best nikon/nikon fit macro lens

[MetalMoth]

Originally Posted by enthusiast jules

I have been using the Nikkor 105 VR since it came out and have been very pleased 90% of the time however it has a few weaknesses.
VR has little if any benefit at near 1:1, I need at least 1/250 for sharp results.
Focus hunts at very close distances, presumably due to the image becoming dimmer, though this is just physics.
It is extremely heavy, and would feel even heavier with extension tubes.
Cheaper options from Sigma are sharper wide open.
Focus breathing may be why I have problems photo stacking.
It is still however a very complete package, for a very fair price and looks like it would last forever.
The Zeiss "Makro" is of course 100mm not 105 and only goes to half life size.However in a recent test it recorded the best MTF figure ever seen, at F4.0 centre.

Do you think it is better than its competitors? By this I mean Sigma or Tamron macro lenses?

In Ken Rockwells review of this lens he mentions problems he had with it when focusing and recomposing an image. Does this affect you?

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by MetalMoth

In Ken Rockwells review of this lens he mentions problems he had with it when focusing and recomposing an image.

It's that kind of comment that get's Ken a bad name. You can't expect to get away with focussing and recomposing when shooting macro, at least not when you're working at 1:1 or greater. The depth of field is just to shallow to allow it. With any lens. This is the main reason why most people use manual focus when shooting macro.

Dave P.