picsman Loc: Scotland

I have the tokina 100 and use it for both macro and other outdoor uses and find it a fine prime lens. I think anything shorter than 100 will not be as useful.

Gampa

I’d suggest you stay in the 90 - 105 range ... as you’ll not need to get as close to the object you’re focusing on.

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

The beauty of macros though is that they are multipurpose and not just relegated to shooting 1:1 at their minimum focus distance. They are also great primes at their respective focal lengths. I've got a trinity of macro lenses (Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, 105mm f/2.8D and the 200mm f/4D) and they're used for much more than macro. Based on subject, all bases covered. BTW, thanks for all the great videos.

Jerry Green Loc: Huntsville, AL

I like the Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR and add the Nikon TC-20E III to it for 210mm when I need even more standoff distance. Mounted on my Nikon D500 it is great handheld when chasing butterflies around. The 105mm is very good for sports and portrait photography. Here is how to mount it on a tripod:

https://gofish.smugmug.com/Other/Other-assorted-photos/i-JpV47pN

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I have Tamron (AF), Sigma (AF), Nikon (MF), Vivitar (older MF one made by Kino), Spiratone (MF) & Lester Dine (MF) macro lenses. All will deliver as long as you have good technique. I'm one who basically only uses my macro lenses for macro. I have other lenses for other purposes (got too many as it is). I'd never use a macro lens for head & shoulders portraits of women as they would show every blemish, necessitating a lot of post editing. As for the longer focal lengths yes, they allow for more working distance but the tradeoff is higher cost, more bulk & weight and even less depth of field. 90-105 is the best compromise.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I have a Nikon 60 and 105 and have use for both situation dependent. I have been thinking about something in the 180-200 range as well. All depends upon what and how YOU wish to shoot. Personally, I'd stay away from any lens that no longer could be serviced. Best of luck.

walkurie Loc: East Stroudsburg, PA

I have the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 VC on my D5300 and it is fantastic. Got it at Usedphotopro.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

You'll have a lot better luck if you look for a "Tokina" instead of a "Tonkia"... or a "Tamron" instead of a "Tamrom"

The Sigma 70mm is a long-discontinued model. There are much better.

I normally recommend a 90mm, 100mm or 105mm macro lens, for the working distance it affords you (about 12 inches at closest focus/maximum magnification), without being too difficult to hand hold steady.

The Tokina 100mm is a decent, but simple macro lens. With excellent image quality, it's one of the lowest cost macros available ($350). But in Nikon mount it does not have an in-lens focusing motor. That's fine on your 7000-series camera, which has a focusing drive motor in the body (as well as higher Nikon camera models). But it cannot autofocus on D3000-series or D5000-series Nikon cameras, which lack the in-body focusing motor. That may not matter now, but might if you ever decide to sell the lens, effecting its value to future Nikon users. Also, it's not an "internal focusing" design, which means it grows longer (a LOT longer), when focused close. This reduces working distance between you and the subject. Tokina also uses a rather unusual "focus clutch" method of switching between autofocus and manual focus. The lens' focus ring slides forward or backward slightly to change the setting. This works fine, but means that you either have autofocus or manual focus... you cannot manually tweak or override autofocus without first switching the lens to manual focus mode (all the other lenses mentioned here allow the user to directly override AF at any time).

Tamron actually offers two versions of their 90mm f/2.8 macro lens. Both have similarly excellent image quality. The older version uses a slower micro motor focus drive and, like the Tokina 100, isn't internal focusing. The newest version uses faster USD or "ultrasonic" focus drive, has VC or "vibration control" image stabilization and is internal focusing... but it costs about 50% more than the older version. Both the current Tamron lenses are able to autofocus on any Nikon body.

The Micro-Nikkor 105mm also offers excellent image quality, the AF-S version is able to autofocus fairly quickly on any recent/current Nikon camera body and it has VR "vibration reduction" image stabilization. But it also is the most expensive option, at about $900.

Sigma also offers a 105mm macro lens, very similar to the Micro-Nikkor 105 in all respects... currently selling for about $570. It's internal focusing, uses faster HSM "ultrasonic" focus drive and has OS "optical stabilization".

And, yes, Tamron also offers a "crop only" (DX) 60mm f/2 macro lens. It's quite compact, internal focusing and, thanks to it's unusually large aperture, may better serve dual purpose as a portrait lens than most macro lenses (most are f/2.8 at best). The Tammy 60mm is able to AF on any Nikon, but uses a slower micro motor type of focus drive. That's fine for macro and portraits, but it's by no means an "action/sports" lens. It can't keep up with fast movements.

FYI, Nikon themselves also offer some more compact macro lenses... AF 60mm f/2.8 D ($515, no in-lens focus drive motor), AF-S 60mm f/2.8G ($600), AF-S 40mm f/2.8G "DX" ($275), AF-S 85mm f/3.5G "DX" ($525), AF 200mm f/4D ($1800, no built-in AF motor). Micro-Nikkors are generally capable of very high quality images. But so are many of the third party lenses.

A couple notes:

For macro photography, fast autofocus isn't necessary. In fact, many times it's preferable to use manual focus. And, even with faster types of autofocus drive (such as Nikon's Silent Wave, Sigma HSM or Tamron USD), macro lenses are usually slower focusing than non-macro. This is because most macro lenses use a "long throw" focus design that emphasized precision over speed. Precise focusing is needed because depth of field can be very shallow at higher magnification.

And, for macro photography image stabilization is of rather limited usefulness... It simply doesn't help much at high magnifications. The best systems give about one stop assistance, at most, at full 1:1 magnification (which all the above lenses can do, BTW). Image stabilization, if a lens has it, may be more helpful if using the lens for non-macro purposes.

Have fun shopping!

Geezer Bill Loc: San Diego County, CA

A little bit off subject, but, the three subject image you included was really great and to my old eyes, very sharp. If I lost my two Nikon micros I would seriously consider the Tamron lens!

TH Loc: minnesota

Hey B&H has the Tokina 100 macro on sale today for $349.95. Go get it.

TH

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Reviews on the Tokina 100 macro have been excellent. I would look close at this one too. 70MM is a bit short for my taste, but some even like 60MM, so choices abound.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The 70 sounds great for what YOU want ! .....

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Although I have several macro lens, 100mm f2.8 and 50mm f2.8, I like to share this one taken using another route. This one was taken with a 500mm reflex mirror lens. I was using a Sony A99 with a Minolta 500mm f8 mirror lens. I seem to recall the butterfly was around 5, maybe 6, feet away and wasn't even aware that it's picture was being taken. No extension rings were used. It focuses this close. And I used auto-focus by the way. And this was hand held.

(Download)

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

There have been many good suggestions. I am a Nikon purist. I have the 55mm manual prime with tube, 85mm, 105mm and 200mm (manual) Nikon macro lenses. Funny thing is I took this photo with the Nikon 200-500 telephoto from a distance of about 10 feet. Perhaps its more technique than macro lens. However, you gotta have a hefty arm to hold the camera. This was a handheld shot and I didn't have the lens up the bees ass with a small lens.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I'd go with the Nikon 105mm Macro. Or if the price of a new one scares you, look for a used vintage Nikkor Macro 105mm AI lens, f/2.8 or f/4. A classic and you probably don't really want AF for macro shooting any way.