macro lens

inyourface

inyourface

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i must have been a good boy as the wifey has given me permission to buy a macro lens.
not had one before but would love to try macro and see what pics i can get.

my budget isaround £300ish and been looking at either a 100mm or 60mm, only problem is im not sure what lens to get.
i know the 100mm i wont need to be as close ect but what is a decent lens for £300 ish

i will be using it with a nikon d5200 and will mainly be trying to capture shots of insect.

also can you use extension tubes with the lens to make it even more detailed?

cheers all
 
No extension tubes don't add anything to detail they allow the subject to feel the frame more.

Also why do you need a macro lens? Have you thought of reversing a kit lens or using a raynox 150 250 etc.. Both options will give you a chance to try macro for under £50.

Don't believe me search my flickr for reverse or 250 and you will find shots with both types of setups.

I have the Tamron 90mm VC and it is great but in some instances the reversed lens/raynox is actually sharper. @Carlh can tell you the same about the sigma 105mm
 
No worries, the Sigma 105 macro also gets good reviews, but not tried it so can't help with that one :-)
 
If you are shooting live insects a longer lens may be an advantage as if you can increase the distance between you and them you'll have a better chance of not scaring the critters away, of course if you back up a macro lens may not be required.

I don't know what the max focus distance of the Reynox and similar devices is but I expect that just as with extention tubes and reversed lenses they'll require a reduced camera to subject distance.

I used to have a Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro that I thought was a very good lens.
 
inyourface said:
thanks tintin

i will order one tomorrow.
just to check, is this the correct one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raynox-DCR-250-Macro-Attachment/dp/B000A1SZ2Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409868268&sr=8-1&keywords=raynox dcr-250 macro attachment

also whats the difference between the 250 and 150?
Click to expand...

The 250 gives higher magnification than the 150. I have one and generally use it on a compact camera (sigma dp3 or rx100) where it's given some good results.

The raynox is a lot cheaper and is a good way to get started. However if you come away with a feeling that you do want to get more into macro photography but just feel a little frustrated then I would add that (for me at least) using a macro lens with a decent lighting setup feels better (more user friendly, control of lighting etc..) than using a raynox stuck on the end of a normal lens.
 
Even though I have the 105 siggy, I'll still be using just plain raynox, 11mm tube and my 50mm f1.8 because its extremely light (so less wobble when trying to get the photos) comes out sharp

heres an album with the 50mm and a raynox https://www.flickr.com/photos/cdhpix/sets/72157646574334792/
and heres an album with the 105mm and raynox, just for comparison for you https://www.flickr.com/photos/cdhpix/sets/72157645364459108/

theres not much difference as far as sharpness and the 50mm isn't as close in that album above because I haven't popped one of the tubes on there, so will (when theres bugs and I have time) create another album with 50mm raynox + tube
Another album I need to look at is the kit lens + raynox, because 18mm should be pretty good tbh, I just havent had the chance to do it yet.

Try the cheap route first - its definitely worth it and wont break the bank. I have almost been tempted to send back the 105mm because it was money I didn't need to spend, but I do find it a good portrait lens too hence I have hung onto it.
 
stu.artd said:
The raynox is a lot cheaper and is a good way to get started. However if you come away with a feeling that you do want to get more into macro photography but just feel a little frustrated then I would add that (for me at least) using a macro lens with a decent lighting setup feels better (more user friendly, control of lighting etc..) than using a raynox stuck on the end of a normal lens.
Click to expand...

Then you'll get a macro lens and still want to do more lol.... hence my macro lens gets used 20% of the time now. Raynox and reversed lens are my preferred setup due to being able to get closer than 1:1 :)

@inyourface I have the raynox 250 and 202 though wouldn't recommend the 202 for a new starter.

The 250 is higher magnification as Stuart said and I would start there but if you just want to get a feel for Macro the the 150 will do.

I just want you to also understand Macro photography is extremely hard hence the amount of 2nd Macro lenses you see being available as people assume the same as you did a macro lens is required to do macro. At the end of the day the lens doesn't actually make much difference it is all about the light.

Light Light Light.... have a look @Carlh pringle setup for a cheap way to do a good lighting setup.
 
Tintin124 said:
Then you'll get a macro lens and still want to do more lol.... hence my macro lens gets used 20% of the time now. Raynox and reversed lens are my preferred setup due to being able to get closer than 1:1 :)

@inyourface I have the raynox 250 and 202 though wouldn't recommend the 202 for a new starter.

The 250 is higher magnification as Stuart said and I would start there but if you just want to get a feel for Macro the the 150 will do.

I just want you to also understand Macro photography is extremely hard hence the amount of 2nd Macro lenses you see being available as people assume the same as you did a macro lens is required to do macro. At the end of the day the lens doesn't actually make much difference it is all about the light.

Light Light Light.... have a look @Carlh pringle setup for a cheap way to do a good lighting setup.
Click to expand...
Light was the biggest leap for me and I still want to tinker with it. Will be picking up a funnel next and cutting it up and seeing what i can do with it. Will have to buy the missus another two tubes of pringles though hahahah she's going to be jabba the hutt but the time I've finished farting about with my lighting lol
 
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