Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

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Archive 2009 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

Cougra
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p.1 #1 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a Christmas present for my mom and am thinking of getting her a macro/micro lens for close up work. She has the Nikon D80 camera and really likes taking photos of flowers. I believe that currently she is using a 70-300mm inexpensive zoom lens for these photos and has to stand back a ways and zoom in for her "close-up" photos. Recently she has tried using my canon EF-S 60mm F2.8 macro lens and really enjoyed the effect of the lens and having the ability to get in close to the subjects and the shallow depth of field my macro produced.

Unfortunately I don't know much about the Nikon lens designations so I'm appealing to your expertise in helping me find an affordable lens. I'm looking for an entry level macro lens but one that will give her good results to make the odd 8.5x11 prints.

Thank you for any help you can give!

Nov 20, 2009 at 06:44 PM

Shutterslam
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p.1 #2 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

This is the 60mm 2.8 "D"
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-60mm-Micro-Nikkor-Digital-Cameras/dp/B00005LE77/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258742904&sr=8-1

This is the newer 60mm 2.8 VR
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-60mm-2-8G-Micro-Nikkor-Cameras/dp/B0013A1XDY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258742904&sr=8-2

This is the yet to be released 85mm DX VR lens (vibration reduction, built specifically for crop sensor bodies like the D80)
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-85mm-3-5G-Digital-Cameras/dp/B002SQKVE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258742999&sr=1-1

105mm 2.8 "G" VR lens ~$800
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-105mm-2-8G-ED-IF-Micro-Nikkor/dp/B000EOSHGQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258742935&sr=8-3

Or you can get her a set of extension tubes to allow her 70-300 to focus closer.
http://www.amazon.com/Kenko-Auto-Extension-Nikon-Mount/dp/B000JG88JU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258742952&sr=8-1

For flowers - you don't need much more than the 60mm...then it's just a question of do you go with the older D model or the VR equipped G model.

If it's used strictly for macro, either model is fine, if you plan on hand holding to do things like portraits, then the VR comes into play.

The 105mm lenses give you better working distances (i.e. camera to subject distance) coupled with extension tubes and you can start getting some serious magnification.

Here's an attempt at an abstract shot with the 105mm D on tripod with SB900 and SB600 providing side lighting and -1 flash comp for the on axis fill

Nov 20, 2009 at 07:00 PM

90 5.0
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p.1 #3 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

What about the new 85 macro??

Nov 20, 2009 at 07:03 PM

Rexspangle
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p.1 #4 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

Hey there, Does it have to be a Nikon lens? would she like a MF lens?

It all depends how much you are willing to spend but there are a lot of options

Nikon announced a AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 85mm F3.5G VR.. But I odn't know if it will be out in time.

The Nikon 105 VR is an option too

or there is a 60 mm Nikon macro that would be similiar to your Canon that she enjoyed

I bought a Canon 500d close up lens/filter and sold it after a week so I don't think that would be a cost effective option (not that I am saying you were thinking that)

If you are familiar with 3rd party macro Canon lenses you could basically just get the Nikon version of it. Tamron makes nice macros like the 90mm.

Stating your budget is ultimately the thing that will help people make more useful suggestions.

good luck

eta: look at the responses.....I was a little slow on hitting reply after composing my message

Edited on Nov 20, 2009 at 07:10 PM · View previous versions

Nov 20, 2009 at 07:09 PM

rubberband
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p.1 #5 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

The older Micro Nikkor 60mm/f2.8 D macro is your best value I think. It's inexpensive, crazy sharp, and for flowers (which can't run away!) the close working distance doesn't matter.

Nov 20, 2009 at 07:09 PM

Chestnut
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p.1 #6 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

I have had the Nikon 105 D, have the current Nikon 105 G VR, and we have the newer Nikon 60 G macro at work. All great lenses.

Depending on her lighting availabilities or abilities, the 105 will give her more working distance for natural lighting, whereas the with the 60mm, she may find her own shadow getting in the way sometimes. Also, sometimes, if she's trying to get to a very small detail, a longer working distance may work in her favor by not having to stick the lens inside the flower, or have the lens be brushing against other flowers. It happened to one of my friends - he got pollen all over his lens when trying to capture the detail of a bug that was deep inside a flower.

On the other hand, if she's working in tight spaces, the shorter working distance of the 60 will help. The angle of view is also a little more "natural", and less compressed when compared to the 105. It's also smaller and lighter, and I believe less expensive as well.

