Best Cheap Nikon DX Macro Lens
Dec 21, 2017 17:09:12 #
bobishkan
Loc: Fort Myers Sunny Florida
Hi Everybody. I know next to nothing about close up photography. I need to take some close ups outdoors of things like flowers. What would you all recommend as a cheap, Nikon DX lens to do this. I have the 35mm, the 18X55mm and the 18X200 Nikon lens now. Can I get away with any of them or do I need to buy another? Could I not just use my existing lens and crop in real close? Do I need a VR lens? Any advise would sure be appreciated. Merry Christmas, Bob
Dec 21, 2017 17:28:38 #
bobishkan wrote:
Hi Everybody. I know next to nothing about close up photography. I need to take some close ups outdoors of things like flowers. What would you all recommend as a cheap, Nikon DX lens to do this. I have the 35mm, the 18X55mm and the 18X200 Nikon lens now. Can I get away with any of them or do I need to buy another? Could I not just use my existing lens and crop in real close? Do I need a VR lens? Any advise would sure be appreciated. Merry Christmas, Bob
Which camera body do you have? It could make a difference. I use an old AI manual focus 100mm Micro Nikkor f/4 available used and is very sharp. You need a D7100 or better for M & A modes to work with AI's. In any case you need a dedicated Macro lens for flower closeups and bugs ...
Dec 21, 2017 17:45:24 #
The cheapest route to go would be to purchase extension rings made to work with Nikon cameras and use it with your 18-200mm lens at 200mm. Mine are made by Kenko and now sell for around $125 for a set of 3 tubes that can be used individually or in different combinations of the 3 rings to get various macro sizes in the final picture. I did a similar thing with my full frame Nikon camera (D800) and my 28-300mm lens at 300mm and was very pleased with results. Used Sigma macro lenses can be purchased in the $200 range on ebay which is what I use now. VR is a nice function; however, for alot of macro work you will be using a tripod and therefore no need for the VR function. However, if you're into photographing bugs, you definitely want that feature. Here are 3 photos taken with the 28-300mm Nikon lens and Kenko extension tubes. The first photo is cropped closely as the actual wild flower is only about 1.5" wide.
Dec 21, 2017 18:09:16 #
bobishkan wrote:
Hi Everybody. I know next to nothing about close up photography. I need to take some close ups outdoors of things like flowers. What would you all recommend as a cheap, Nikon DX lens to do this. I have the 35mm, the 18X55mm and the 18X200 Nikon lens now. Can I get away with any of them or do I need to buy another? Could I not just use my existing lens and crop in real close? Do I need a VR lens? Any advise would sure be appreciated. Merry Christmas, Bob
The advantageous and user friendly way for you to do what you want is to get a Canon ( yes I know, sacrilegious for Nikon shooters !) 500D close up filter/lens to fit the front of your 18-200. - About $100 if you shop ebay.
Dec 21, 2017 18:12:17 #
DesRose is correct. I just bought a set of extension tubes and on the 35mm (using the 36mm tube only) I was able to get some pretty decent shots! I like the 20mm extension tube on my 50mm lens better but with practice, I think it will be really good ;) I just found out (shhhh they don't know I know) that I am getting the Tokina 100mm macro lens for Christmas - so excited! You can get it for about $350 from B&H right now and if you look on Flickr, you will see it is a pretty darn good lens and very respected. It will work only manual on my D5500 DX but most macro is done manually anyway and I am buying my lens' in order to move up to a better camera body in a year or so.
Dec 21, 2017 18:12:56 #
imagemeister wrote:
The advantageous and user friendly way for you to do what you want is to get a Canon ( yes I know, sacrilegious for Nikon shooters !) 500D close up filter/lens to fit the front of your 18-200. - About $100 if you shop ebay.
These ain’t your ordinary close-up lenses.
Very high quality,
Dec 21, 2017 18:13:12 #
bobishkan wrote:
Hi Everybody. I know next to nothing about close up photography. I need to take some close ups outdoors of things like flowers. What would you all recommend as a cheap, Nikon DX lens to do this. I have the 35mm, the 18X55mm and the 18X200 Nikon lens now. Can I get away with any of them or do I need to buy another? Could I not just use my existing lens and crop in real close? Do I need a VR lens? Any advise would sure be appreciated. Merry Christmas, Bob
Here are some suggestions.
The longer the focal length, the more working room you have. So keep that in mind along with price.
Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G
Nikon AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED
Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR
Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Dec 21, 2017 18:33:28 #
The Nikon 85mm f/3.5 DX VR macro lens would be an excellent one to get. I rented it once and was impressed with it. The only reason I didn't buy one is because I don't do a lot of macro photography. Because it's a DX lens, it's lighter and a little more compact than a full frame lens.
Dec 21, 2017 19:18:45 #
imagemeister wrote:
The advantageous and user friendly way for you to do what you want is to get a Canon ( yes I know, sacrilegious for Nikon shooters !) 500D close up filter/lens to fit the front of your 18-200. - About $100 if you shop ebay.
Nikons also makes these. The 6T close-up diopter would be the one to look at.
Dec 21, 2017 20:12:42 #
Yes. Use your existing lenses and crop. The macro lens is more suited for insects and coins and jewels than flowers. With a macro a small bud will look like an orchid.
Dec 21, 2017 21:07:10 #
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
Nikons also makes these. The 6T close-up diopter would be the one to look at.
They used to make them - hard to find now .....
Dec 21, 2017 21:47:54 #
imagemeister wrote:
They used to make them - hard to find now .....
Could be. I bought mine to use on a Nikon FA with a Tamron 90 2.5 1:2. With the 6T I was able to get 1:1. I still have the Tamron & the George Lepp twin flash macro bracket. The FA is long gone. Made a fair amount of cash with that camera.
Dec 22, 2017 07:12:53 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
bobishkan wrote:
Hi Everybody. I know next to nothing about close up photography. I need to take some close ups outdoors of things like flowers. What would you all recommend as a cheap, Nikon DX lens to do this. I have the 35mm, the 18X55mm and the 18X200 Nikon lens now. Can I get away with any of them or do I need to buy another? Could I not just use my existing lens and crop in real close? Do I need a VR lens? Any advise would sure be appreciated. Merry Christmas, Bob
If you want a new cheap one, here you go.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=nikon%2040%20mm%20micro&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=
If you want my recommendation, I would buy this one, my favorite. But this is just one of many of this type of lens offered, check them all.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-AF-Micro-Nikkor-60mm-f2-8-D-Exc/282776203360?hash=item41d6c67060:g:0EsAAOSwUwFaNp9y
Dec 22, 2017 08:05:22 #
Dec 22, 2017 08:37:43 #
You may laugh but I found good results using the Raynox dcr-150 macro lens....From Amazon. From that you can crop it and bring it in even closer. If fits on a 52 mm to a sixty something mm lens, clip on. You might be surprised at the results. They also make a 250 which I have but I prefer the 150. It’s only $50. You don’t like it you send it back
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