Macro Lens

[laura]

HI everyone. Was looking for some advice on Macro lenses. I'm looking for one to fit my Nikon D40X. It doesn't have to be a Nikon lens, I have a Sigma lens which I am very happy with. Any help would be apreciated. Thank you :confused::confused:

p.s. excuse the mis-spelt title, I don't know how to change it...

[laura]

An internet search has also come up extension tubes, any thoughts on these?

[laura]

I understood Marco lenses to be Prime lenses...so how can a 70-200mm of 70-300mm be called a Macro lens???? I know my 55-200mm cannot get in close enough for macro shots.


I should have just added to my original post I suppose, but I'm just adding thoughts as they come to me...

[pauld]

I understood Marco lenses to be Prime lenses...so how can a 70-200mm of 70-300mm be called a Macro lens

Any lens can be a macro lens, if it has been engineered to be one.
Prime macro lenses are better than zoom macro lenses.
150mm macro lens allows you to be further from the subject than a 50mm macro. This can be good if insects are your thing.
Macro lenses differ from one another by the magnification they achieve. 1:1 means the subject is as big on your sensor than in real life.

Macro tubes turn any lens into a macro lens, provided you understand that you loose some stops of light. The more tubes the more macro the lesser the DOF.

There are also push-on lenses (like filters) that allow close up.

The cheapest 1:1 macro setup is to screw a 50mm lens reversed on another lens. (they have special rings for that).

My recommendation: buy some (soligor..) macro tubes and try them out on your best lens, to discover if macro is your thing.

Macro is VERY difficult. As all other things are if you want to do them well.

Paul.

[laura]

Hi Paul, thank you for your reply, I have been looking at the macro tubes, and they certainly are the cheaper option. Like you say it might be worth getting some to try macro out. Thank you.

[jerryph]

You get what you pay for. Basically, stay away from extention tubes, not that good compared to a real macro lens. That 70-300 for example, it is a 3:1 macro lens, not a true 1:1 macro.

The D40s suffer from the downside of not having an integrated focus motor, so choices are cut down a lot. If you are choosing a Sigma lens, it must be a model with HSM else it will not autofocus.

Nikon has a 60mm macro, but I am not fond of that focal length... you have to go too close to an object to get a macro shot. My preferred size is a 100-105mm lens. It gives you a good 12-14 inches of space between you and your subject at a 1:1 macro and this is also the longest lens you should get and still be able to get good results hand held. Other longer lenses must be tripod mounted to get good results.

I have the Sigma 105mm and it is incredible, but for you this lens is a 100% manual focus lens only. The good news is that 99% of macro shots are focused manually, however I also use this lens as a portrait lens and in these cases you would be stuck manually focusing where on my cameras (D200, D700) have an integrated focus motor and this lens does autofocus for me.

I would look around for an autofocus 1:1 macro lens in the 105mm and F/2.8 range, this is the optimal.

[laura]

Thanks Jerry. I had noticed that my D40X won't autofocus on a lot of the Macro lenses out there. I am trying to manual focus as much as I can these days, rather than relying on autofocus all the time, so this isn't a major concern for me.
The fact that a macro lens can be used for portraits is definatly a bonus though.
Thanks for the advice. Its really appreciated. :)

[ml]

Hi, I own the 60mm macro, love it.

[pipedesign]

Take a look at the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8. It has a built in motor too!!
Not a true Macro (1:1) but it gives 1:2.3 max magnification. I just got one and so far I like my first close-ups shots - hope to post a couple tonight.

[manny]

The Tamron 90mm macro lens is voted to be the best indipendant lens.

[jerryph]

No, if you are looking for a macro lens, do NOT go for anything that is not a true 1:1 macro. The differences are tremendous.

This is a picture of a 3:1 macro:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2006/1554184129_5fd26a3a48.jpg

This is how close I had to get to the subject to get the above shot:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/1555055224_db57abac7e.jpg

This is a picture of the SAME subject using a 1:1 macro:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/1659376861_e9b00d8fce.jpg

And this is how far I was away to get the above shot:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/1659381631_685479cde1.jpg

As you can tell, the differences between a 3:1 macro and a 1:1 macro are great. The shots above using a 1:1 macro were the 105mm Sigma lens that I was suggesting. Could you imagine trying to get under 1" away from a bee or a larger spider? They'd likely want to defend their space! Yes, Sigma makes even 180mm macros, but the 105 is about the longest you can go and still use it comfortably hands free. The longer macro lenses MUST be on a tripod to get clear shots.

This shot was done with the 105mm Sigma macro hands free:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3644213154_d6762cae34.jpg

[jayne]

This shot was done with the 105mm Sigma macro hands free:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3644213154_d6762cae34.jpg

I LOVE this image!! I have the 90mm Tamron Macro 1:1 and one of my favourite shots I've taken so far with it is this....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3575312889_ce8244beef.jpg

Not as good as yours though! ;)

[jerryph]

Well, I would not say that, but I will say that you were a little further. :)

The difference in a 105mm and 90mm is about 2 inches closer to get a true 1:1 macro shot at maximum magnification (which is usually ver near minimum focus distance, BTW).

3:1 macro lenses are not necessarily all bad lenses, but they do not get shots as highly magnified as a true 1:1 and in general, a 1:1 macro lens that is a prime (fixed focal length) lens is again one or two notches higher than those that are not.

[jonrayner]

My humble opinion is this (as this is what I am doing!)
If you have the budget, buy a macro lens. If not then extension tubes (non manufacturer specific) are very cheap and can get you close enough to take macro shots, albeit not wildlife, but things like flowers should be fine. Apparently there is no loss of quality by using an extension tube as it is just air between the sensor and the lens. Enclosed is a macro flower shot I took this weekend by using extension tubes. I did get within a few centimeters of the flower though!

Once I get the necessary funds I will be purchasing the Canon 100mm Macro lens!

[canasta]

wow...thanks for the advice jerryph

I know this post is old...but am needing a macro lens to complete my arsenal and that Sigma 105 looks just what I want

The photos were a great help in understanding it all!!

THANKS!!

[jayne]

wow...thanks for the advice jerryph

I know this post is old...but am needing a macro lens to complete my arsenal and that Sigma 105 looks just what I want

The photos were a great help in understanding it all!!

THANKS!!

Just to throw a spanner in your works, I've been working a lot with my Tamron 90 mm since I took the above picture and now get images like this...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/3836493944_ff7d77c7aa.jpg

I'm thinking of getting the 150mm now.....

[jerryph]

I'm thinking of getting the 150mm now.....
Don't forget to add a strong and sturdy tripod at this point. At 150mm and hand held, your heart beat is enough to cause motion blur on shutter speeds under 1/100th of a second... enough to make the photo look visibly blurry. ;)

[jayne]

Don't forget to add a strong and sturdy tripod at this point. At 150mm and hand held, your heart beat is enough to cause motion blur on shutter speeds under 1/100th of a second... enough to make the photo look visibly blurry. ;)

Thank you. I do have a tripod, but whether it'll be sturdy enough is another question!! :D

[canasta]

That's awesome!!!
Can't wait for my new macro lens to arrive!!


Just to throw a spanner in your works, I've been working a lot with my Tamron 90 mm since I took the above picture and now get images like this...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/3836493944_ff7d77c7aa.jpg

I'm thinking of getting the 150mm now.....