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If you plan on upgrading, or simply buying new gear, there is no better time than right now to get that new piece of gear. You find so many deals from so many major retailers that it makes it a good time to buy a whole bunch of stuff :).
Don't tell my wife I said that ;)
I want a good macro lens. :)
You want something that is at least 90mm then Pat. What would your budget be? I can look around for you :)
Not sure Ricardo, it would depend on how flexible my hubby is. Paul recommends a macro at one time but darn if I know where it is posted.
Found Paul's recommendation
Quote:
Originally Posted by pcsb23
Well, do you happen to have a camera store near you? I have a huge camera store near me that during holidays they have no taxes on everything and they discount their merchandise anywhere from 25%-50%. Check around to see if you have anything like that near you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Second Hand Pat
From the very brief searching around I did, it seems that Sigma makes a good macro lens:
Sigma 105 2.8
This is also based on my experience with Sigma. They have never failed me, and their HSM lenses have been great to me. However, the OS which is the VR "equivalent" seems to be only slightly better than the Nikon original.
With that being said, I will be very honest with you, I NEVER, and I really mean never, use auto focus on my macro lenses when doing macro photography. No one I know uses AF on any of their macro lenses for macro work. If you are truly using your macro for macro photography, chances are that you will not need OS/VR/IS.
Now, with THAT being said, macro lenses somtimes can double as portrait lens, because of their focal range. I have also used my 90mm Tamron for portraiture work and it is very pleasing to use.
You have to decide if you want to shell out the big bucks for an OS/VR/IS that you will rarely use if doing macro work only, or go the cheaper route and still have a very solid macro lens without the OS/VR/IS.
Here is the Nikon varient to compare.
Here is the list of Macros that I could find arranged by highest rated: Highest rated Macros
You might possibly get away with this lens because you are on a cropped camera, but I rarely suggest anyone does a macro with less than 90mm. It is very limiting when you go lower than that focal range.
This Tamron would be a better suggestion for me though. Simply because I have a Tamron and there isn't much to be desired. If the Nikon mount is anything like the Sony mount though, I'm sure there is an older version of this lens without the image stabilization which would make it a lot cheaper. That is the one that I own (72E I believe it is called) and I have never felt the need for IS on my lens. Granted, my camera has IBIS (in body image stabilization) which grants ALL lenses with IS even if they do not come with it.
As you can see, there are many choices, but the last one I gave you would be the cheapest route, and not necessarily the worst option either.
Here are some shots with the Tam90 2.8
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3814/...82ac2a52_b.jpg
Leucospermum erubescens by rickztahone, on Flickr
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/...881b2cb8_b.jpg
Sun Bathing by rickztahone, on Flickr
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/...366b7243_b.jpg
THE FLY! by rickztahone, on Flickr
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7227/...13920479_b.jpg
Butterfly by rickztahone, on Flickr
I'm not sure if that last one worked, I couldn't view it here at work :(
Thanks Ricardo, I quoted Paul's recommendations in post 4 so between your and Paul's recommendation I have lots to wade thru. Nice pictures BTW. :)
just read it, almost all of his recommendation fall in line with what I said, so there isn't too much to wade through :).Quote:
Originally Posted by Second Hand Pat
I would really check out the Tokina he mentions. I believe I saw it on that last for cheap as well, but I have no knowledge of this lens in my mount.
However, I do have and have had Tokina lenses and they are quite frankly, built like a beast! This is no understatement, they really are built solid.
Paul confirms that there is an older Tam 90 version as well, I would highly recommend that. Those, at least in my mount, go for around $200 second hand.
I also found some used gear on Keh. Don't forget, Keh has some awesome prices on used gear that is well rated.
I noticed an 85mm that doesn't seem too bad.
Also THIS ONE may be the one that Paul was referring to.
There's also a nice EX condition Nikon 105 2.8 for $700. I personally feel that is a lot for a dedicated macro, but YMMV.
Ultimately, I do macro photography once in a great while, and if I'm going to spend close to a grand, it will typically be something that I get good use out of, like a portrait lens, or maybe even a wide landscape lens.
I'll leave it at that though, you have enough to go on with already lol. Just a heads up, Keh was advertising a sale on their main homepage, so that may just sweaten the pot for you.
I agree, black friday all the way to christmas is an excellent time to buy!! I usually buy all my gear during these times, or ask for it from family members that are willing to shell out for a nice gift during the holidays. ;)
I use my Canon 100mm macro, for us Canon users the IS red ring version really isn't all that far ahead of the older model which you can pickup for half the price. I really need to use it more and get some macro work in, sometimes the pictures turn out great and sometimes they turn out terrible. I really need to practice my focusing. Rick is that flower picture focus stacked or just a single image? I find the focus on that excellent and results I hardly ever see.
Believe it or not, it is a single exposure hand held, but with a flash, and I believe I used a reflector with mesh only to diffuse harsh sunlight. The flash allowed me to stop down pretty heavy though which is why so much of it is in focus.Quote:
Originally Posted by Discus-n00b