View Full Version : I want macro this time...
trigger
09-06-2005, 9:51 AM
After my tele-stuff, now a macro question. What to buy for macro? I just had a look in the nikkor lens guide and found two possibilities:
AF nikkor 60mm/2.8
AF nikkor 105mm/2.8
bearing the 1.5 digital factor I think the 60mm would be the best choice?
trigger
09-06-2005, 10:41 AM
Hold on... I found two threads about it:
http://aquatic-photography.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2712&highlight=macro+photography
http://aquatic-photography.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3666&highlight=macro+photography
I'll read them first...
depends on your subject really. what do you plan to shoot? they are both good lenses.
Obliviou$
09-06-2005, 12:54 PM
Actually, the sigma 105 is supposed to be just as good opticaly as the nikkor. Half the price!
trigger
09-07-2005, 2:24 AM
Flowers, my fish, butterflies, a mushroom, those sort of things. In the other thread paradise mentiones the 60 for larger fish and a 100 for smaller fish, but when is a fish big and when small?
Peter
hrmm.... an oscar= big a tetra=small. another thing to consider is working distance. 1:1 @ 60mm will put you about 2 inches from the end of your lens to your subject. personally, i think the 105mm range is the best compromise. but only you can decide that for yourself. keep in mind that the lenses in this range are not internal focussing and will grow a bit when focussing in close. you may or may not want to consider some of the 3rd party lenses from sigma and tamron. their macro lenses are very good optically, i can't say they are better or worse, but they are definitely in the same ballpark as far as sharpness goes.
trigger
09-07-2005, 3:00 AM
Actually, the sigma 105 is supposed to be just as good opticaly as the nikkor. Half the price!Pfff, not overhere! Nikkor 549, Sigma 479 (euros)
Peter
for being so close, i think i would go with the nikkor :)
trigger
09-07-2005, 3:57 AM
... working distance. 1:1 @ 60mm will put you about 2 inches from the end of your lens to your subject....What distance would tha tbe with the 105?
Peter
i looked it up and it's not exactly 2 inches.
60mm focus distance is 8.75 inches and the 105mm focus distance is 1 foot. that is from the cameras focal plane, not from the lens. the focal plane is marked on the top of your camera with a circle that has a line through it. what this equates to is about ~2-3 inches from the end of the lens of the 60mm and 5-6 inches on the 105mm @ 1:1 reproduction. here (http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/angle-of-view-working-distance.html) is an article about working distances.
trigger
09-07-2005, 5:11 AM
Apparently there is no real right or wrong here. I think the 105 would be the preferred lens, but I still have the sigma 70/300 macro lens. That will give me the distance I lack with the 60. Mmmmm, choices, choices, choices. If only they were not that costly :-)
Peter
yup, it comes down to choice. to be completely honest, i rarely go down to 1:1 with my tamron 90mm... so working distance isn't really an issue for me. macro lenses make very good portrait lenses also, so long as you don't mind the extreme sharpness.
Andreas Werth
09-07-2005, 1:30 PM
For fish photos i´m happy with my 60mm [1.6crop]/2.8 macro (1:1). Most of my newer pics are made with this. I seldomly go for very small fishes, but the 100mm macro is on my list as well.
By the way: since you are a nikon man, they produced the world's first AF zoom lens for macro photography:
http://www.europe-nikon.com/details.aspx?countryid=20&languageid=22&prodId=289&catId=124
Unfortunately with lower lens speed (not that good for aquatic photography) and with higher price.
Was taking a closer look at the 70-180mm micro lens myself. Only the imported versions of this lens is available and commands a hefty price (approx. $1k). Also, to get to 1:1 with this lens, the Nikon 6T is needed.
that is one lens held in high regard by anyone who's used it. the problem, is availability.
alanhill
09-10-2005, 7:09 PM
I have bought the 60mm Micro-Nikkor for my D70 because I prefer 50mm and 90mm macro lenses on 35mm cameras for aquarium use. Longer macro lenses are better for outdoor use, but shorter ones suit my methods for aquarium photography - I like to get the lens right up to the glass.
Alan