Gandalf67

I have a Nikon D5600 and would like to get a macro lens. Nikon site suggests a 40 mm 2.8 or an 85 mm 3.5. Thoughts?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

What will most of your subject matter be ??
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Gandalf67

Insects, flowers

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Flowers, the 40mm - insects, the 85mm ....OR, flip a coin !

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Those are DX lenses, so if you ever plan to get a full frame Nikon, it would be better to get a FX lens. I use a 60mm f2.8 Micro Nikkor on a DX Nikon, and I have had good success with it. The only downside is that the shooting distance is pretty short. For maximum magnification it is so close I can't use the lens hood. If I had it to do over, I would have spent the extra money to get the 105mm f2.8 with a longer shooting distance.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Both would do good for flowers, The 85mm would be hit or miss as you will be too near the insect and probably shoo it away.
A longer lens would be better for insects so you can stand farther away and not disturb it.
Otherwise, a net and set-up would be you next best friend.

petrochemist Loc: UK

For insects I'd rather have something longer than 85mm, as you'll need good working distance.
Flowers are much easier I've never yet manage to scare one off! (But even with flowers working distance is helpful to get light on the subject).

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

The most popular 1:1 macro lenses are the 90mm-105mm f2.8 lenses that all of the major manufactures make.
They are all excellent so your best approach might be to look for the best price or shop for a used one.

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

The following is your BEST option. Sharp as a tack, inexpensive, and probably one of the sharpest Nikon Macro lenses ever produced.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-AF-60mm-F2-8-D-lense-FX-Nikon-D70-80-90-200-300-600-700-750-800-810-7000/254781475826?hash=item3b5228cbf2:g:qmYAAOSw3zJftE~n

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Personally I would not go less than the Nikon 105 f2.8 Micro lens. While the two choices you suggest are excellent lenses when you mentioned insects that means you need some distance from the insects that those lenses will not give you. I have used the 105 for years now on my Nikons and love it.

Dennis

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Gandalf67 in your December 21, 2019 you indicated you would be using a Nikon D7500... Which has a screwdriver motor... was this inaccurate? If so your choices are somewhat limited with the Nikon D5600... which btw has no internal autofocus motor, so it will not autofocus with screw-drive autofocus (AF) lenses. This gates your choices unless you're good with manual focus.

Food for thought... Any serious "Macro" work is done in manual focus albeit hobbyist may find this a major challenge...

That said, for Insects? Any thing less than 100mm on a DX body is going to be a MAJOR challenge... The problem is working distance... Likewise the AF-S 40mm f/2.8G while fine optically is decidedly going to be a challenge in illumination issues... I have the AF-S 40mm f/2.8G which works well for in Nikon's ES-1 and ES-2 slide copiers albeit is virtually useless for commercial macro work in my humble estimation. Although Great for full length editorial and catalog fashion though... lol

Below is an example of "near" macro (not true macro) on a Nikon D7200 with the iconic Tokina 100mm f/2.8 macro lens which out performs Nikon's glass in this focal length... I have the AF 105mm f/2.8D micro and it does preform well stopped down to at least f/5.6 however it is superb at f/11.

Your best option may be a "Previously Owned" Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro. This has a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) with full override... and OS which Hobbyist seem to love... lol

However if you do have the Nikon D7500 then Bob's your uncle and there are a very wide selection of macro glass available (shown below).

Hope this helps Gandalf67 (and to be honest, it is not the lens that matters (extension tubes work very well instead) it is illumination that is a VERY high hurtle to clear)... Which you may soon discover...

All the best on your journey...
.

Nikon D7200 with the iconic Tokina 100mm f/2.8

(Download)

petrochemist Loc: UK

My macro work is rarely serious, though I have gone to high magnifications.
I've always found manual focus easier for real world subjects over about half life size.
In macro AF is only really good for planar subjects where you can guarantee the focus point is at the same distance as the point of interest.

The secret in macro focusing is to change the subject camera distance, either by gently rocking back & forth (handheld) or with a macro slider.

photoman43

I agree with all of the other posters for a FX lens like the Nikon 105mm macro lens. You can buy a used 105mm AF f2.8D version or the newer 105mm f2.8 G VR . The newer one is on sale today at a very good price.

I have three Nikon macro lenses, 55mm, 105mm and 200mm.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

Nikon 105 which will allow you more distance from the subject since you are interested in insects. If you ever move to a FF body you will still be able to use that lens.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Take a look at the Tokina 100mm. It's a great lens and much less expensive than the Nikon 105mm. The Nikon is a great lens, though, if you can afford it.