I need a macro lens... - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

10/12/2008 06:18:05 PM · #1

...if I'm ever to oust Queen of the Macros,

IreneM! Hey I can dream, can't I? :-)

Alas I *only* have a D40, and though I love my 18-200mm lens I tend to end up with unwanted bokeh whenever I try to get macros.

So, if I can somehow arrange for another miracle to occur...where all respondents magically agree on the same lens...that would really rock.

Message edited by author 2008-10-12 18:31:53.

bassbone

Nikon Z8

10/12/2008 06:22:31 PM · #2

Originally posted by snaffles:

...if I'm ever to oust Queen of the Macros, [user]IreneM![/user] Hey I can dream, can't I? :-)

Alas I *only* have a D40, and though I love my 18-200mm lens I tend to end up with unwanted bokeh whenever I try to get macros.

So, if I can somehow arrange for another miracle to occur...where all respondents magically agree on the same lens...that would really rock.

60mm 2.8 micro by Nikon....Awesome stuff

ralph

Nikon Z9

10/12/2008 06:30:34 PM · #3

real choice is between the 60mm 2.8 AF-s or 105 VR afs
that is if you have to have AF
otherwise keep your eye on //ottawa.kijiji.ca (search for nikon ;)

ErikV

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

10/12/2008 06:40:20 PM · #4

This is the other one

ralph mentioned.
Micro 105 mm 2.8 VR
With this you get a longer focal length (useful for butterflies, bees and the like) and vibration reduction (helpful if you plan to use it without a tripod). But the price is almost double.

Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di for Nikon

10/12/2008 06:46:51 PM · #5

The price would be double for a shaky-handed amateur who uses a tripod oh every 10 challenges or so, dammit! :-) My comp's acting weird right now, not letting me go to pricegrabber.com so I may take ralph's advice and try kijiji. Thanks all!

JMart

Nikon D80

10/12/2008 07:06:26 PM · #6

I was so inspired by

IreneM's shots that I got the Tamron SP AF 90mm 2.8 that she used for many of her ribbon shots (and she should have gotten a commission). That has been my favorite lens ever since, but it is my only experience with macro lenses, so take my suggestion with a grain of salt.

ralph

Nikon Z9

10/12/2008 07:21:12 PM · #7

Originally posted by snaffles:

sorry / not to get yer hopes up - there is nothing currently listed on kijiji
but just this past week there was a 60mm for 300$ .. its a good thing to keep an eye on

carefull though !! only deal with people in person & anything low ball is a scam
(the 600$ d300 , the 1200$ d3, the 1200$ 600mm f4 ,.... scam scam scam .. )
but! i've picked up some real nice glass off there .. 85f1.4 and 14f2.8 so occasional deals to be had...

10/12/2008 07:24:36 PM · #8

Thanks ralph, was just looking there and posted an ad for the glass I want, may check out the Tamron lens Jmart mentioned too. And no fear, I have the bs detector turned up to max whenever I go to buy stuff online!

May try UsedOttawa too, you ever had any luck there?

ralph

Nikon Z9

10/12/2008 07:26:41 PM · #9

Originally posted by snaffles:

not a site i usually look at , so no ....

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

10/12/2008 07:41:39 PM · #10

Originally posted by ralph:

Originally posted by snaffles:
Thanks ralph, was just looking there and posted an ad for the glass I want, may check out the Tamron lens Jmart mentioned too. And no fear, I have the bs detector turned up to max whenever I go to buy stuff online!

May try UsedOttawa too, you ever had any luck there?

not a site i usually look at , so no ....

Was just there, saw some repetition of ads from kijiji...like the guy downgrading from his D200 to a D90! Don't want to start a whole new thread, but what's your take on that situation? I've heard that the D90 is just as capable as the D300 but at a 1/4 the price. I'm not about to buy one, but once I start to outshoot the D40(BWWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAAAA)I will look at the D90.

bassbone

Nikon Z8

10/12/2008 07:54:45 PM · #11

Originally posted by snaffles:

Many things are similar between the D90 and D300, but the 6.5 fps, the 51 focus points, the ability to meter AI-S lenses and several other features make the D300 a slam dunk for me

10/13/2008 09:53:44 AM · #12

Originally posted by bassbone:

Originally posted by snaffles:
Was just there, saw some repetition of ads from kijiji...like the guy downgrading from his D200 to a D90! Don't want to start a whole new thread, but what's your take on that situation? I've heard that the D90 is just as capable as the D300 but at a 1/4 the price. I'm not about to buy one, but once I start to outshoot the D40(BWWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAAAA)I will look at the D90.

Many things are similar between the D90 and D300, but the 6.5 fps, the 51 focus points, the ability to meter AI-S lenses and several other features make the D300 a slam dunk for me

*shrugs* not dissing them, but I've simply heard of on- and offsite members saying that they're going back from the D300 to D90. Is all.

10/13/2008 09:59:34 AM · #13

Definitely take a look at the Tamron. Three things you will notice, 1) the lens is recessed; 2) the lens hood is included and 3) the push pull mechanism for changing between AF and MF. The latter is what I think is one of the best features on this lens. You don't have to take your eye away from the viewfinder to change from AF to MF and vice versa.

10/13/2008 10:03:31 AM · #14

Thanks all for the suggestions! Now, the big question is, what is a reasonable price range for these lenses?

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

10/13/2008 10:34:55 AM · #15

The tamron runs between 400 and 500 CDN new.

IreneM

Nikon D700

10/13/2008 11:26:32 AM · #16

Hey Linda, I did some (most) of my best stuff with my D70 or D50, so don't worry about "only" having the D40.
I can definitely recommend the Nikkor Micro 60 mm or the Tamron 90 mm Macro. They are both great lenses!

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

10/13/2008 11:39:12 AM · #17

Originally posted by IreneM:

Thanks Irene, getting your endorsement on a lens was something I was hoping to see! And no fear, I love the D40, it'll be a long time before I ever outshoot it...and so far, in terms of scores, I have yet to outshoot the pix I took with my P&S!

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

10/13/2008 12:26:05 PM · #18

Not sure if anyone mentioned it before but the new Nikon 60mm micro is now AF-S which makes it a great combo with the D-40.

Nikon 60mm AF-S

Good luck in your search.

Message edited by author 2008-10-13 12:27:43.

shalrath

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

10/13/2008 12:40:56 PM · #19

The 60mm AF-S was worth mentioning as the original 60mm has no focus motor, which means no AF with the D40. This isn't su much a problem for macro, but it's a great all-round lens and I think investing in the new model for the D40 would be worthwhile.

Nikon AF Nikkor 14mm f2.8D ED

10/13/2008 01:03:00 PM · #20

Just remember that with the shorter macro lenses working distance may become an issue, depending on what you are shooting.

Frozenforever

Nikon D2H

10/13/2008 01:05:07 PM · #21

I use sigmas 18-50 2.8 macro

citymars

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/13/2008 01:09:20 PM · #22

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Just remember that with the shorter macro lenses working distance may become an issue, depending on what you are shooting.

Not sure I understand -- could you elaborate? :-)

10/13/2008 01:09:54 PM · #23

Originally posted by Frozenforever:

I use sigmas 18-50 2.8 macro

That's not a true macro lens though probably allows you to get quite close to your subjects to achieve near 1:1 ratios.