eshlemania Loc: Northern Indiana, USA

I have a D5300 Nikon and a full frame Nikon D750. Would it be better to purchase a used micro lens? Which would be best-besides the 200 2.8-which I cannot afford.

Thanks bunches for your time and consideration.

Quixdraw Loc: x

I have one of these, got it here, excellent. https://usedphotopro.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=af+micro+nikkor+105+2.8+D
You can look at my stuff and see if I'm doing the kinds of things you want to do.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You can look into a reversing ring, and the lens should deliver the 1:1 magnification. But, shooting with reversed lenses is a PIA on a DSLR as there is no autofocus and no aperture control.

If you add an extension tube, say 12mm, you can use the 50mm to focus much closer to a subject, say maybe 10-inches or closer than say 20-inches at the closest without the tube. A tube that passes all the electronic controls lets you autofocus and control the aperture and exposure. Having the lens just 10-inches away to be able to focus at all probably means you're working on static subjects that won't scurry away from the camera.

For your candidate macro lenses, have you looked at purchasing used and whether that brings options into your budget?

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I use a Tamron SP 90mm with a D7200 and am very happy with it. The longer the lens you can afford the more working room you will have. That can be important when working with bugs that sting or bite

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

A good used real macro lens would be so much more versatile. Goes from infinity to 1:1 for better ones.
Many 50mm only go to 1/2 life size with out an extension tube and are less convenient to use as the 1:1 lenses.
Do not bother with a reverse ring as your D5300 will cease metering etc. once you reverse the lens.

https://www.nikon.co.in/en_IN/nikon_school/photo_tech?ID=templatedata/en_Asia/taggable_content/data/learn_and_explore/reverseringmacro&Category=learn-and-explore-new&Section=nikon-school-online/photo-tech

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/lens-adapters/br-2a-lens-reversing-ring-for-52mm-thread.html

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

There is a wide variety of macro lenses avaliable for your cameras. Most are quite good, many are excellent. It is difficult to be knowledgeable about all of them.

Like you, I have both DX and FX Nikon cameras. I have a Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro that I bought probably 13 years ago and a Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 that I bought a couple of years ago, initially for 35mm transparency and negative copying. I like both of them, but I don't shoot bugs, for which the longer lens you mentioned would be better. The 60mm has a weight and size advantage, while the 105mm has a working distance advantage, which makes lighting a little easier even if I'm not shooting live subjects. There is a lot of confusion around how macro performance compares on the two formats, but working distance of the 60mm on a DX camera is very similar to working distance of the 105mm on an FX camera for the same framed image.

Both of these lenses also do well when used to photograph at more normal distances, and both do well as flat field copy lenses at intermediate distances.

The big advantage over either reversing a standard lens or using extension tubes is that there is no exposure loss. Extension tubes in particular spread out the image of the lens they are used with, reducing the effective speed of the lens, usually by a significant amount.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I can second this choice. I had one and gas made me buy the update g model. My d model was as sharp or sharper. Just make sure your d5300 will autofocus with it if you want autofocus. It requires a motor in the camera to focus. You can also look at the Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro lens used. Can be had for less than 300.00.

sscnxy

Paul covered some options very well. For specifics, the Micro Nikkor 105mm f2.8 AF D is quite good, and an excellent copy can usually be bought for about $350. My personal favorite for the Nikon F mount is the superb Tokina 100mm f2.8, which costs only $429 brand new. I still regret selling my own Tokina to get the overpriced yet crummy Micro Nikkor 105mm AF-S G VR. Resolution and sharpness were superior with the Tokina at all apertures smaller than f2.8, and I couldn't tolerate the Nikkor AF-S G VR's softness of detail when photographing small insects, so I gladly rid myself of that Nikkor. And, yes, I compulsively calibrate all my lenses.

One limitation of the typical macro lens is its magnification. If you want to do higher magnification, which is a lot of fun by the way, you'll need to get a specialty lens like the Laowa, or reverse mount a sharp prime lens or enlarger lens with an extension tube, or use a microscope objective like the experts on UHH's Macro Forum do. Other than the Laowa lens, these other methods are not expensive. Reverse adaptors and focusing helicoid extension tubes are dirt cheap, as are manual prime lenses or good enlarger lenses. Try it. You might like it, and at a fraction of the cost
of even a used macro lens.
With regard to focusing, I pretty much focus manually so I can precisely control where exactly on the bug I want to have maximum sharpness.

Hope that helps your decision.

NY

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Remember the AF D will NOT AF on the D5300 camera limiting it's value as a versatile lens tremendously.

eshlemania Loc: Northern Indiana, USA

Thanks so much. I will check it out.

eshlemania Loc: Northern Indiana, USA

I can buy a used lens. I have looked into it. Just wanted to be sure I needed to make the purchase. Thanks so much.

eshlemania Loc: Northern Indiana, USA

Thanks so much. I appreciate all the feed back I get here when I need information.

eshlemania Loc: Northern Indiana, USA

Thanks so much for your very informative reply.

eshlemania Loc: Northern Indiana, USA

Thanks. Your reply and info is much appreciated.

eshlemania Loc: Northern Indiana, USA

Thanks much for your reply and info