The time is now!

[rickztahone]

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

[Second Hand Pat]

I want a good macro lens.

[rickztahone]

You want something that is at least 90mm then Pat. What would your budget be? I can look around for you

[Second Hand Pat]

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

May have

What are you looking to use it on? Reason I ask is the macro range of lens goes from 35mm (Tokina do/did an F-Mount version) up to the spectacular Nikkor 200mm F4 Micro (old but cut yourself sharp - but bl**dy expensive too!).

Personally I'd avoid any macro lens under 60mm (except for document copying) ...

Macro lenses around the 60mm mark are very good for fish photography (in tanks), but for true macro work are a little short as their min working distance is tiny and light becomes an issue. There are two in this range worth looking at, the Nikkor 60mm AF-S f2.8 (or the AF-D version) and the Tamron 60mm F2, I really liked the Tamron 60 as it is a full stop faster and doubles as a nice portrait lens on the D7000.

Macro lenses around the 100mm mark offer the most choices. On the D7000 these are a really good choice imo and are also great for fish tank shots. The top of the line is the Nikkor 105mm f2.8 VR AF-S - not only is it a first class macro lens (and very sharp therefore) but it doubles as a useful telephoto as the AF-S is fast and the VR really helps - but very expensive imo. I prefered the older 105mm f2.8 AF-D for macro work, it just seems better to me. Sigma do a decent 105 macro, and can be good value too. Tamron offer the 90mm macro f2.8 and this lens gets rave reviews - I have used the previous version and found it to be spectacularly good - not as well made as the Nikkors, but optically very nice - and a lot cheaper too! Tamron have just updated this lens, so there may be bargains to be had on the older model (the one I used). Lastly, and by no means least, is the Tokina ATX Pro D 100mm f2.8 macro - optically it is as good, if not better, than the Nikkors, it is extremely well built too and is also very good value for money - it is the one I ended up buying.

Generally the smaller the object you want to photograph with a macro lens, the longer lens you need - most bug specialists I know use either the Sigma 180 or the rolls royce Nikkor 200mm F4! On a D7000 these longer macros are less flexible so are probably best avoided, unless you are specifically wanting to photograph bugs that is!

If I recall correctly you have a Nikon 35mm DX f1.8 and the Nikon 18-200mm VR - I'd suggest then getting a macro in the 90/100/105 range as on the D7000 it offers the greatest flexibility. All of those will work well too on FX cameras should you ever upgrade (the Tamron 60 won't, the nikkor 60 will).

[rickztahone]

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.

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.

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

Leucospermum erubescens by rickztahone, on Flickr

Sun Bathing by rickztahone, on Flickr

THE FLY! by rickztahone, on Flickr

Butterfly by rickztahone, on Flickr

I'm not sure if that last one worked, I couldn't view it here at work

[Second Hand Pat]

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.

[rickztahone]

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 .

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.

[Discus-n00b]

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.

[rickztahone]

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.