is this lens anygood for macro

[iwols]

Hi all I've got a Nikon lens that came as standard with a d70 kit,I think it is 18-105mm,I'm at work at the minute so can't check exactly ,and it doesnt say anything about macro on it,wouuld this be anygood for macro photography cheers

 

[mark1616]

Not really on its own, put a couple of extension tubes on and you will be OK as a starting point, however a dedicated macro will always be best if you want to do lots.

 

[iwols]

thanks mark can anyone suggest a reasonably priced lens for commoner garden use thanks by the way should i be looking for one that says macro on it

 

[johnnypanic]

thanks mark can anyone suggest a reasonably priced lens for commoner garden use thanks by the way should i be looking for one that says macro on it

If you're looking for Nikon branded lens, they will have micro not macro, only Nikon know why :shrug:

Btw, ideally you looking for a lens that does 1:1.

Also consider the Raynox 150 or 250, not as good as a dedicated macro lens, but some incredibly results possible.

 

[TCR4x4]

Tamron 90mm
Sigma 105mm
Nikon 60mm
Nikon 105mm

Those are the staple macro lenses. There is also a Nikon 40mm, and I think Sigma do a 70mm.
Out of that list, The Nikon 105 is the best, and most expensive, follwed by the sigma 105 and Tamron 90. The Tamron can be bought used for around £200 and is great introduction to macro photography. The image quality is amazing, its just the build quality and handling that lets it down a bit.

 

[iwols]

thanks guys being new im confused why my nikon starts at 18mm and the lens mentioned go to 105 mm,and how do i know a lens does 1:1 cheers and sorry for the basic questions

 

[TCR4x4]

thanks guys being new im confused why my nikon starts at 18mm and the lens mentioned go to 105 mm,and how do i know a lens does 1:1 cheers and sorry for the basic questions

Your lens is a zoom lens, its goes from 18mm, which is wide angle, to 105mm, which is telephoto, or zoomed in.

Most macro lenses have a fixed focal length, meaning they dont zoom.
The only other differences between a macro lens and any other, is the distance they can focus.
Most normal lenses will only focus on something maybe a foot in front of the lens. A macro lens will be able to focus on something much closer, which makes it appear bigger in the frame.

You can tell if a lens does 1:1, as it will say it on the extreme of the focus window. No "non macro" lens will focus that close. Only dedicated macro lenses will.
Some lenses, such as some 70-300 lenses may say macro on them, but they arent "true macro". They will focus to maybe 1:3 or 1:2.

1:1 means the subject is life size, if it was placed directly on the sensor.
Say you take a photo o a 10 pence coin. If you printed that photo the same size as the sensor, and placed it next to the 10 pence coin, both the actual coin and the photographed coin would be the same size.

If you did the same with a 1:2 magnifaction, the printed coin would be half the size of the actual coin.

 

[iwols]

seems to be a lot of these about

SIGMA 70-300mm f/4.0 5.6 DL-M DG MACRO NIKON ,it says 1:2,for casual snapping am i missing out on much and whats the quality like thanks again

 

[iwols]

Your lens is a zoom lens, its goes from 18mm, which is wide angle, to 105mm, which is telephoto, or zoomed in.

Most macro lenses have a fixed focal length, meaning they dont zoom.
The only other differences between a macro lens and any other, is the distance they can focus.
Most normal lenses will only focus on something maybe a foot in front of the lens. A macro lens will be bale to focus on something much closer, which make its appear bigger in the frame.

You can tell if a lens does 1:1, as it will say it on the extreme of the focus window. No "non macro" lens will focus that close. Only dedicated macro lenses will.
Some lenses, cush as some 70-300 lenses may say macro on them, but they arent "true macro". They will focus to maybe 1:3 or 1:2.

thank you for that our posts crossed ,

1:1 means the subject is life size, if it was placed directly on the sensor.
say you take a photo o a 10 pence coin. If you printed that photo the same size as the sensor, and placed it next to the 10 pence coin, both the actual coin and the photographed coin would be the same size.

If you did the same with a 1:2 magnifaction, the printed coin would be half the size of the actual coin.

 

[iwols]

do extension tubes make a 18-105mm lens into a 1:1 and what would be the downside to using these cheers all