Which lens for Macro in a tent?

[smele]

I like taking photos in a tent, light tent that is. Reasonably happy with the results that I am getting, but I want a better lens. I am using a Nikon D70 with a kit lens at the moment, but it's not so good at the macro. A while ago I used a lens on a camera that allowed me to use the macro on the zoom and get really close to my subject ( about camera size ) inside the light tent, without having to get physically too close, i.e. about 500mm away.

Sorry about the complete vagueness of the question. Any recommendations as to what I should look for, preferably at the cheaper end of the scale, would be great, as I am at a bit of a loss.

Thanks,
smele.

[RobDickinson]

Most macro lenses will get you 1:1 on the subject ( same size on the 'film' as in life) , some (canon mpe-65 go up to 5*) get closer.

So then theres focal length, theres some (sigma) 50 & 65mm macro's, nikons excelent but expensive macro is what 90-100mm?

Usualy I'd recomend the tamron 90f2.8 though as its not to expensive has a bit of reach and great IQ (then never heard bad IQ on any macro lens).

[smele]

Hmm, that's the sort of lens I was after. Thanks.

[Famous Graham]

There's a Sigma 105 2.8 too. The auto-focussing is painfully slow, and it hunts a fair bit, but tbh that's not really a concern for static tent work.

[taxboy]

I second the Tamron too. It's a really sharp lens & occasionally you can find then 2nd hand as people often find that macro's not for them

Andrew

[Dogsey]

Famous Graham said:

There's a Sigma 105 2.8 too. The auto-focussing is painfully slow, and it hunts a fair bit, but tbh that's not really a concern for static tent work.

I have the Sigma 70mm f2.8, same as the above with regards to focussing but it's a fantastically sharp lens.