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

I own the original version of that lens and still shoot it. No, you don't need no stink in VR. We all had to learn how to take steady photo's before VR came out. Shoot at least at 1/125 sec and you'll be fine. It is a great lens.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

You are displaying your ignorance of the subset as there is no #1 rule. My niche is Macro & of all of the images on my Flickr page (and images here in the True Macro section), relatively few were taken with the camera on a tripod. Maybe some floral shots & some stacks, but very few & usually only in studio settings.... Not to say you can't use a tripod, but doing so will seriously reduce your keeper rate if you are trying to capture mobile subjects like insects. The only way you could using a tripod would be to set it up & hope an insect wanders into your focus zone. What with the nearly non existent DOF, that would seriously limit the possibilities of that happening. Now if you shoot static subjects that won't wander off, then yes a tripod can help...

Tony.mustang

Hi. If you take macro shots in manual mode and u have a crush lens it is recommended that u shut off vr. When u manual focus the vr tries to off set the focus 👿

Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.

I'm not sure where you got this idea. Unless, of course, you are talking about Mike Moats Macro, which isn't even macro.

I attempted using a tripod when I first started and very quickly learned that it was a huge disadvantage. None of the images on my flickr page made use of a tripod, some of which are focus stacked "Handheld".

There may be situations that a tripod and remote would be a good choice, such as slow shutter speeds, low light, natural light, etc. But, to say it's say "it's the number one rule" is way misinformed.

Again, unless it's "Mike Moates Macro".

KM6VV Loc: Central Coast, CA

That's certainly true! I never had VR until I got the D3300 and it's kit lenses.

KM6VV Loc: Central Coast, CA

What's "Mike Moates Macro"? I found out he's a photographer.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Mike Moates is a photographer who figured out that he could make lots of money by offering "Macro Boot Camp" seminars (http://www.mikemoatsblog.com ) all over the U.S. In reality, he holds 'close-up' workshops, allowing nearly any camera/close-focusing lens combination, as long as it can bu put on a tripod. For the absolute novice, these lecture/workshops can be educational and entertaining, but do not actually address true (1:1) macro-photography situations, nor provide solutions to the unique problems of high magnification photography. http://www.pbase.com/mgm123/macro_photo_conference

KM6VV Loc: Central Coast, CA

Thanks for the links an explaination, I'll check them out.

I see several sets of auto extension tubes, Kenko for example, but are they (or any others) fully auto focusing?

What is needed for AF-S? I suspect all 8 (not 7) contacts on the lens are needed. What does Kenko have?

Mcoplus Extnp Auto Focus Macro Extension Tube Set for Nikon AF has 8 contacts and claims AF-S. Anyone use them?

As far as I understand (can't find it now), even the Nikon automatic extension tubes don't do AF-S?

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

Not a lot more to add. About sums it up.

I will use a tripod for subjects in the field occasionally if I am working at a specific location for a considerable amount of time - over 30 minutes to several hours, as it gets heavy to hand-hold the gear in a close-up or macro distance for those kinds of time lines. Otherwise, it's hand-held all the way. :thumbup:

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I own a set (12-mm, 20-mm, & 36-mm) of Kenko auto-extension tubes, which work perfectly with my Nikkor 105G macro lens, including VR & A-F (which I use consistently). Other macro-photographers use Vello tubes, etc.
I am not familiar with Mcoplus Extnp, but the set looks compatible: http://www.amazon.com/Mcoplus-Extnp-Focus-Extension-Cameras/dp/B00ORLQJR6

Kenko DG auto-extension tube set (for Nikon)

KM6VV Loc: Central Coast, CA

Yeah, that's the Mcoplus tubes I was looking at.

Are you using AF/S focusing in the 105G? Maybe that's the only way it focuses. Is this called a "digital lens"?

Which Kenko auto-extension tubes are you using? The "DG" set with seven contacts? A-EXTUBEDG-N? Although I've seen other part numbers. Seems to be an older set as well.
(Oops! I see the pix above now). This set is looking pretty good.

Sorry for so many questions!
Thanks.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

The Nikkor 105G has AF-S, which means AF-Silent Wave Motor for Auto-Focus. http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikortek.htm#afs Nothing more. Just an improvement over the older AF-I (AF-Internal Motor) found in the 'D' series lenses. http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikortek.htm#afi

KM6VV Loc: Central Coast, CA

Doesn't look like 7 vs 8 contacts on the extension tubes will be a problem, as you've been able to use them.

Thanks

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

VR (or stabilization by any other name from other manufacturers) is of VERY limited help at higher magnifications. By the time you are at 1:1 mag, it gives next to no help at all.

It would be more helpful when taking non-macro shots with the lens, if that were something you'd want to do a lot. For example, some people like to use their macro lenses for portraiture, too. At those typical distances and far lower magnifications, stabilization is far more effective.

But if you intend the lens primarily for high magnification work, I wouldn't worry about having stabilization. See previous posts for various helpful ideas how to avoid camera shake blur in macro shots.



What the heck is a "crush lens"?

And what the heck does VR have to do with focus, AF or not, but especially when AF is turned off? VR and focus are two completely different things!

I have heard/read that Nikon VR slows down AF a wee bit... and there seem to be some objective test results to support that notion. I've been shooting with Canon IS lenses for over 15 years and feel it does just the opposite... helps with the speed and accuracy of AF (sort of makes sense that it would be easier to focus on a stabilized object), but I don't have any sort of technical data to support this one way or another.

That said, I have five lenses that are either macro or most commonly used for macro/close-up. None of them have any form of stabilization and it's not something I'd bother upgrading a macro lens for, although I have or have used a variety of telephotos with stabilization, love it and find it very useful on them.