Macro lens question

WillyB

WillyB

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William
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I am thinking of getting a macro lens for my D5000 but I have a couple of questions first.

1. I appreciate my camera needs a motor in the lens for AF but how necessary is this for macro. Isn't it best to focus manually anyway?

2. Is VR necessary also as macro is done on a tripod?

Depending on the answers to the above would it be feasible to buy one of the older macro lenses without AF?
Can anyone suggest a lens which would be a good starter and should it be 60mm, 100mm or what?

Thanks.:help:
 
i have a sigma 105mm macro lens for my D90. i dont use AF when i use if for macro and i dont think vr is necessary either but both are usefull if you also want to use the lens for other things apart from macro. focal length determines how far away from the subject you are while still having a 1:1 ratio. my 105mm is only about 15cm or so away from the front of the lens when fully focused at 1:1 which is pretty close. i think the newer nikon micro lenses have internal focusing so this might extend the distance by about another 10cm or so from the front of the lens. im not sure how close 60mm would be but it would be even closer still. hope this helps, dan.
 
Depends on what sort of macro you are planning, VR is definately no go for me,have it turned off most of the time
Tripod well not if your thinking of insects they tend to move about too much
 
Thanks for that Dan.

Ingrid. I was thinking of insects but what would be an ideal lens for hand held then?

William
 
Doesn't really matter that much, but light can be a problem so it would be useful to have a flash
Also depth of field can be very shallow,I normally shoot on manual so I can control the aperture

Actually just seen you are in west sussex too, whereabouts are you ?
I'm up near Horsham
 
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Manually focussing for macro is fine if your eyesight is good enough and the subject stays still long enough for you to focus. It takes me a little while to get the focus spot on as my eyesight isn't what it used to be and in that time the insect I'm trying to photo will have moved or flown off in a lot of cases.

If you're going to use the macro lens for insects, as Gremlin says, a flash is a necessity as there isn't time to use a tripod for long exposures.

I also agree on the VR, with the exposure times needed for insects I've never needed it.
 
WillyB said:
I am thinking of getting a macro lens for my D5000 but I have a couple of questions first.

1. I appreciate my camera needs a motor in the lens for AF but how necessary is this for macro. Isn't it best to focus manually anyway?

Due to the tiny DOF at 1:1 (approx 2mm @ f16 for a Canon 100mm) its very difficult to get accurate focus using auto focus, also as you alter the focus on a macro lens you are effectively changing the magnification, personally i find it easier rock the camera forwards / backwards to get the focus band in the correct position on the subject.

2. Is VR necessary also as macro is done on a tripod?

VR on the Nikon lens gets less effective as you get closer to the subject and the benefits at macro setting are questionable. Tripods good for things that aren't going to move - but handheld for bugs and stuff. Again due to the minimal DOF a Macro rail is a good addition to a tripod for 1:1 shooting as it canbe difficult to position a tripod accurately .

Depending on the answers to the above would it be feasible to buy one of the older macro lenses without AF?
Can anyone suggest a lens which would be a good starter and should it be 60mm, 100mm or what?

Usually a longer lens 105mm ish is a good staring point with a good compromise between minimum working distance and weight, the pre-VR Nikon 105mm gets some good reviews if you can find one in good condition .
Thanks.:help:
Click to expand...
 
Sorry for late reply, couldn't stay up any longer last night:(

Thanks for all the tips and information, just what I needed.

Ingrid, I am in Chichester, we are lucky I think with our location.
 
Just a bit more about this.

I see Paul suggests a macro rail and I have been looking at these. How important is it to have a two way or four way rail?
 
WillyB said:
...Can anyone suggest a lens which would be a good starter and should it be 60mm, 100mm or what?
Click to expand...
I'd suggest a 2nd hand Nikon AF 105 mm f/2.8D Micro (macro) - or the non-D version if it's easier. It'll give you more stand-off than a 60 mm lens and so lessen the chance that you'll disturb your subject.

Let's see what other suggestions there are ...
 
I have the 105mm VR, I only got the VR version because I also use it as my telephoto lens as I don't yet have anything longer.
For macro, I use MF and VR OFF handheld. Unless I'm in a studio situation where I might attempt with AF and a tripod, but TBH its usually easier just to manually focus.

I only use the VR for stuff other than macro.

The canon 100mm L IS does work a lot better with the IS on at macro distances up to a bout 1:2 I found though.
 
Forgot too add, Ive also had the Sigma 105mm and the Tamron 90mm. Out of the two, I preferred the Sigma due to the slightly better build quality and I didn't like the clutch system on the Tamron. Optically though all 3 are pretty much on par. The Nikon is the only one out of the 3 that doesn't extend during focusing which was a big issue for me.
 
OK.
Thanks for all the suggestions on this. I think Bob's suggestion on the matter sounds good re the older lens. Being fairly new to this can you explain the "or non D version if it's easier" please.
Also can anyone help re the macro rail? Is it easier with one of these?
Thanks again.
 
WillyB said:
OK.
Thanks for all the suggestions on this. I think Bob's suggestion on the matter sounds good re the older lens. Being fairly new to this can you explain the "or non D version if it's easier" please.
Also can anyone help re the macro rail? Is it easier with one of these?
Thanks again.
Click to expand...

The macro rail depends on what you're going to photograph - if you doing 1:1 a macrorail with L/R and Front/Rear makes life a lot easier as you can position the camera very accurately - if you just doing close ups ie a whole flower shot you can position the tripod and get focus by adjusting the camera focus.
 
WillyB said:
...can you explain the "or non D version if it's easier"...
Click to expand...
Have a read of KR's review for the Nikon 105mm AF Micro. When you get to the 'History' section follow his link on the "D" feature.

Non-D lenses are older and therefore may be cheaper and easier to find 2nd hand as they may not be so sought after (I have the non-D version). Sorry if I confused the issue ...
 
If you are thinking of buying new, OneStopDigital are great and hard to beat prices, i just checked Jessops for the Nikon 105mm f2.8 macro a whopping £616 !!! They shouldn't be any more than £450.
I'm looking to go the Sigma 105mm f2.8 route @ £291 from OSD.
 
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