Best Macro Lens
Discussion
Believe it or not but most dedicated(!) macro lenses are good (so not the cheap zooms with a "macro" epithet!). You have to decide what working distance you want... the longer the focal length the longer the distance you can keep. A 180mm lens is quite nice but more expensive than the 90 or 105 versions. The Tamron and Sigma offerings in those ranges are all very good. The Nikon 60 an 40(dx) versions are very good as well. If you don't mind manual focussing (for macro you'll often focus manually anyway) you can often find manual macro gems (for example old vivitars) for peanuts on Ebay. The money you save you can use towards a good tripod.
Maarten
Maarten
Kinky said:
We've got a Nikon D50, and Mrs. K has asked for a macro lens for it.
Can anyone suggest or advise on the best option available?
Please note: I sit quite high up on the photographic numptyness scale
'Best' and what you're willing to pay might be two different matters. Do you know what little things she wants to snap? If it's creepy crawlies, I'd be inclined to look for a lens at least 100mm in length. With the shorter lenses you have to get so close that you can scare insects away. You might also want to bear in mind that her camera doesn't have an internal focus motor so ideally the lens will have a built in motor though manual focus is often used for macro so it shouldn't be a deal breaker. The good news is that most macro lenses tend to be very good. I can't remember a bad review of one.Can anyone suggest or advise on the best option available?
Please note: I sit quite high up on the photographic numptyness scale
Of the auto focus ones, take a look at the following, they're all superb.
Nikon 40mm AFS £250 ish
Nikon 60mm AFS £400 ish
Tamron 90mm 2.8 £350 ish
Nikon 105mm AFS VR £600 ish
Sigma 150mm 2.8 £600 ish
The Sigma would be my pick but comes at a big price. If she's not bothered about insects, something smaller is much easier to carry.
Yeah, sorry guys. The one thing I completely forgot to mention was budget 
To be quite honest, this would be at the low-end of the price scale ... c.£250ish. I know that this really reduces, restricts and limits the options available. However, I'm totally open to a 2nd hand lens.
In terms of subjects, it would be insects, floral and fauna, spiders webs ... that kinda thing.
Not after 'professional' hardcore kit (bear in mind it's an old D50). But if this works out, then I suspect we'd upgrade to a new body. But that's another story for another day
Let me read through, understand and digest the responses.
And thank you everyone
To be quite honest, this would be at the low-end of the price scale ... c.£250ish. I know that this really reduces, restricts and limits the options available. However, I'm totally open to a 2nd hand lens.
In terms of subjects, it would be insects, floral and fauna, spiders webs ... that kinda thing.
Not after 'professional' hardcore kit (bear in mind it's an old D50). But if this works out, then I suspect we'd upgrade to a new body. But that's another story for another day
Let me read through, understand and digest the responses.
And thank you everyone
Kinky said:
Yeah, sorry guys. The one thing I completely forgot to mention was budget
To be quite honest, this would be at the low-end of the price scale ... c.£250ish. I know that this really reduces, restricts and limits the options available. However, I'm totally open to a 2nd hand lens.
In terms of subjects, it would be insects, floral and fauna, spiders webs ... that kinda thing.
Not after 'professional' hardcore kit (bear in mind it's an old D50). But if this works out, then I suspect we'd upgrade to a new body. But that's another story for another day
Let me read through, understand and digest the responses.
And thank you everyone
With that in mind, the Sigma 105mm or Tamron 90mm are probably the ones to go for. Both typically around £200 used.To be quite honest, this would be at the low-end of the price scale ... c.£250ish. I know that this really reduces, restricts and limits the options available. However, I'm totally open to a 2nd hand lens.
In terms of subjects, it would be insects, floral and fauna, spiders webs ... that kinda thing.
Not after 'professional' hardcore kit (bear in mind it's an old D50). But if this works out, then I suspect we'd upgrade to a new body. But that's another story for another day
Let me read through, understand and digest the responses.
And thank you everyone
Maybe take a look at this new option too. Be quick though as I think deliveries are a little longer as these are imports. Bargain though.
http://www.digitalrev.com/en/tamron-sp-af-90mm-f2-...
This is also meant to be superb but is a bit more cash
http://www.digitalrev.com/en/tokina-at-x-m100-af-1...
Sigma 70mm EX f2.8 is well worth a look, one of the cheaper options and as sharp as a very sharp thing.
Small skipper by dogsey, on Flickr
Small Tortoiseshell by dogsey, on Flickr
Common Red Soldier Beetle -1 by dogsey, on Flickr
All taken on a Nikon D50 as it happens.
Small skipper by dogsey, on Flickr
Small Tortoiseshell by dogsey, on Flickr
Common Red Soldier Beetle -1 by dogsey, on Flickr
All taken on a Nikon D50 as it happens.
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