Macro lens dilemma

[doti b]

Looking to try shooting macro and am on the hunt for a suitable lens. I would also like to use to use macro lens as a portrait lens when not shooting macro.
From what I can see my choices (am on a relatively tight budget) are the Tamron 90mm, Sigma 105mm or the older Nikon 105mm micro. As you can see only really interested in primes.
What would you forum guys suggest and why ? Macro wise will be looking at shooting bugs and flowers if this help.

Look forward to seeing your responses
:biggrin:

 

[Mad Hatter]

If you can deal can deal with manual focus the old 55 3.5 and 100 f4 micro lenses are optically just as good as any modern macro. That said those manual lenses would be tedious at best on a d50.

Consider the 100mm f3.5 promaster.

https://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=296603&highlight=100mm+promaster

http://www.amazon.com/Promaster-100mm-Macro-3-5-AF/dp/B0046BU11M

 

[Deleted member 4116]

Pretty much any lens in that range will be a great macro lens...it's very hard to find a bad macro lens.

 

[Diving Pete]

I've got a Sigma 150mm - excellent for Macro & damm sharp..

 

[vindex1963]

If you can deal can deal with manual focus the old 55 3.5 and 100 f4 micro lenses are optically just as good as any modern macro. That said those manual lenses would be tedious at best on a d50.

Consider the 100mm f3.5 promaster.

https://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=296603&highlight=100mm+promaster

http://www.amazon.com/Promaster-100mm-Macro-3-5-AF/dp/B0046BU11M

I'll second that!! :wink:

I see them on Ebay now and then also.

 

[Mad Hatter]

The only thing the modern 100mm 2.8 micro has on the old f4 variant is that it's f2.8 and will offer a brighter viewfinder.

I think rorslett has said for macro work he likes the old 100 f4 ais over all others. That said using it on the d50 would be tedious. No metering is a deal breaker.

 

[Mad Hatter]

I'll second that!! :wink:

I see them on Ebay now and then also.

You do great work with that lens. I'd buy one but I've come to appreciate the brighter viewfinder of 2.8 glass.

 

[vindex1963]

You do great work with that lens. I'd buy one but I've come to appreciate the brighter viewfinder of 2.8 glass.

The 100mm Promaster and a Nikon 55mm micro f/2.8. The price for both is still nothing. I have both and they have great IQ.

I am going to get a Sigma 150mm some day.

 

[Iscariot]

The tamron 90mm is a beautiful lens. Just depends on how much working distance u feel u need

 

[Rob0]

have a pretty full stable of macros
love the nikkors - 105 VR and older 105s
I find the 200 a little long with a narrower DOF than I prefer
have and use both the 3.5 and 2.8 55s, and they're incredible and cheap
but favorites are lester dine 105, followed closely by vivitar 90

I prefer shooting both macros and portraits with manual focus, though

 

[doti b]

From what I believe, although I may be wrong, the 105 (sigma or Nikon) will give me a slightly better working distance from my subjects over the 90. Think I'll look at hiring one to play with, although finding a 105 AF-D may prove more difficult as its an older lense. A work colleague also suggested looking at a Tokina 100 and/or Sigma 150 although the latter would probably be outside my budget

 

[wizzard0003]

Here are a bunch available used from KEH...

Nikon Micro (4 pages)
http://www.keh.com/search?store=cam...de=Class&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

Sigma macro (3 pages)
http://www.keh.com/search?store=cam...de=Class&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

Tamron Macro (2 pages)
http://www.keh.com/search?store=cam...de=Class&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

Tokina Macro (1 page)
http://www.keh.com/search?store=cam...de=Class&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

Edit:
I just noticed that you are in the UK... KEH does ship international but if you'd rather deal locally
here's at least one place in the UK that deals in used gear... They have several Micro (Nikon) and
Macro (Sigma / Tamron) lenses available...

MPB Photographic
http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/used-lenses/used-nikon-fit-lenses/?viewall=1

One other option not mentioned by anyone is the Nikon 85 f3.5 G VR DX Micro... It's every bit as
good as the 105 f2.8 VR Micro but for half the cost because it's a DX lens... I wish I still had mine
as it was an excellent lens for the price...

