Micro Lens for Nikon D7100: What is a good Micro lens for my Nikon D7100? I need something good without breaking my bank account.

Triggerhappy

What is a good Micro lens for my Nikon D7100? I need something good without breaking my bank account.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Start looking here:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html

Personally, I experimented with lens reversal adapters, and cheap extensions.
Got hooked right away on Macro Photography.
My choice for my macro lense was a 180mm Tamron True Macro lens (1:1).
I chose to go that way to achieve a greater distance from my subject.
The popular choice appears to be the 105mm Macro from Nikon.
But there is quite a range available.

dkeysser Loc: Minneapolis

I have an old 60mm f2.8 macro, a very sharp lens, which works well on my D7100 (including auto-focus). Given the 1.5 crop factor, this amounts to a 90mm lens, which is a good focal length for macro work. These should be available used

gatorjim

The Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro D Macro is a great lens for $377.00 at BH Photo. It is a great alternative to the Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f2.8 at 775.95 from Nikon USA.

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Triggerhappy wrote:

What is a good Micro lens for my Nikon D7100? I need something good without breaking my bank account.

Depends on what it takes to break your bank? 105 mm from Sigma or Nikon would be my first recommendation for someone just starting out. Brand new Sigma 105mm is $650 on the used market they go for $400/$450. Nikon 105mm is $800 new and second hand market is $500/600 for one in good condition. If these prices are too high you'll want to research vintage macro lens. Lot's of good ones in the 100mm range. Typically, good vintage lens in the 100mm range will run $100/200.

A reversed lens on tubes is a very inexpensive entry point for macro photography. Much cheaper than a dedicated macro lens but learning curve is much greater and the rig isn't nearly as convenient to use as a dedicated macro lens.

I invite you to stop by the macro forum and post your question. The good folks over there will be more than happy to point you in the right direction:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

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Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

SonnyE wrote:

Start looking here:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html

Personally, I experimented with lens reversal adapters, and cheap extensions.
Got hooked right away on Macro Photography.
My choice for my macro lense was a 180mm Tamron True Macro lens (1:1).
I chose to go that way to achieve a greater distance from my subject.
The popular choice appears to be the 105mm Macro from Nikon.
But there is quite a range available.

Sonny:

What was your experience with extension tubes?

I am considering getting a set before going to a 1:1 macro lens like a 105 Nikkor.

Thanks.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Dngallagher wrote:

Sonny:

What was your experience with extension tubes?

I am considering getting a set before going to a 1:1 macro lens like a 105 Nikkor.

Thanks.

I got the cheapest I could find the first time. No contacts.
I feel that was a mistake. Even though with a reversed lens the contacts are useless, having them for the future is a good option.
So I now have a set that does have the contacts, whether used of not. ;)
I believe the second set cost in the neighborhood of $35.
I used a lens reversal adapter with my Kit lenses. I figured if nothing else it added usefulness to them. So that is 52mm in my case, and make two lenses do double duty. ;) (2 lenses become 4. By Sonny-logic.)
By reversing my 18-55mm tele lens, my first excursion got me this Grasshoppers eye. Quite by accident as I had gone out to try it on the tiny flowers we have.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-245976-1.html

I still have the lens reversal options, but now have a true Macro lens as well.
No regrets.

:thumbup: Hope this helps.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

SonnyE wrote:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-245976-1.html

I still have the lens reversal options, but now have a true Macro lens as well.
No regrets.

:thumbup: Hope this helps.

Kool images....!

I am thinking about getting a set with contacts to use with a couple different lenses to get started, then move onto a 1:1 105 mm if I can get into it.

I have seen the sets anywhere from 30.00 to 50.00 on the net.

Thanks man!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Glad to help if I can Don.
The lens reversal, and the extension tubes are, I feel, a great way to get your feet wet.
But watch out, it's a short trip into a bunch of extra stuff for your kit bag. :lol:

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

SonnyE wrote:

Glad to help if I can Don.
The lens reversal, and the extension tubes are, I feel, a great way to get your feet wet.
But watch out, it's a short trip into a bunch of extra stuff for your kit bag. :lol:

Yeah, funny how that happens huh? :)

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Dngallagher wrote:

Yeah, funny how that happens huh? :)

Yes Sir, Major GAS attack. :lol:

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I am pleased to read that you are interested in macro-photography.
I invite you to view the UHH True Macro-Photography Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html .
This is the forum to ask questions or discuss macro equipment and macro techniques.

To place Macro Forum on your UHH home page, you can subscribe here: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/section_list.jsp .

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Triggerhappy wrote:

What is a good Micro lens for my Nikon D7100? I need something good without breaking my bank account.

In April of 2012 when I purchased my Nikon D7000, I also purchased the AF-S Micro Nikkor 40mm DX for $280. I use it mainly for violin making. It is an OK lens but is certainly not Nikon's top-of-the line lens for doing close-up work.
-FiddleMaker

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Triggerhappy wrote:

What is a good Micro lens for my Nikon D7100? I need something good without breaking my bank account.

What will you be shooting?