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Macro lens suggestions, please
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Mar 15, 2019 06:47:20   #
waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li
 
russelray wrote:
I have had the 90mm Tamron for about a year now. The pictures from it are some of my best sellers, and at this point in my life, selling my Photographic Art is all I do. Here is a small collection of some of my most popular macro sellers, raindrops on flowers and cactus thorns and flowers—popular with the folks in all the various plant societies (Cactus & Succulent, Begonia, Horticultural, Fern, Caudiciforms, etc., etc., etc.).

Pretty nice stuff.

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Mar 15, 2019 06:51:23   #
bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada
 
Deanie1113 wrote:
I would like to start taking close up pictures of flowers. I mean super-close up. I have a Nikon D5500 and would like suggestions on what lens to purchase. I think I need VR and do not want to use a tripod. Manual focusing is fine. I'm thinking of purchasing the Nikon 100mm or the 90 mm Tamron with VC. Anyone have any good recommendations? Thank you!

I'd look at a macro in the range 80-100mm.

You will also find depth-of-field is quite narrow when doing macro photography. You might wish to look at focus stacking software and techniques.

bwa

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Mar 15, 2019 06:53:47   #
BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD
 
I use Nikon's 105 to get close and the 60mm for wider angle of view - both are macro lens

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Mar 15, 2019 06:58:13   #
Nikon1201
 
Tamron 100 mm

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Mar 15, 2019 07:39:47   #
GED Loc: North central Pa
 
Deanie1113 wrote:
I would like to start taking close up pictures of flowers. I mean super-close up. I have a Nikon D5500 and would like suggestions on what lens to purchase. I think I need VR and do not want to use a tripod. Manual focusing is fine. I'm thinking of purchasing the Nikon 100mm or the 90 mm Tamron with VC. Anyone have any good recommendations? Thank you!


Nikon 100mm and 200mm are great lenses extremely sharp. I use both extensively but really like the working distance of the 200mm for many subjects.

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Mar 15, 2019 08:31:56   #
lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA
 
Deanie1113 wrote:
I would like to start taking close up pictures of flowers. I mean super-close up. I have a Nikon D5500 and would like suggestions on what lens to purchase. I think I need VR and do not want to use a tripod. Manual focusing is fine. I'm thinking of purchasing the Nikon 100mm or the 90 mm Tamron with VC. Anyone have any good recommendations? Thank you!

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Mar 15, 2019 08:33:38   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
You are asking for advice in the wrong section. You should have posted in the true macro section. I have 9 different macro lenses from 55 to 180mm in focal length from Nikon, Tamron, Sigma et al.. Some are AF, others are MF. As you get closer to life-size images, both AF & VR become almost useless. If you read the instruction sheet that comes with those lenses, they will say the same thing. Macro is my niche. My go-to macro lens is an older manual focus 105mm F2.8 from film days. I seldom use a tripod (maybe if stacking) but rely on additional lighting from either a ring light or speedlight with a diffuser. The additional light allows me to stop down the lens for max DOF and has the added bonus of the short duration of the flash, stopping any motion, be it my own (like VR) or my subjects (which VR won't control). As for which lens to get, they all will deliver optically. Yeah, some may test out better on MTF tests, but they are bench tests which one would be hard pressed to be able to duplicate in real-world shooting. If you use the lens for other than macro shooting, then you may want AF & VR, I don't as I have other lenses better suited for those other situations. Where macro lenses differ is in other features, build quality and resale value. OEM lenses hold their value best (although mainly due to perceived quality, not actual). Thereis a link below my signature that will take you to my Flickr stream should you desire to see what that old MF 105 is capable of..

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Mar 15, 2019 08:34:33   #
FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA
 
CO wrote:
Take a look at the Nikon 85mm f/3.5 DX VR micro lens. It's a DX lens so it's lighter and a little smaller than a full frame macro. It will balance better on your D5500. A full frame macro is going to be really nose heavy on your D5500. It's sharp and has VR. I've used one on my D7000. I was impressed with it.

I did this shot with the Nikon 85mm f/3.5 DX VR micro on my D7000. It's not a macro shot but the lens is great for general photography also.


