Macro Lenses

[Bekki :)]

Hi everyone,

Was just wondering if anyone could give me some advice? Over the last year I have become more and more addicted to wildlife photography. I really love macro photography but I dont have a specific macro lens. I'm currently a student so don't have enough money to buy a REALLY fancy lens so I'm looking for something not too expensive, but I know I will have a spend a couple of hundred probably. I have a nikon D40 (my first DSLR) and at the moment I'm managing to get some pretty good shots with my Sigma 70-300 that does have a macro switch on it. I was just wondering if there were any Nikon (or other) users that know of any good affordable macro lenses?

Thanks in advance

Bekki

[Geoff F]

As you already have a 70-300 macro lens, Bekki, I would suggest that your cheapest option would be to fit an extension tube between the lens and camera which will get you closer to the subject.

I used this successfully with my 70-300 Canon lens. From my experience, a 25 mm tube should be sufficient. This will probably cost around £100 for a genuine Canon Extension Tube. The Nikon alternative should be about the same.

Cheaper alternatives are available but beware of the very cheap copies which may cause some focusing problems. But whatever you get, make sure that you specify 'Nikon Fit' as they aren't interchangeable.

A tripod is essential, and you may get some loss of light when using this set up, but slightly increasing the ISO or using flash should overcome any problems.

Under some conditions, this might not be quite as good as a proper, and expensive, macro lens but I found it was perfectly adequate for most purposes. Alternatively look for a secondhand lens. Eventually I purchased a Sigma 180 mm lens but this does start to get expensive.

For live small insects I would recommend a 150 mm lens which would be pricey even secondhand. But for flowers or other subjects where you can get really close you could manage with a slightly cheaper 100 mm.

However, what exactly do you photograph? This might have some bearing on the advice if you want to photograph something particularly difficult.

If you have a read of some of the earlier posts you will find a few similar questions.

[hank]

Don't know how close you need to get to your subject, but I use a nifty fifty with a 20mm extension tube. ( I'm a Canon man but you can do it with a Nikon). The nifty fifty was second hand at £60 and the extension tube was from an old cheapo set. Macro won't come cheaper than this!

Here's a moth I took last weekend ..................

[Bekki :)]

Thanks for your advice

Originally Posted by Geoff F

However, what exactly do you photograph? This might have some bearing on the advice if you want to photograph something particularly difficult.

Well, I want to try and get better at insects and things like that. But I'm really into photgraphing flowers etc. I do have a birthday coming up so I think ill probably end up asking for money towards a lens or equipment

Ive had a little look around at some reviews in photography magazines for some rough guides but obviously ... probably just trying to sell them? So just kinda wanted to know how people get on with lenses and alternatives to lenses with macro photography.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Are there any cheap manual macro lenses available in Nikon fit? I shoot most my macro using manual focus.

For insects I recommend at least an 90 or 100mm lens.

[pressld2]

Geoff's suggestion of extension tubes with your 70-300mm gets my vote. A good set of extension tubes will likely set you back £100 or so, but they'll give you decent results straight away and you'll be able to use them with a dedicated macro lens later when funds allow.

Okay it's a boring subject (and I'm showing my age ) but I've just taken this image of a single Werther's Original using my 80-400 lens set at 80mm and with 56mm of extension tubes. Closest focus is down to 15cm.



Dave P.

P.s. It's the kids that eat 'em really.

[cosmicma]

iv'e seen some cracking results using the sigma 105 f2.8 macro lens one of those might be worth a look

the reality is for really close work your still gonna need extension tubes even with a dedicated macro lens or micro lens in the nikon world

[Lancashire Lad]

I personally use a Sigma 180mm macro lens, and would vouch for the quality of any of the Sigma macro range if you can get one at a price to suit you.

I also use the Nikon 60mm macro lens, which is great for flowers etc. but having a short working distance wouldn't be so good for insects. Again though, if you could get one at the right price, it's a fantastic lens.

You need to be aware that longer focal length macro's will be better for insects etc., as they will have longer working distances, and you won't need to get so close to your subject. However, that isn't a problem when photographing flowers or other static subjects.

It's also worth mentioning that extension tubes will provide more of a magnification factor with shorter focal length macro lenses, than they will with longer focal length lenses.

I haven't used one myself, but the Tamron 90mm f.2.8 macro lens has had very good reviews. Wilkinson Cameras are currently advertising a second hand mint condition one in Nikon fit, for £269.00 - Might be worth considering, but I think you would have to make sure that it would work with your D40 (Not sure on the situation, as I think the D40 needs lenses with integral motors for autofocus -albeit that most macro photography, certainly mine anyway, is done using manual focus).

Hope you eventually find one that suits.
Regards,
Mike.

[John D]

As Mike has said 'the Tamron 90mm f2.8 gets very good reviews'. Certainly worth considering. I use one and can recommend it.

John D
Zenfolio | John's Wild World

[Bekki :)]

Thanks for all your help, I think I'm going to take a better look into extension tubes. I'm probably going to go into my local friendly camera shop and see if they can show me how it all works etc

Thanks again!!

Bekki