D500 or 105 f2.8 macro: I have a D7200 and have been into BIF, but I'm interested in macro. For Christmas and my 80th birthday my family will spring for either a Nikon 105 VR f2.8...

old poet

I have a D7200 and have been into BIF, but I'm interested in macro. For Christmas and my 80th birthday my family will spring for either a Nikon 105 VR f2.8 macro or a D500 body. I have a 200 - 500 and a 70 - 200 kit, and a wide angle kit. Your opinion would be appreciated. The cost is not the issue.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Les Brown wrote:

I have a D7200 and have been into BIF, but I'm interested in macro. For Christmas and my 80th birthday my family will spring for either a Nikon 105 VR f2.8 macro or a D500 body. I have a 200 - 500 and a 70 - 200 kit, and a wide angle kit. Your opinion would be appreciated. The cost is not the issue.

Can I be part of your family? Such a choice. I have each of your options, and you will enjoy either one of them. But I'll tell you that the D500 is a really sweet deal of a camera. The 105 Micro is on sale for $200 off, but I'd probably still have to go for the camera anyway, even though it does not appear to be part of the Black Friday sale.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Yes, I want to be in that family too, and there is still enough time to draw up papers before Christmas. I have a Tokina macro. Very sharp.

robertperry Loc: Sacramento, Ca.

So you want to explore the macro world. If you get the macro lens, you will be able to explore and photograph the little things in life and also use the lens for other things like portraiture, pets, etc. If you get the D500, you will have 2 camera bodies and no macro lens. Whatever you choose, I'm sure you will be happy.

old poet

robertperry wrote:

So you want to explore the macro world. If you get the macro lens, you will be able to explore and photograph the little things in life and also use the lens for other things like portraiture, pets, etc. If you get the D500, you will have 2 camera bodies and no macro lens. Whatever you choose, I'm sure you will be happy.

old poet

Good point! I'm likely to be slowing down a bit too, so close to home may be best. But there's that better sensor and speed of the D500. Thanks for your post!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I vote D500 with an extension tube or high quality 2 element close up lens for the 70-200 .....
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PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Les Brown wrote:

I have a D7200 and have been into BIF, but I'm interested in macro. For Christmas and my 80th birthday my family will spring for either a Nikon 105 VR f2.8 macro or a D500 body. I have a 200 - 500 and a 70 - 200 kit, and a wide angle kit. Your opinion would be appreciated. The cost is not the issue.

Let the family get you the Nikon 105 VR f2.8 macro and you treat yourself to the D500 body. That is what we call a win win.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I'd be happy with either so I'll not say which.

Bill_de Loc: US

If you are doing OK with your BIF and want to get into macro, get the macro lens. You will find other uses for the 105mm in addition to macro.

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Drip Dry McFleye

I own and use both a D500 & a 105 Nikon macro. I REALLY like both of them. I shoot birds more than anything else though.

All things considered, I myself, would go for the D500 and then start looking for a used Nikon 105. They don't seem to be hard to find in excellent condition. I bought mine used in perfect condition from a lady here on the UHH. It could be considered as a simple matter of economics: A new D500 body will cost a great deal more than a used 105.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Les Brown wrote:

I have a D7200 and have been into BIF, but I'm interested in macro. For Christmas and my 80th birthday my family will spring for either a Nikon 105 VR f2.8 macro or a D500 body. I have a 200 - 500 and a 70 - 200 kit, and a wide angle kit. Your opinion would be appreciated. The cost is not the issue.

Well, since you have the 200-500 you are really all set for BIF although the D500 would give you much higher performance (faster fps, af, tracking, group AF, and hit rate of keepers). The 105 macro would fill a void for something you don't have and want to explore. If I were in your situation I would opt for the macro lens but keep in mind you will likely have to add other accessories for macro - macro flash, focusing rails, etc. In my situation I would opt for the D500.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Drip Dry McFleye wrote:

I own and use both a D500 & a 105 Nikon macro. I REALLY like both of them. I shoot birds more than anything else though.

All things considered, I myself, would go for the D500 and then start looking for a used Nikon 105. They don't seem to be hard to find in excellent condition. I bought mine used in perfect condition from a lady here on the UHH. It could be considered as a simple matter of economics: A new D500 body will cost a great deal more than a used 105.

I could have written this, and I concur. While the usual advice is to go for the glass, in this case the best gift would be this premium camera IMHO. Selling the D7200 would go a long way toward whatever additional lens you might be looking for.

ELNikkor

D500 + Extension tube for the 70-200; you don't need a macro lens to shoot macro.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Les Brown wrote:

I have a D7200 and have been into BIF, but I'm interested in macro. For Christmas and my 80th birthday my family will spring for either a Nikon 105 VR f2.8 macro or a D500 body. I have a 200 - 500 and a 70 - 200 kit, and a wide angle kit. Your opinion would be appreciated. The cost is not the issue.

The lens makes the difference, not the camera. Go for the lens.
However, if you really like BIF, the D500 has GROUP AUTO FOCUS, the D7200 does not, that focus system nails birds in flight. The D500 also has a separate focusing system like the D5 and D850.