 

[Mad Hatter]

From what I believe, although I may be wrong, the 105 (sigma or Nikon) will give me a slightly better working distance from my subjects over the 90. Think I'll look at hiring one to play with, although finding a 105 AF-D may prove more difficult as its an older lense. A work colleague also suggested looking at a Tokina 100 and/or Sigma 150 although the latter would probably be outside my budget

http://www.keh.com/camera/Nikon-Autofocus-Fixed-Focal-Length-Lenses/1/sku-NA060090424850?r=FE

There's a half a billion of them out there.

The 150 sigma is one of the best you can buy at any price. But I think you'll need to spend at least $500 for the original version used.

For a little over $300 you could get the 105 f/2.8 D which you would conceivably never need to upgrade. The promaster is pretty much just as good (at macro not at being a general purpose 100mm prime) but I doubt it is built anywhere near as good. But when they do show up used they go for about $100. The 105 f/2.8 D is built to last a lifetime.

edit: beaten by the wizard. One thing to keep in mind is that sigma adds the 'macro' monicker to alot of lenses that doesn't necessarily make the macros. Especially the wide angle lenses. They add the 'macro' thing in there because the wide angles focus close (which almost all WA do).

 

[Chris101]

The 60mm f/2.8 AF-D Nikkor does really nice portraits - the bokey is quite beautiful at the headshot range. And the shorter focal length lets you work in slightly closer quarters, while maintaining a low-distortion distance.

 

[ArtScott]

I have the manual focus 100 or 105...sharp as a tack and quick to focus...also would make a great portrait lens....but for my artistic style side I need to be able to rotate the lens...so I am going for either a Sigma 150 or 180 both of which have a tripod mount ring and foot.... also I want a little more working distance than what my current lens gives me when I go after spiders and snakes... but that is just me.

 

[Jeff Lee]

You might look for a used Tamron 90 with their version of AFS for your D50. I've seen them on Fred Miranda at about $270 or you can try KEH. This is a very good portrait lens also.

 

[MParker]

The classic portrait lens on full frame is 85-105mm. For your D50, to get the same relative perspective something in the range of 50-70mm might be a good choice. There are many many 50s out there. Nikon's two 60mm macros and Sigma's 70mm macro are good choices too.

OTOH, you say you want it to do double duty as a macro for bugs and flowers. In that case you'd be hard pressed to find a better than the Sigma 105, followed by the Tamron 90.

Good Luck.

 

[vindex1963]

Here are a bunch available used from KEH...

Nikon Micro (4 pages)
http://www.keh.com/search?store=cam...de=Class&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

Sigma macro (3 pages)
http://www.keh.com/search?store=cam...de=Class&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

Tamron Macro (2 pages)
http://www.keh.com/search?store=cam...de=Class&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

Tokina Macro (1 page)
http://www.keh.com/search?store=cam...de=Class&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

Edit:
I just noticed that you are in the UK... KEH does ship international but if you'd rather deal locally
here's at least one place in the UK that deals in used gear... They have several Micro (Nikon) and
Macro (Sigma / Tamron) lenses available...

MPB Photographic
http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/used-lenses/used-nikon-fit-lenses/?viewall=1

One other option not mentioned by anyone is the Nikon 85 f3.5 G VR DX Micro... It's every bit as
good as the 105 f2.8 VR Micro but for half the cost because it's a DX lens... I wish I still had mine
as it was an excellent lens for the price...

There's a Tokina on that list for $5.00 :biggrin:

 

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20121029-085-3 by longzoom, on Flickrople/longzoom/]longzoom[/url], on Flickr. For me, personally, the best macro is old Nikkor 105/2.8. While all of macro lenses are close to each other in macro range, this Nikkor also is better to distance. Close-up with that lens is stunning. Images and crops are my only arguments. THX! LZ

 

[longzoom]

A lot of people, including me, spent time and efforts offering help to OP. A simple rule of communication require the OP say very simple "Thank you", doesn't it?