Nikkor Micro lenses: In would like to hear from someone who has used both the Nikkor 200 micro and the Nikkor 70 - 180 micro. I would like to have them contrast and compared. Age what...

19104 Loc: Philadelphia

In would like to hear from someone who has used both the Nikkor 200 micro and the Nikkor 70 - 180 micro. I would like to have them contrast and compared. Age what would make you choose one over the other.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

19104 wrote:

In would like to hear from someone who has used both the Nikkor 200 micro and the Nikkor 70 - 180 micro. I would like to have them contrast and compared. Age what would make you choose one over the other.

I have had the 200mm f4 since 2008, the only other I considered was the Nikkor 105mm macro/micro.
I chose the 200mm because it had more reach.
I have never heard of a Nikkor 70-180 micro, just checked NikonUSA web site nothing like that listed
https://www.nikonusa.com/en/about-nikon/search.page?q=70-180%20micro&currentPage=1&facet=Overview

https://pbase.com/manglesphoto/new_images_for_may_2011 these images were taken with the 200mm on a D7100

daplight Loc: Kansas

19104 wrote:

In would like to hear from someone who has used both the Nikkor 200 micro and the Nikkor 70 - 180 micro. I would like to have them contrast and compared. Age what would make you choose one over the other.

I know of a 'scientist' who shoots with the 200 to document butterflies for her books, if that is an endoresment?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

19104 wrote:

In would like to hear from someone who has used both the Nikkor 200 micro and the Nikkor 70 - 180 micro. I would like to have them contrast and compared. Age what would make you choose one over the other.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/35318335.

I use the 200 and 105 Micro

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

19104 wrote:

In would like to hear from someone who has used both the Nikkor 200 micro and the Nikkor 70 - 180 micro. I would like to have them contrast and compared. Age what would make you choose one over the other.

The 200mm F4 Micro will give you true 1:1 Macro images. The 70-180mm F4.5-5.6D Micro was the only Nikon Micro lens that does NOT give 1:1 with just the lens, best it can do is 1:1.3, which is still better than any other zoom macro lens ever built. It will give true 1:1 Macro at 180mm length with the Nikon 6T Close-up filter attached to it though.
Overall the 200mm F4 would be a better choice as it has less distortion and does give true 1:1 with just the lens.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

MT Shooter wrote:

The 200mm F4 Micro will give you true 1:1 Macro images. The 70-180mm F4.5-5.6D Micro was the only Nikon Micro lens that does NOT give 1:1 with just the lens, best it can do is 1:1.3, which is still better than any other zoom macro lens ever built. It will give true 1:1 Macro at 180mm length with the Nikon 6T Close-up filter attached to it though.
Overall the 200mm F4 would be a better choice as it has less distortion and does give true 1:1 with just the lens.

This is good to know. Is the IQ from a 105 macro as good as the IQ from the 200mm macro ?? I have a D750 and would be more concerned with image quality (IQ) than reach. Although at my age I really shouldn't care that much. I would predict that the IQ would be just fine with either lens.

medphotog Loc: Witness protection land

Used the 105 (both manual version and AF) along with the 55 (manual) or 60 AF in the OR and clinics. Both sweet lenses. Don't know anything about the 70-180, but it wouldn't have been much use for me in my environment.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

medphotog wrote:

Used the 105 (both manual version and AF) along with the 55 (manual) or 60 AF in the OR and clinics. Both sweet lenses. Don't know anything about the 70-180, but it wouldn't have been much use for me in my environment.

Since I would be using a tripod, either flavor of the 105 would be fine with me. My other option is the 80mm macro for my Fujifilm X-T2. The X-T2 is 24MP and the Fuji 80mm would be a good match.

Larryshuman

I have the 70~180mm macro zoom. It is very very sharp lens. The reason you have not heard of it is because it is so good owners don't let them go. Also longer macro lens give much better working distance.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Don't overlook Nikon's 60 mm for the wider angle of view

DaveC Loc: Illinois

I do not have the 200 but I do have the 70-180. It has the screw-type focusing but even so I use it often for macro. Wonderful lens, very sharp. I also have the 105 macro.

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

19104 wrote:

In would like to hear from someone who has used both the Nikkor 200 micro and the Nikkor 70 - 180 micro. I would like to have them contrast and compared. Age what would make you choose one over the other.

Both are D lenses, so they will not work on the new Nikon Z series. Nikon no longer has parts to repair either one. BUT, a good camera repair shop may be able to help you out.
I have used the 200 extensively. Advantage is that you can shoot from a distance and not disturb what your shooting. You must keep in mind depth of field on both. The zoom advantage is that it is more versatile.
Being a PRIME nut, even though I have never used the 70-180, I would go with the 200 f4. It is a classic, and I love that older skin on this and other Nikon lenses of that era.

Kingman

The only issue with any 200mm macro compared to a 50 or 105 is the weight. I like the reach but it’s sometimes the weight.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

I have all the Nikon Micros. The 105mm Micro is my go-to for all purpose. The 60mm Micro is for special occasions when working distance has to be short, e.g. shooting an animal in a display case at the zoo. The 200mm Micro has a large working distance and is more for creative macro work outside where you need to blur the background and the foreground in the same shot. The 200 Micro also has a tripod collar and is the heaviest.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

billnikon wrote:

Both are D lenses, so they will not work on the ne... (show quote)

I just tried my old 200 on my Z7--works great for everything but AF. I prefer manual focus for the kinds of things I use it for.

You have to lock the aperture ring at the smallest aperture, then you can control it from the control wheels.