Macro lens

[taff63]

Looking to purchase a macro lens soon looking to spend between £80-100 not a lot I know but all I can afford at mo I have a d300 have bought macro filters but tbh would rather a proper lens any advice appreciated .
Mark

 

[JohnN]

Thats quite a small budget, how you considered reversing a 50mm or getting a Raynox DCR-250?

Please bear in mind that I'm really not that good and was worse when I took these, but here is my DCR-250 gallery.

 

[ecniv]

I have the 105micro d (old one) - very nice lens .. around 300 ukp

I tried 105mm and reversed 50mm... same as tubes, but with a much closer working distance (1cm?) and greater DOF.


Euro Coin Macro - Reversing Ring 52mm by KatiaUK, on Flickr


Euro Coin - 105mm macro - control by KatiaUK, on Flickr




I feel that its worth saving a bit more and getting either a 105 (used - 300ukp - London Camera Exchange) or 150 sigma (800 new?!?), possibly a 90mm tamron (280 used) or a nikon 105mm (if you are using nikon). you can pick up manual tubes for a tenner, or AF tubes for a bit more.

 

[gad-westy]

£100 isn't a massive budget but keep your eyes on ebay. I picked up a 50mm Sigma Macro Lens for about £80 earlier this year. Superb lens but maybe not long enough for live insects. Some of the older manual lenses may pop in this price range too.

 

[Davec223]

What other lenses have you got? It may be worth getting a raynox until you can afford a macro lens as suggested above.

 

[brman]

As an experiement I did this with an old prime lens reversed and held (by hand) against the camera. I happened to have extension tubes to space it out from the camera but you could do the same by making a cardboard tube. (cut down pringles tube?)

Basically free if a little fiddly to use...


May Bug stacked by tobyjm, on Flickr

Toby