What Macro lens to buy????

dingdong1234567

Hi all, i'm undecided on what macro lens to buy, not sure if it is a wide angle i should be looking at or a macro. I want to try my hand at close up photography. If anyone has any tips for a novice in this field it would be top notch!!!!

Paulw

Well, the camera type will have an impact.

The Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro is a brilliant macro lens.

dingdong1234567

whoops forgot its a Nikon D50

qwertz

I bought the AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED some months back, excellent lens.

Have a look at the following links:

http://photo.net/learn/macro/
http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/nikon_articles/other/close-up_macro/macro_0.html

elven

If you're just starting out, see if you can get nikon fit extension tubes. Those on a nice fast lens like a 50mm f1.8 can get you excellent results without spending the same kind of cash as a dedicated macro lens. I only got the canon 100mm f2.8 a month or so ago, was using the above kit for years and loved it...

dingdong1234567

I guess the extension tubes increases the zoom the lens to a macro zoom? What kind of money are they going for? thanks for the feedback guys!!

joolsveer

I have the Sigma 105mm 2.8 macro and I am very happy with it. I have used it for portraits too. This shot was taken indoors handheld

elven

Here are the tubes, and this is the sort of lens you want to use them with. Although you can use them with loads of lenses - all it does is increase the space between the lens element and the sensor so it changes the focusing distance. The advantage of paying extra for a dedicated lens like the sigma 105 joolsveer just mentioned, is that you can shoot normal stuff without having to change anything - you need to take the tubes off to shoot normally again, they only let you do close range stuff.

dingdong1234567

Thanks elven that makes it alot clearer, thanks again for the feedback guys.

Fajitas!

Also using the Sigma 105mm 2.8

Gives excellent results: