverion77]

I think B&H has some Nikon tubes (or other compatible ones)

Theres also those "Close-up" filters that magnify the image or make focusing distance closer...(idk exactly what).
Im not sure how the quality is as a macro, but something else to google

Edit: Some news off Dpreview.com on Nikon's announcement of the 35mm 1.8. According to them, they will be releasing a number of new lenses. Might be good to sit and wait....(i think i smell a new lens soon)