How much is sacrificed?
Dec 21, 2020 16:47:48 #
I take a lot of non true macro closeup shots with a 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro Nikkor on my D850, often from about 3 to 5 feet, using focus stacking. The other day, the camera was sitting on the tripod with my 70-200mm f/4.0 VR Nikkor, and, being intrinsically and preternaturally lazy, I made some shots of a few stacks with the zoom set at 105mm, combined them in HeliconFocus, and the resulting images look pretty good to me, although there was not a lot of detail to examine, as I was shooting a (3 foot high) grass stem and it's leaves. My question for you hogs is what, and how much, was I sacrificing by using the (pretty highly rated) zoom lens instead of the (pretty highly rated) macro lens?
Dec 21, 2020 17:04:53 #
cbtsam wrote:
I take a lot of non true macro closeup shots with ... (show quote)
You should be able to tell by comparing images taken with both lenses. At that low magnification, I doubt there would be much, if any, difference.
Dec 21, 2020 19:05:08 #
I suspect that the difference would be in the depth of field between the two. Although the zoom lens is set to the same focal length the true macro lens produces a flatter image corner to corner. A true macro lens that has the ability to focus to infinity can be used as a great general purpose lens however a zoom lens can not produce the close subject to sensor distance to capture the finest of details as a macro lens can.
Shoot both at three feet away there would be little noticeable difference unless perhaps one is into pixel peeking.
Shoot both at three feet away there would be little noticeable difference unless perhaps one is into pixel peeking.
Dec 21, 2020 19:38:02 #
Strodav
Loc: Houston, Tx
There a whole big bunch of "it depends" in that question like: detail in the original subject, f stop, aperture, ISO, technique, how the image is to be displayed, ... . My best guess is, owning both those lenses and a D850, you won't notice a difference and if you are happy with the result, you have already answered your own question.
Dec 22, 2020 08:45:55 #
cbtsam wrote:
I take a lot of non true macro closeup shots with ... (show quote)
Any difference is way more theoretical than practical !
.
Dec 22, 2020 09:32:33 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
One of the strengths of a true macro's strengths is edge-to-edge sharpness. As noted by others you would notice the differences closer to 1:1 true macro. Some would even argue that this isn’t a real issue because most of thr subjects in a true macro shot are centered in the composition. But then focus stacking would benefit by sharpening ou to the edges.
Dec 22, 2020 12:31:30 #
cbtsam wrote:
I take a lot of non true macro closeup shots with ... (show quote)
Probably a question worth NOT answering. Do you like the results? Do others? Case closed.
Those are both excellent lenses on an excellent camera body. If your tripod was solid, and the rest of your technique was sound, you should like the results.
Yes, you could probably find some DOF differences toward the edges of the frame, and maybe see a little more distortion in the zoom image, but unless you're looking for it or doing some sort of equipment test or comparison, who cares?
Many of us fixate on our gear. I'm sometimes guilty as charged. But I remind myself that using it well and concentrating on the results (art, story, communication, emotion, point of view, purpose, enlightenment... whatever) is (hopefully) why we bother picking up the camera in the first place.
Dec 22, 2020 15:08:23 #
burkphoto wrote:
Probably a question worth NOT answering. Do you like the results? Do others? Case closed...
Dec 22, 2020 15:38:51 #
Thanks to all who responded. Much appreciated. My worried mind has been set at ease.
Dec 27, 2020 08:47:17 #
petrochemist
Loc: UK
One place true macro lenses come into their own is copying flat subjects. The plane of focus on most lenses curves significantly when trying this at macro ranges so the edges will be out. Dedicated macro lenses are generally corrected to have a flat plane of focus at close up distances.
Using helicon can go a very long way to getting round such shortfalls.
Using helicon can go a very long way to getting round such shortfalls.
Dec 27, 2020 11:05:15 #
cbtsam wrote:
I take a lot of non true macro closeup shots with ... (show quote)
Don't worry, be happy...no practical difference.
Since getting the 135 f1.8 I shoot (macro) at the closest focus, crop (61mp) and am so happy with the results I sold my 90mm macro.
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