Macro lens

daren74

daren74

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Morning ,

I'm looking for a Macro lens for close ups on flowers and insects is the sigma 150mm f2.8 macro. The best way forward for a Nikon camera ? I'm trying to build up my lens collection at present I own the following

Nikon DX AF-s 18-55mm
Tamron AF 70-300mm
Nikon DX aF-S 55-200mm

Any advise would be great
 
daren74 said:
Morning ,

I'm looking for a Macro lens for close ups on flowers and insects is the sigma 150mm f2.8 macro. The best way forward for a Nikon camera ? I'm trying to build up my lens collection at present I own the following

Nikon DX AF-s 18-55mm
Tamron AF 70-300mm
Nikon DX aF-S 55-200mm

Any advise would be great
Click to expand...

It's a great lens. I've owned pretty much all the usual macros by sigma, Nikon, tamron and canon.
Nothing can beat the canon 100mm IS, but the sigma 150 does a very good job, providing you supply it with lots of light. It's quite heavy, and unless you buy the OS version, you really need to watch your technique. The auto focus isn't super fast, but good enough, and it has 3 distance lock settings to help. The manual focus ring is smooth and precise.
The tripod foot isn't great, it sits right in the way when hand holding, but is removable.

Overal I'm very pleased with mine.


Pockets by TCR4x4, on Flickr


Independance by TCR4x4, on Flickr


Gentle Rose by TCR4x4, on Flickr
 
daren74 said:
Morning ,

I'm looking for a Macro lens for close ups on flowers and insects is the sigma 150mm f2.8 macro. The best way forward for a Nikon camera ? I'm trying to build up my lens collection at present I own the following

Nikon DX AF-s 18-55mm
Tamron AF 70-300mm
Nikon DX aF-S 55-200mm

Any advise would be great
Click to expand...

It a cracking lens - I've had 3 of them:) - One when i was using Nikon and 2 on my Canon setup (non OS & OS versions ), very sharp with a nice bokeh .


daren74 said:
Can the canon be used on a Nikon Camera?
Click to expand...

No - get the correct fitment for you body.
 
daren74 said:
Morning ,

I'm looking for a Macro lens for close ups on flowers and insects is the sigma 150mm f2.8 macro. The best way forward for a Nikon camera ? I'm trying to build up my lens collection at present I own the following

Nikon DX AF-s 18-55mm
Tamron AF 70-300mm
Nikon DX aF-S 55-200mm

Any advise would be great
Click to expand...

Some of the above lenses may promise macro, but they don't offer true macro capabilities. The Nikon 18-55mm (28 cm) Yes, the other 2 lenses No.

All about minimum focal distance and the Nikon 18-55 and tamron 90 are in the same ball park 28/29 cm respectively.

I've heard very good things about the tamron 90mm f2.8
The sigma 105mm f2.8 could also be in the running and both are significantly cheaper than the sigma 150mm.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Tamron-90mm-f-2.8-Di-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/282-tamron-af-90mm-f28-di-sp-macro-test-report--review?start=2
 
I've got the 150mm sigma none OS for my canon setup and its my favourite lens. I use it all of the time as its so versatile. The bokeh on it is also great due to the 9 blade aperture and f2.8. The guy who mentioned about having to use the right technique was bang on though as flaws in that really show using this lens. Can turn what would normally be a rather nice shot into a load of garbage lol.

I took two photos with mine yesterday:


Rainy Boredom by jjohnson2012, on Flickr


Krispy Kreme Lovelyness by jjohnson2012, on Flickr
 
I wrote a short review of mine (with plenty of samples of various types if you scroll down as a lot are in later posts) here:

Sigma 150mm F/2.8 EX macro REVIEW

I've certainly found it to be excellent. If you want a little bit more length and don't mind more weight as size, the 180mm f/3.5 can be picked up cheaper used. It was discontinued a while ago as it was always less popular than the 150mm, but it's also a superb lens.



pete.rush said:
Some of the above lenses may promise macro, but they don't offer true macro capabilities. The Nikon 18-55mm (28 cm) Yes, the other 2 lenses No.

All about minimum focal distance and the Nikon 18-55 and tamron 90 are in the same ball park 28/29 cm respectively.
Click to expand...

The 18-55 is not a true macro. While it's MFD is similar to the 90mm, it does not reach 1:1. You can't go by MFD alone, you have to compare the maximum magnification (which for any true macro lens is 1:1 (bar the canon mpe-65)).
 
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I would also look at the Nikon 105 vr It is a lovely lens, I have one and love it, I just don't use it enough.
 
Davec223 said:
I would also look at the Nikon 105 vr It is a lovely lens, I have one and love it, I just don't use it enough.
Click to expand...

Didn't rate mine TBH. Although I owned it straight after the canon 105L IS, which any lens will struggle to follow.
 
Davec223 said:
Thats interesting why do you not rate them?
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It just didn't excite me. The VR wasn't great, the build quality was so so, focus wasn't very quick. Sold it after a few months.
 
Thanks all for the feedback I hope to buy my first Macro lens in the next few months.
 
TCR4x4 said:
It just didn't excite me. The VR wasn't great, the build quality was so so, focus wasn't very quick. Sold it after a few months.
Click to expand...

Strange isn't it, I have found the vr to be good, focus is no problem and build is fine too. This just hours to shore how personal photography is.
 
daren74;

I'm not sure if Nikon sell extension tubes (?), but I've recently bought an inexpensive Canon EF 12mm (MkII) extension tube and enjoying it lots, there's also a Canon 25mm extension tube version for even closer shots etc. I would hazard a guess and say Nikon are bound to sell them also, a slightly cheaper way of getting into macro photography.

Here's a recent photo shot using my 12mm extension tube;

9898_original.jpg
 
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