Now that I've got a DSLR, which macro lens should I buy?

[Misled]

Yes it will. They ale slower on AF, (uses the old "screw drive"), but you'll want to be in manual for real close-ups anyway.

[five.five-six]

The only 105 Nikons I’m seeing in the bargain basement are F/3.5-4.5 Will that apature work well for reef tank photos?

[Misled]

Those aren't true macros. They don't have 1:1 magnification. In other words, you won't be able to get real close.

[djray77]

Is this the correct tamron you guys are talking about?

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...24&ignorebbr=1

[djray77]

I am also thinking about this https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...25&ignorebbr=1
This would be my first Dslr Cam and I've read this would be a good entry setup? I am such a noob and getting a little overwhelmed.

[FilAm]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum but I can add some insight about macro photography from my experiences. Bryan Peterson mention's the Canon 500D Close Up Lens (diopter) as a "poor man's macro" if attached to a telephoto lens. My poor man's macro is an older Nikon 80-200mm mounted on a Nikon D600 full frame. Good thing about this Canon diopter is that it does such a great job taking close up photography that you won't even know it's a diopter. That and it isn't camera body specific... it's available in different sizes to screw ontop of any of your telephoto lenses. My photography club shares a 77mm one... I'll be borrowing it this weekend and taking some shots of my tank. Hope this helps member's like me on a budget that can't afford a true macro lens but want good quality at an affordable price.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by Misled

Those aren't true macros. They don't have 1:1 magnification. In other words, you won't be able to get real close.

what do you mean by "real close"? I think the closest I can get to anything in my tank is about 3" mos every shot will be 4-12" away.

[Misled]

First, what lens are we talking about?

[five.five-six]

Now I’m looking at Nikon Micro Nikkor 105mm F2.8 AiS though I think zoom capability would be useful or is it better to get a prime lense and crop in post?

[five.five-six]

Also, would a D50 body be a good choice?

[Misled]

First, the D50 will work. For not much more, you could even get a D200 or 300.

Once you see the difference between a true macro and a zoom you'll understand more. The lens you mention is a manual focus lens. This is fine because most close up is better done with manual focus. On a zoom/macro, your magnification will be around 1:1:23 or something like that. With a true macro, the magnification will be 1:1. Your focusing distance will be shorter also. This will get the shot closer yet.

[five.five-six]

So a manual focus prime macro 105 is what I;m looking for.


The thing that caught me on the D50, besides price, was after reading the manual it seems fairly straight forward to set ISO shutter speed and apature on the fly. Also has manual WB which IMO is a must.

[Misled]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

So a manual focus prime macro 105 is what I;m looking for.

That's the lens you're looking at. There are AF, and AFS lenses. They have auto focus but you can turn it off. They are also the some of the best telephoto lenses. You will find other uses for it.

The thing that caught me on the D50, besides price, was after reading the manual it seems fairly straight forward to set ISO shutter speed and apature on the fly. Also has manual WB which IMO is a must.

All of the Nikon bodies have the same basic controls.

[five.five-six]

So, the higher the number the better the camera, D700>D300 with the exception of the single digit designations which appear to be the professional models like D4, D5?

[Misled]

Yes and no. 600 and up are Full Frame, (600 and 650 being consumer FF). 700 to 850 are pro FF. 100 to 500 are pro crop bodies. 3000 and up are consumer crop bodies. Below 100 are older crop bodies.

[five.five-six]

Do crop bodies have full sized sensors? I kinda settled on a D300s as the body I think I want but at about $350, its going to have to wait. I am liking the 105 f/2.8 manual focus prime macro. Arround $250.

[Misled]

Crop bodies have crop, (smaller), sensors than FF sensors. Read This.

That will help you understand. By the way, the difference between the 300 and the 300s is the 300s has video and also can use SD cards instead of CF cards.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by Misled

Crop bodies have crop, (smaller), sensors than FF sensors. Read This.

That will help you understand. By the way, the difference between the 300 and the 300s is the 300s has video and also can use SD cards instead of CF cards.

Thank you for all your help. You have really gone over and above!

I did get my 105 f/2.8D nikkor micro lens. I’m haveing a lot of sucsess with it, just not in the aquarium I can’t get as close as I want or the magnafication and the WB is driveing me bonkers.

My wife is actually getting better results with he iPad and a $20 clipon orange filter even shooting in raw ans spendign some time in post.

Will a extension tube lower my working distance?


I probably could have closed the apature on this shot for more DOF but I really like this image anyways.

https://www.nikonians.org/forums/user_files/379466.jpg

[Misled]

Extension tubes will get you closer. It will cut your DOF also.

What are you using to process images?

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by Misled

Extension tubes will get you closer. It will cut your DOF also.

What are you using to process images?

Just ViewNX 2 for the time being. I think I want to get comfortable with that before I make the decision which direction I want to go. Right now I am working on getting RAW images to look good without post. I’m getting there. This is with nothing in post and 68mm of extension tube with my 105 f/2.8

https://www.nikonians.org/forums/user_files/379599.jpg

Mot perfect but I’m happy with it.

[faisalahmed]

I am using Canon 100 mm f2.8. It is really good.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by faisalahmed

I am using Canon 100 mm f2.8. It is really good.

Seems there’s more Nikon people here. I barely know Nikon but if you are using a prime macro 100 that should take really nice shots.

Post some?

[Reef Bass]

Canon shooter here. Yes, the 100mm macro lens is capable of some fine images.

[Misled]

And I'm a Nikon shooter. 105mm macro is pretty capable also. Get to know your equipment. Nice shot Ken.

[Reef Bass]

Back at you Jesse!