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06/13/2010 07:46:55 AM · #1 |
Hey.
I've got a Nikon D60 and recently I borrowed my friend's macro lens and fell in love with it.
I've been doing some looking around and the Nikon Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom Lens seems to be getting some great reviews
//www.dpchallenge.com/lens.php?LENS_ID=1632
//dpchallenge.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=35120311&u=117474&z=529d35e96cd2dd4b6016344a792fa702
So I suppose what I'm wondering is how do people who have this lens like it?
And does anyone have some sample photos (preferably macro) they've taken with it that they could link here? (the sample photos from the first link are great, but there aren't too many macro shots in it)
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06/13/2010 10:30:41 AM · #2 |
I don't shoot Nikon but I can answer the macro question. There are not any macro shots at that link because the lens is not a macro lens. You can get extension tubes to add between the lens and the camera to get the lens to focus closer but that is about it. If you borrowed your friends macro lens and like it then get a macro lens. There are a lot of tricks to get a lens to act like a macro lens but none of tricks will work nearly as good as a true macro lens.
Another option for macro is getting a reversing ring and then find an old manual lens (hit up pawn shops) that has the aperture control on the lens.
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06/13/2010 10:42:22 AM · #3 |
Ahhhh.
Thanks, Kobba. That makes sense. I got that from a search for Nikon macro lenses on Google. Obviously didn't do my research good enough :)
So, anyone have any recommendations on Nikon macro (or micro they call 'em, right?) lenses for roughly the same prices as the one I linked?
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06/13/2010 11:21:45 AM · #4 |
I own the 55-200, and I can't wait to get rid of it. It is a kit lens, and in my world, it is very slow, even for outdoor shots with natural lighting. At 200mm it gets even slower, if you want it for stable images it would work, the quality isn't all that great though compared to the more costly zoom lenses. I also have the problem of constantly switching between my 18-55, and my 55-200...the easy fix to that is buy the 18-200:
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Zoom Lens
It is rather costly though, but much better, and less switching.
If you are wanting a macro, I would say buy a true macro...the 105mm would prolly be the best bet, there are a few other variations that are shorter, but I've found that most creatures don't enjoy you up in their faces for pictures.
The cheapest route, which I am currently using until I can get the 105mm is buy a cheap 50mm 1.8 prime...with the manual aperture ring, like Kobba said and buy a reversing ring, the BR-2A most likely. I got my lens for $75 and the reversing ring for under $20, so less than $100 total. The images are very sharp using the 50mm in reverse, but keep in mind that you are within a few inches of your subject. So, if the subject is camera shy or moves a lot, it can be tough, as to get the correct focus you are moving closer and further from the subject, with a very narrow DoF.
Hope that helps some. |
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06/29/2010 09:12:22 AM · #5 |
Thanks for the replies.
I found someone selling this for like €50. I've yet to see pictures from and of it.
The lens is the "70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro." I'm interested in looking into macro photography, so I did a bit of a search on flickr but most of what I can see on it is the "Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG MACRO." The APO thing is the only difference, and after doing some searching it looks like it has something to do with colour display.
Is APO only to do with the glass that was used?
The styles of the photos that were taken with the APO lens are quite similar to what I'm interested in getting into. Would I be able to get these with the non-APO lens?
[Bit of info on the seller: he's upgrading from a D60 to a D90, and with the package he's getting he gets a 50-200 lens so he says he doesn't need the former. He needs to sell his D60 first, and the lens might go with the sale. If it doesn't it's up for sale, possibly to me.]
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06/29/2010 10:27:17 AM · #6 |
Be careful of how manufacturers (especially third party like Sigma and Tamron) use the word "macro. They are often referring to CLOSER focusing lenses, but these lenses do not approach true 1:1 macro (a general guideline for what is and is not "macro"). I have the 150 Sigma 2.8 and love it so far (focuses to 1:1). Keep in mind with any dedicated macro lens you will have autofocus searching due to the HUGE range of AF values. However, the bokeh will be awesome typically and you can use these lenses for very good portrait lenses. What you linked goes down to 1:2, but I'm not sure I would recommend any 70-300 as their performance has always struck me as sub par for what you can get in that range if you save for a bit more. The mantra for lenses generally holds true, and this scenario is true as well- saving is generally worth your time.
Something to consider is a manual focus 50mm 1.8. I got mine on Craigslist for $30 and it's very sharp. Then couple it with reversing rings or extension tubes. The manual focus doesn't really matter due to the fact that it's macro and you can "focus" by changing the distance to subject.
Before you get into macro, you should know that to get any sizeable depth of field, you need to use VERY small aperture values. Often a subject requires F16. So, you either need to use a tripod or supplementary flash (on camera typically won't work due to proximity to camera) so keep this in mind. I have a number of macro photos in my portfolio you can ask about, as well.
A cheap option you may consider, which is of oviously lower quality, is the macro focusing lenses. These decrease the focus distance of any lens so you can get an idea of what macro is really like. They have definite short comings, and suffer from ghosting (my experience) but they'll let you see if its for you, as well.
I'd sell you my Tamron 28-75 if I wasn't on the fence for keeping it, as, although it doesn't provide 1:1, it provides very close focus with exceptional clarity. Only downfall is autofocus speed. |
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