Chwlo

Hey guys, I have a D3300 Nikon. I want a good lense to match with this body for Macro, Insects, Small Fossils, Flowers and other interesting things I see as I walk around. I like close up photos but many things don't let me get that close. i.e. scorpions, and dragon flies.
This is a crop sensor rig so a lot of info I am reading for good lenses for this kind of photography is for full frames.
Thank you for your help I love UHH in just a few months here I have learned so much. This is a great group. ( Not including the weirdo's in the attic. I put a lock on it, they scare me)
Chwlo

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I use a Tamron 180 macro on both FF and APS-C. Lots of stand off room. I also have a Kenko Pro 300 1.4x extender that on a Canon crop sensor gives me the angle of view of a 403 mm. On your Nikon that would be AOV of a 378. I use that for butterflies and humming birds around the flowers in the yard.
Most people go for the 90-105 mm range in macros(I have a 100 mm also).

Chwlo

Thank you. I like Tamron, I will check it out.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Give the Nikon AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED a look.
Another good, but more expensive, option is the Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G

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

Not if he needs more working distance. Anything shorter than 150mm would scare off anything he'd want to shoot.

Sigma makes a great 150 F2.8 Macro, and the Tamron 180 F3.5 was a very good lens as well, but it is no longer made. With the Tamron, you get 19" of working distance at maximum magnification. In contrast, to get to 1:1, the 60mm Nikon only provides a working distance of 2.3 inches, and the 105 gives you only 12 inches.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I don't think they would scare off small fossils or flowers. And I haven't frightened off many insects with the 105mm.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Tamron still lists the 180 macro in their on line product site.

Chwlo

Thank you both, Mac and Gene. I have tried a 60mm and it was hard getting near enough, I don't have a 105 to try, so I am going to rent it and the 180 to check them out side by side.
Yall are awesome

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I have used my macro lens a lot less than I thought I would. It's only useful for objects smaller than a coin or a postage stamp. Depth of field is very thin and working distance is just a few inches so adjusting the camera focus by moving the camera and adjusting the plane between the lens and subject work well for me. The Nikkor f2.8 55mm AIS micro macro manual focus film lens can be bought for less than $100 on ebay, or the f3.5 55mm pre-ais micro macro film lens (which I have) for less than $75. Either will work well in manual mode on Nikon D3xxx dslrs. For less than $20 more you can get the matching used Nikon M2 Macro Extension Tube for 55mm Micro-Nikkor that raises the focal length of the lens to 110mm, true macro. The M-2 mounts on any Nikon dslr, so although I can only mount the pre-ais f3.5 macro lens without the extender on my D3100, I can mount it with the extender on my D7000 or D3100.
Attached is a pic of a quarter taken at full macro with the M-2 extender and the f3.5 55mm Nikkor micro macro lens. The pic was taken in manual mode at f11, 1so-1600, 1/500 sec., handheld, with a desk lamp for illumination.

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robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Same with the Canon 65 mm macro. It goes from 1x to 5x life size but that within min 9.4" to max 12.5" focus distance. So you have a working space of 3.1" front to back. Absolutely wonderful on insects (no really large insects either) etc but not usable for anything else much bigger. A true Macro fanatic's tool. I would like to play with one a bit, but unless I really get into macro the over $1K would prevent me doing anything but borrow one or may rent one - after planing a project or series of projects to be done in only a day or two.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

One thing you might find with the 180mm is yes you have more working distance but harder to hand hold especially once you get beyond 1:1 macro to me personally 90mm to 105mm is the perfect focal length for macro.

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cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

I cannot comment about the quality of the Tamron 180mm as I have not personally used it. I do use the Sigma 150mm and the Sigma 180mm extensively. The are both excellent lenses. Both will give you more shooting room than the standard 90-105mm macro.

Chwlo

Thank you. And that is exactly the kind of Photos I want to take. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing Hangman.

Chwlo

Distance is important I am disabled so I can't sneak up on living things anymore. Most flowers and fossils don't run away, but everything else does.