I have no experiences with the new 85 DX macro lens, but hear it's one of the most impressive on paper. The 85 should also offer a compromise between the working distances of the 105 and 60. So that may be a good route as well - and the lens is BRAND new... supposedly one of the sharpest lenses in Nikon's lineup right now.

Hope this helps

Nov 20, 2009 at 07:31 PM

dionysis
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p.1 #7 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

I have a Tamron 90mm 2.8 They can be found really cheap all over the place. It is amazingly sharp. It does have this annoying extension tube that comes out of the front of the lens to get close focus but the results are awesome!

Nov 20, 2009 at 08:28 PM

Cougra
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p.1 #8 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

Thank you all for your quick replies so far.

I can guarantee that she wont be taking many people photos with the lens. She definitely prefers taking nature photos and leaves the people type photos to other members of the family. This is a hobby for her and she takes her camera when she is out for a hike in the woods, see something interesting while on the lake or stopping for a break on her bike rides. We do go out together fairly often so she does have occasional access to my 60mm Macro, but it would be nice if she either has her own equivalent or something that can give us (I know I'm being a little selfish here) a bit more flexibility at least when we are together I would love to be able to get the 105mm for her, but I think it's starting to stretch the budget range a little too far.

Does it have to be a Nikon lens? would she like a MF lens?
I'm willing to look at non-Nikon lens provided the lens has a Nikon mount option, but I would definitely want to get her a prime lens, not a zoom. I have the Sigma 17-70mm Macro zoom and neither one of us is really impressed with the results we get on my camera.

I don't think that a manual focus lens would be a good idea. Although she really enjoys photography, she is still fairly new to it and is still getting used to changing aperture/shutter speed/ISO instead of working in complete auto modes. I think a MF lens would be a little too much at this time.

Or you can get her a set of extension tubes to allow her 70-300 to focus closer. This may be a very good idea that I hadn't thought of! It would give her a lot of flexibility and she would be able to use it on her kit lens as well if she didn't want as much zoom. When it comes to the extension tubes, how close would it let her get to the subject? Does it give a narrow depth of field?

What about the new 85 macro?? This does look like it will be a nice lens/range and it would be in the right budget, but will it be readily available before Christmas?

As for lighting, she is currently only using natural light or her onboard flash. I've talked to her about getting a flash gun but she would prefer to have the lens until she is more comfortable with the camera itself. Flash will come at a later date.

Nov 20, 2009 at 08:46 PM

Shutterslam
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p.1 #9 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

Here's a quick informal demo...

Shot with a D300 + 70-300 VR(turned off) at 1250 ISO mounted on a tripod. Hand held SB600 with a stofen diffuser fired off via CLS (which the D80 can do)

@70mm from 8ft

@300mm from 8ft

@300mm from 5ft (~minimum normal focusing distance)

F32@300mm with all 3 Kenko extenders brings the distance to subject to about 3ft

F6.3@300mm with all extension tubes

F32@70mm with all extension tubes, about 1 inch from subject

This is what the setup looks like on the 70-300

There's a tiny bit of flex when all 3 extenders are mounted so I wouldn't go abusing the equipment.

Few things that were essential to these photos above and beyond the extenders...
a) a solid tripod
b) a flash

I'm nowhere near as good as the pros that can catch dragon flies handheld, but then again - we're talking about flowers here so I gather there's far less chasing around and more time to compose and consider the shot. I've tried higher than 1:1 magnification hand held, and I just don't have the steady hand to do it...and no not even the Joe McNally grip could help in that case

Having said all that - I prefer a dedicated macro lens, although extenders are a cheap way to get all of your lens macro-able. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised at the increased working distance you get with a 70-300 (useful for stalking critters from a distance).

Oh and
>> Does it give a narrow depth of field?
Extenders do exactly what they say, they take the lens and push it further away from the sensor, which is what allows you to achieve closer focusing distances (at least that's my understanding of it). There's no additional glass, so there' s no loss of f stops which would happen if you were using a tc.

Hope that helps some.

Nov 20, 2009 at 09:32 PM

Cougra
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p.1 #10 · Looking for a Christmas present for my mom

Shutterslam,
I think that you have just sold me on getting the extension tubes! I think that they would work really well for the type of photography that she would like to do. Thank you for the demonstration!

I know that you highly recommend a flash with the set up, so I looked up the flash units and found that I would be able to afford these and an SB-600 for her to start with rather than one lens. It would give her flexibility.

I would also like to thank everyone else who has posted on here. I really appreciate the input.

Nov 21, 2009 at 01:44 AM

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