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How to (properly) use a macro lens?
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Apr 25, 2019 16:36:56   #
etaoin Loc: Wichita, KS
 
I have a Nikon D750 and just purchased a Nikkor 105mm micro lens. The instruction manual isn't very helpful. Can anyone point me to a tutorial on properly using a macro lens? Thanks.

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Apr 25, 2019 16:46:53   #
big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada
 
The only difference is that a macro lens can focus way closer than a regular lens. So instead of 5' 5" to ∞ you can now focus 5" to ∞. That is just an example, your lens will be similar. Of course at 5" little things will get quite large in the viewfinder.

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Apr 25, 2019 16:50:20   #
rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX
 
What I suspect you want is a tutorial on macro photography.
If that is the case, YouTube is your friend.

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Apr 25, 2019 16:52:50   #
Vietnam Vet
 
Do tests shots with your camera on a tripod using each f-stop. You will be surprised how little will be in focus at a 2.8

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Apr 25, 2019 16:56:56   #
DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina
 
etaoin wrote:
I have a Nikon D750 and just purchased a Nikkor 105mm micro lens. The instruction manual isn't very helpful. Can anyone point me to a tutorial on properly using a macro lens? Thanks.


You might have gotten the cart before the horse. Might have been better to read up a bit on macro shooting before investing in the equip. Macro lens are not limited to close-up shooting, however.

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Apr 25, 2019 17:06:24   #
d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA
 
Lesson 1: Working with a Macro Lens in close-up work, use a tripod!

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Apr 25, 2019 17:08:25   #
BebuLamar
 
There is no different with a regular 105mm f/2.8 lens except that when you focus at close distance you won't be able to set f/2.8. The D750 like most current DSLR's would take into account of the lens extension and display the effective aperture.

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Apr 25, 2019 17:18:10   #
Curve_in Loc: Virginia
 
Visit the True Macro section of this forum:

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html

Lots of great help and pointers. Skip the tripod and use a flash, it is a more effective way to stop motion on tiny objects.


(Download)

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Apr 25, 2019 17:18:36   #
Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.
 
Post this question in the Macro forum and you will get a lot of help, post it out here and you will get all kinds of answers, from using tripods which I never use in macro to using diffused flash which I almost always use in macro..... The one really easy thing that I can tell you is that when shooting macro turn your auto focus off, focus on your subject then turn it off and move the camera in and out for fine focus.

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Apr 25, 2019 17:20:39   #
jkm757 Loc: San Diego, Ca.
 
etaoin wrote:
I have a Nikon D750 and just purchased a Nikkor 105mm micro lens. The instruction manual isn't very helpful. Can anyone point me to a tutorial on properly using a macro lens? Thanks.


Basic camera settings: shutter speed; 1/200, ISO; 200, aperture; f/16. Because of the small aperture you will need to use flash, preferably a speedlight and not the popup flash. After that find a subject, get real close, focus, compose, and fire away. Hope this helped.

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Apr 25, 2019 17:49:33   #
User ID
 
`

etaoin wrote:
..........
..... just purchased a Nikkor 105mm micro lens.
The instruction manual isn't very helpful. ........


Not much to it:

Light subject.
Use tripod or speedlights.
Focus close.

Wash rinse repeat.

All your gear is automated.
Failure is not an option.

.

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Apr 25, 2019 21:50:13   #
Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA
 
Macros generally have a very narrow depth of field. The trick is to get as much in focus as you can. Try practicing with a quarter on a desktop on a piece of black cloth illuminated with a desk lamp. You may find it's very difficult to get all the lettering on the quarter in sharp focus. That is because the plane of the camera lens must match the plane of the quarter. I generally get the item in relatively good focus then move the camera around to match the plane and optimize the focus. Also higher f stops get a smoother look overall.
This was taken with a Nikon D3100 and the Nikkor 55mm Micro Macro lens plus Nikon M22 2x extender at f11, 1/500 sec, iso 1600, handheld.


etaoin wrote:
I have a Nikon D750 and just purchased a Nikkor 105mm micro lens. The instruction manual isn't very helpful. Can anyone point me to a tutorial on properly using a macro lens? Thanks.


(Download)

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Apr 26, 2019 06:09:21   #
Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY
 
Bobspez wrote:
Macros generally have a very narrow depth of field. The trick is to get as much in focus as you can. Try practicing with a quarter on a desktop on a piece of black cloth illuminated with a desk lamp. You may find it's very difficult to get all the lettering on the quarter in sharp focus. That is because the plane of the camera lens must match the plane of the quarter. I generally get the item in relatively good focus then move the camera around to match the plane and optimize the focus. Also higher f stops get a smoother look overall.
This was taken with a Nikon D3100 and the Nikkor 55mm Micro Macro lens plus Nikon M22 2x extender at f11, 1/500 sec, iso 1600, handheld.
Macros generally have a very narrow depth of field... (show quote)


Wow!

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Apr 26, 2019 06:10:51   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
etaoin wrote:
I have a Nikon D750 and just purchased a Nikkor 105mm micro lens. The instruction manual isn't very helpful. Can anyone point me to a tutorial on properly using a macro lens? Thanks.


Shoot at F32.

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Apr 26, 2019 06:29:23   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
etaoin wrote:
I have a Nikon D750 and just purchased a Nikkor 105mm micro lens. The instruction manual isn't very helpful. Can anyone point me to a tutorial on properly using a macro lens? Thanks.


It's no different than using any other lens, with a few exceptions.

You have very shallow depth of field. You'll have to use small lens openings. You should try using F32, but I think you will not be happy with the results, because diffraction will rob sharpness.
The magnification is very high, so you'll need solid support, or use shorter shutter speeds which require wider apertures and/or higher ISO.
Lighting can be interesting, since if you are really close, the lens will cause a big shadow over your image.
Manual focusing is very different (in a good way) compared to your other lenses. It takes a long turn of the focusing ring to go from minimum focus distance to infinity. This allows you to really fine tune your focusing.

You'll need to just put the lens on the camera and start shooting small subjects up close.

If F32 isn't working for you (I suspect it won't) - you should look into focus stacking.

Here is a good illustration of what happens to fine detail when you use tiny apertures.

https://digital-photography-school.com/tips-for-depth-of-field-control-in-macro-photography/

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