After seeing your picture of the water fall taken with a D7000 I wish I had kept my D7000 and the 40mm prime macro. I traded it for a Fuji X-T2 which is a good camera.

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Mar 15, 2019 08:35:57   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
The Nikon 105mm Micro is very nice. Look for refurbished or used. There are several models, though, so know what you're buying.

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Mar 15, 2019 08:36:07   #
SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina
 
Deanie1113 wrote:
I would like to start taking close up pictures of flowers. I mean super-close up. I have a Nikon D5500 and would like suggestions on what lens to purchase. I think I need VR and do not want to use a tripod. Manual focusing is fine. I'm thinking of purchasing the Nikon 100mm or the 90 mm Tamron with VC. Anyone have any good recommendations? Thank you!


Automatic extension tubes can, and are, an inexpensive way to go with whatever lens you have. Something to consider. I've used them to great success. You can also look into adapting an older lens

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Mar 15, 2019 08:39:10   #
Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.
 
Deanie1113 wrote:
I would like to start taking close up pictures of flowers. I mean super-close up. I have a Nikon D5500 and would like suggestions on what lens to purchase. I think I need VR and do not want to use a tripod. Manual focusing is fine. I'm thinking of purchasing the Nikon 100mm or the 90 mm Tamron with VC. Anyone have any good recommendations? Thank you!


Personally I think that Sigma is making the best Macro lenses out there right now, I have owned all the current Canon lenses and the Sigma's are just better but they can be a bit pricey, my current lens is the 180 but it is big and heavy, the optical stabilization works very well on this lens.

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Mar 15, 2019 08:40:32   #
chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY
 
Deanie1113 wrote:
I would like to start taking close up pictures of flowers. I mean super-close up. I have a Nikon D5500 and would like suggestions on what lens to purchase. I think I need VR and do not want to use a tripod. Manual focusing is fine. I'm thinking of purchasing the Nikon 100mm or the 90 mm Tamron with VC. Anyone have any good recommendations? Thank you!


Either one would be fine ... I went with the Tammy but there are many good choices out there ... don't overlook the Tokina 100mm 2.8 - great lens and a bit cheaper than the others even new.... I might get it myself. You will be manual focusing anyway so don't worry too much about AF capabilities.

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Mar 15, 2019 08:57:28   #
dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho
 
Bobspez wrote:
Macro lenses tend to make flowers look unreal. A small bud winds up looking like a giant orchid. Also, the very shallow depth of field will only capture a portion of the flower, leaving everything else blurry. Macro lenses are best suited for objects less than 1/2 inch across and with a relatively flat focal plane like coins or jewelry or small insects.


Sorry but I have to disagree. I use a Nikon 105mm f2.8 micro lens for everything from portraits to macro photos of tiny insects or the very smallest portions of a flower and have never found what you are saying to be true. I often use it as my all around lens when going to the local zoo or on trips. It gives me a moderate telephoto but still able to use it for flowers and insects when the opportunity presents itself.

For the OP, I would recommend the Nikon 105mm f2.8 lens for his needs. Of course there are a multitude of Macro type lenses that will work as well.

Dennis

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Mar 15, 2019 08:57:48   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
Deanie1113 wrote:
I would like to start taking close up pictures of flowers. I mean super-close up. I have a Nikon D5500 and would like suggestions on what lens to purchase. I think I need VR and do not want to use a tripod. Manual focusing is fine. I'm thinking of purchasing the Nikon 100mm or the 90 mm Tamron with VC. Anyone have any good recommendations? Thank you!


Here are three very good macro lenses that have good reviews. Since you have a Nikon D5500 .#1 would be the Nikon 105mm f2.8 Micro. #2 the Tokina 100mm f2.8 Macro. #3 the Tamron 90mm f2.8. Determine what you can afford and go for any of these three. Check for any limitations, the Tokina and Tamron will have on a Nikon D5500 first, before buying though. They may be manual focus only for portrait use.

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Mar 15, 2019 08:58:12   #
dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho
 
imagemeister wrote:
The Canon 100L macro has the best IS for macro .....just sayin' .....


He is using a Nikon camera.

Dennis

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