Hia folks,
While shooting photos today I came upon a major dilemma. I currently use extension tubes for macro work. While I find them a lot of fun, I can rarely seem to get the shot I am looking for, with any number of combinations afford me by my Kenko tube set. Also, focusing by moving back and forth has proven quite difficult, and even when shooting at f/16 or so, my shots are always out of focus. I am sure a large part of it is my technique.I end up missing the shot, getting frustrated and using my film camera, for which I have a macro lens.
I have been looking at the 40mm f2.8 AF-S and was wondering if anyone had any feedback about it.
Do you feel the 40mm might be more beneficial than using my extension tubes?
I'm no expert on macros so someone else will have to chime in but my one thought is that 40mm sounds like you would have to be very close to the subject. I've got a macro tube and when I used it with my 50mm, I had to get within just a few inches or so of the subject, which is too close for me. I do better using the tube with an 85.
A macro lens gives you more flexibility and much less frustration for sure.
If you do flowers mostly 40mm will be ok but for insects I would not take that one... too short focusing distance for me, I would rather have a look at the 80mm f/3.5 DX or if money is no object the 105VR
A good affordable macro lens is the tamron 90 f.28 or the 60f.28. Those are recommended quite a lot, and if you want to spend a bit more, the 150 sigma non-os is great!
Whether 40mm is beneficial depends on what you shoot. For example, it will be different if you shoot a static subject vs a butterfly. Depending on your subject, the longer focal length gives you a longer focus distance so you can avoid disturb your subject.
There are also 2 other advantages that typical macro lenses offer:
1. Usually they are very sharp.
2. You can focus from infinite down to 1:1 or 1:2. This is far more convenient than the limited focus range caused by an extension tube.
Thank you all for the insight.
To answer the "what do I shoot" question, I shoot static objects, abstracts. No bugs or flowers for me.Ill have to look into the Tamrons!
ifaynshteyn wrote:
Thank you all for the insight.
To answer the "what do I shoot" question, I shoot static objects, abstracts. No bugs or flowers for me.Ill have to look into the Tamrons!
Tamron has there new 90mm VC micro coming out next week. It looks very promising.
the MOST important factor for sharp macro images is your tripod, head, cable release choices
Most any lens can deliver very sharp images when stopped down so I suggest getting a heavy tripod a good head a focussing rail, cable release, practice and patience are essential too
For a macro lens your first choice is the focal length, which determines the working length to your subject. THEN pick features/ manufacturer. I have a 90 mm Tamron which is very nice- but probably all the others are too.
> the MOST important factor for sharp macro images is your tripod, head, cable release choices
Gotta try that sometime but so far I usually do hand-held. With careful bracing, good light, and some luck (that means, discarding the bad ones) I have been able to get some acceptable images.
For a macro lens your first choice is the focal length, which determines the working length to your subject. THEN pick features/ manufacturer. I have a 90 mm Tamron which is very nice- but probably all the others are too.
> the MOST important factor for sharp macro images is your tripod, head, cable release choices
Gotta try that sometime but so far I usually do hand-held. With careful bracing, good light, and some luck (that means, discarding the bad ones) I have been able to get some acceptable images.
One real nuisance is WIND- if you've got it the tripod won't help, you need an assistant with an umbrella or hat or such. ...Show more →
the real nuisance is when folks don't read thru the thread first
The OP is making images of static images so everything I said earlier still holds. And the image you linked to is nice but easily made with deeper DOF if you would like using a tripod. I have easily more than 50k images of flowers and shrooms and lichen etc and no more than 10% were made Without a tripod.
once you get past the fact that you gotta use one it becomes the main tool for sharp and better composed images
jmcfadden wrote:
the MOST important factor for sharp macro images is your tripod, head, cable release choices
Most any lens can deliver very sharp images when stopped down so I suggest getting a heavy tripod a good head a focussing rail, cable release, practice and patience are essential too
brett maxwell wrote:
anyone tried this 40mm lens with FX or 1.2x crop mode? How's the vignette?
It's pretty sweet on the D800 in 1.2x mode...negligible. No distortion/CA either.
