macro help :)

[Zoundz]

hey again, still brain picking I'm afraid (well, it is hallowe'en, night of zombies etc! ).

I'm really after a decent macro lens, as both myself and my OH want to take pictures of insects (he in particular wants to create a personal file of insects we see and good photos of them). What would be the best macro for this? I have a D80 - and am hoping to get pictures - very clearly - of very very tiny critters!

help greatly appreciated

xx

[Geoff F]

By D80, I take it that you have a Nikon camera.

Don't know a lot about 'genuine' Nikon lenses, except they tend to be expensive, although the quality is excellent. Sigma make some good quality macro lenses at a more realistic price.

The Sigma 150 mm is very popular with macro photographers here. Wanting a bit more reach, I opted for the Sigma 180 which costs quite a bit more but is still good value compared to the alternatives.

Perhaps it might help if I go through my thought process when I was attempting to make a similar decision.

The Sigma (or other make) 150 mm is an easy to use lens which can be used hand held or with a tripod. The only downside is that you can find that you need to get quite close to the subject. This doesn't matter with flowers or other static subjects and 'sleepy' insects.

I was previously using a Canon 70-300 lens with an extension tube and found that this minimum focusing distance of around 3 ft suited me. So I chose the Sigma 180 which gives me more distance from flighty insects. Also as much of my macro work means standing up to my wotsits in brambles and nettles it is often physically impossible to get closer anyway.

A 180 mm lens gives more distance but besides the cost, it is a lot bigger and heavier and works best on a tripod. Definitely not a slip in your pocket extra lens. The minimum focusing distance is greater, about 1 ft.

If you already have a decent zoom or larger prime lens, say 200-300 mm, which will focus down to 4 or 5 ft you might think about an extension tube. A 25mm tube will cost less than £100 and will allow you to get closer to the subject, perhaps 3 ft.

On the plus side, it easily slips into your pocket and instantly changes a bird lens into an insect lens.

On the downside, you lose a bit of light so may have to increase your ISO or sacrifice a bit of shutter speed or aperture. Focusing can be a bit coarse and you really need a tripod for best quality. Manual focusing is recommended, but most dedicated insect photographers use this anyway.

But I used a tube with reasonable success, even in dense woodland, for a couple of years before getting a 'proper' macro lens.

You need to think carefully as getting the 'wrong' lens works out more expensive than getting the correct although possibly initially dearer lens. Hope this helps a bit.

[Lancashire Lad]

I agree with Geoff F

Ive got a D80, and use Nikons 60mmAFS macro lens, which is fantastic for wildflowers (my main passion) but not so good for insects etc.

With insects you will definitely need distance between your lens and the subject, to avoid frightening them away.

Given the choice, I'd go for the Sigma 150mm or Sigma 180mm (The 150mm consistently gets rave revues and is undoubtedly one of - if not the best available).

Regrds
Mike.

[Ollie]

All good advice that Geoff and Mike have given. I certainly wouldn't go for anything less than 150mm focal length for insects.

I haven't used the Sigma 180mm but it gets very good reviews. The Sigma 150mm I do use and it's a cracking lens and well built as well. It can be used with a 1.4tc as well with very little loss of picture quality

Roger