Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

I think I'd go with a Sony 24-105mm f/4. It's an excellent lens.

Of course, you'd also need to pick up an a7Riii or a7iii to mount it on.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

The "getting more light in" remark prompts me to point out that light intensity is measured as light energy per unit area. The lens casts a cone of light unto a circle larger than the sensor. The total light energy in that cone will by (intensity)x(lens aperature area) and the sensor will absorb a part of it. You have but two tools to alter "getting light in" - F-stop and external light illumination.

jcboy3

In other words, get a faster lens or carry a reflector or flash.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This older non-VR lens gets excellent reviews Sigma 24-135mm - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sigma-24-135mm-f-2-8-4-5-D-Auto-Focus-Zoom-Lens-w-Hood-for-Nikon-AF-D-P5738/232796911541?hash=item3633c6f7b5:g:nj0AAOSw1u5bGGP4

You might also look at the older non-VR Tamrons - SP 28-105 f2.8 or the Tamron SP 24-135mm.

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imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Very good advice here ! ....

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OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Noooooooooooooooooooo!

jcboy3

What does that mean? You don't like closeup filters? You'd rather carry a macro lens along with your walkabout lens? You could make a counter suggestion, if you wanted to be helpful.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

The previous answer of Nooo...! was from OddJobber whose "life is a circle of confusion".

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

After my flippant comment recommending the Sony 24-105mm, I feel I owe you, so here's an honest recommendation for a similar Sigma you might enjoy. This is the first lens I bought after purchasing my first DSLR in 2012 (I was late to the game, and ironically so considering I went all-digital with point & shoots in 1995). My first DSLR was a Sony a77 with a kit 16-50mm.

The lens I recommend is the Sigma 28-105mm F2.8-4 Aspherical IF (careful here as there are three vintage Sigma 28-105s - including two with f/2.8-4 aperture) You can read about it, see sample images (some showing off its very nice bokeh), and read a dozen user reviews (the latest is a very good review noting its strengths and weaknesses, and the three negative reviews are way off the mark, bringing down the overall score which is deceivingly low) here:
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Sigma-28-105mm-F2.8-4-Aspherical-IF_lens135.html

This Dyxum site is dedicated to Sony- & Minolta-mount lenses, but most of the third-party lenses are/were available with Nikon, Canon, and other mounts -- so it's an excellent resource for all. Vintage lenses lack modern coatings, so flare can be an issue (positive or negative, depending on how you use flare and how you feel about it) and often they're noisy and relatively slow to focus, but I just love some of my old lenses. The bokeh with this Sigma is unlike that of my Sony G glass, very unique - and beautiful (alas, I'm laying in a hospital bed recovering from back surgery so I can't post a sample.)

Naldo

Or buy a used Nikkor 105 Micro

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

Naldo

Photocraig

Perhaps, for the e-bay stuff you're shooting at home, I presume, you could use an extension tube which will provide improved close focusing and better "fill the frame" magnification. This is WAY less expensive option than a dedicated quality macro lens.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Shooting for ebay is only one of the uses for the macro. And a 1:2 is okay for that. The main purpose is for shooting the ends of fiber used for networking. I have found a set of extension tubes in our box of bits so tried them last night on the 1:2. I still think a 1:1 will give me a better result and maybe with extension tubes. The problem is the end of the tube is ceramic and the fiber sticking out of it is glass so lighting is crucial. So far I haven't nailed it. The purpose is to see when the fiber is just flush with the tip and I want to be able to see it as I adjust the fiber in and out. I have the camera hooked up to a TV set as a display. I have tried a stereo microscope but same issue with lighting and it is harder trying to see what I am doing physically and keeping my eyes trained through the microscope. Same issue also with magnification.
Incidentally using a macro lens mounted on a tripod while sitting on a carpeted floor is impossible.This has proved to be more challenging than I had originally hoped.
I am looking at ebay and there seems to be a good number of suitable lens on there. A number, both Tamron and Nikon, are sourced from Japan at very good prices. I suspect I will pull the trigger on one of these after the weekend. Just tossing up whether to get a used one without VR or bite the bullet and buy new with VR.