want to do macro shots: I would like to get into shooting in macro. I Have a Nikon D7000. I already have a Nikon 85 prime lens. I am looking into getting the 105 Nikon prime lens. Can...

Julieh

I would like to get into shooting in macro. I Have a Nikon D7000. I already have a Nikon 85 prime lens. I am looking into getting the 105 Nikon prime lens. Can anyone tell me if there is enough of a difference between the Nikon 85 and the Nikon 105 to make it worth the extra money. Thanks

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

you need a dedicated Macro, or in Nikonese Micro lens.

Macro= 1:1, a prime is great glass, but not macro/micro
Nikon makes sweet micro lenses, generally they will be 60, 100, or so.
Canon even makes a 180mm macro. Nikon may very well have something in that range as well.
The Nikon pros can lead you down that road

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Julieh wrote:

I would like to get into shooting in macro. I Have a Nikon D7000. I already have a Nikon 85 prime lens. I am looking into getting the 105 Nikon prime lens. Can anyone tell me if there is enough of a difference between the Nikon 85 and the Nikon 105 to make it worth the extra money. Thanks

Consider the Tokina 100mm lens, we have a member who posts regularly in the macro forum and his results are outstanding, if you really want a Nikon lens I would recommend that you purchase the 105 micro lens. There are longer lenses for that camera but the longer lenses are much more challenging to work with, I have owned 60mm, 100mm and 180mm macro lenses and the 100 was by far my favorite of the three focal lengths.

Good Luck and when you do start shooting post some of your pics in the macro forum and you will get plenty of coaching on how to use your lens camera combo. They will help you to accelerate your learning curb over there.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

While your 85mm makes a good portrait lens, its NOT a macro. The Nikon 105mm F2.8 Micro is a bargain in Macro lenses, but if its not in your budget, the Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro and Tokina 100mm F2.6 Macro are both good buys.

ReFlections Loc: From LA to AL

Julieh wrote:

I would like to get into shooting in macro. I Have a Nikon D7000. I already have a Nikon 85 prime lens. I am looking into getting the 105 Nikon prime lens. Can anyone tell me if there is enough of a difference between the Nikon 85 and the Nikon 105 to make it worth the extra money. Thanks

Get the Nikon 105 F2.8

Macromad Loc: New Zealand

lots of good advice already you may also wish to consider the sigma 50mm1:2.8 DG macro or similar and also consider using reversing rings that can give you amazing results I ordered two a couple of days ago and are awaiting there delivery as the bugs are waiting.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Macromad wrote:

lots of good advice already you may also wish to consider the sigma 50mm1:2.8 DG macro or similar and also consider using reversing rings that can give you amazing results I ordered two a couple of days ago and are awaiting there delivery as the bugs are waiting.

Have fun with your reversing rings... I have pretty much stopped using my macro lenses since finally learning how to use my reversed lenses, I will say that reverse is a lot more work but also much more rewarding.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

MT Shooter wrote:

While your 85mm makes a good portrait lens, its NOT a macro. The Nikon 105mm F2.8 Micro is a bargain in Macro lenses, but if its not in your budget, the Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro and Tokina 100mm F2.6 Macro are both good buys.

I completely agree. True macro is 1:1 magnification (life-size), which is accomplished at Minimum Focusing Distance. MFD is also Minimum Working Distance (front lens element to subject), which is about 6.2-inches for a 100-mm to 105-mm macro lens. Shorter macro lenses have shorter MWD, which is why the longer lenses are more popular.

I invite you to view the UHH True Macro-Photography Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html .

The Macro Forum is a very good place to ask general and specific questions about lenses & macro-photography in general.

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

Macromad Loc: New Zealand

Cheers the fingers are itching two or three days to wait.

Blurryeyed wrote:

Have fun with your reversing rings... I have pretty much stopped using my macro lenses since finally learning how to use my reversed lenses, I will say that reverse is a lot more work but also much more rewarding.

Julieh

Thanks for all the info. Can't wait to go shopping!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Bruce with a Canon wrote:

you need a dedicated Macro, or in Nikonese Micro lens.

Macro= 1:1, a prime is great glass, but not macro/micro
Nikon makes sweet micro lenses, generally they will be 60, 100, or so.
Canon even makes a 180mm macro. Nikon may very well have something in that range as well.
The Nikon pros can lead you down that road

Yes, Nikon has a 200mm Macro

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Check out the Sigma 150 macro. They are around $1100

bogeyeliot Loc: Signal Hill, CA

Julieh wrote:

I would like to get into shooting in macro. I Have a Nikon D7000. I already have a Nikon 85 prime lens. I am looking into getting the 105 Nikon prime lens. Can anyone tell me if there is enough of a difference between the Nikon 85 and the Nikon 105 to make it worth the extra money. Thanks

I have the nikkor 85mm micro for my D5100, and I like it a lot...it's a DX lens, whereas their 105mm micro is an FX lens I believe.....so it's quite a bit less expensive, but check out the good info that can be found on the macro forum here on the HOG....tons of knowledge on this site!

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

MT Shooter wrote:

While your 85mm makes a good portrait lens, its NOT a macro. The Nikon 105mm F2.8 Micro is a bargain in Macro lenses, but if its not in your budget, the Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro and Tokina 100mm F2.6 Macro are both good buys.

I agree but would add that the 105mm f2.8 also makes a great portrait lens.

pigpen

I find it hard to believe, but I've seen a review on macro lenses that put the Tamron 90mm above the Canon 100mm. I own this Canon, and it's amazing.