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Guys
Thank you so much for all your help so far. Its been really appreciated. After my last post im looking at going the 10-20 Sigma for my landscapes.

Now, MACRO LENSES !!

Forgive me, but i know nothing about Macro lenses, so a little help would be appreciated.

Ive 105mm Macro Lenses and ive seen ones with a greater focal length.

Say if i wanted to do flowers, and close ups of plants and insects, what would i be looking at getting ?

Thank you !

There is a large choice of options for your D80.

At the cheaper end there is the extension tubes. These will work with most lenses you will have and provide macro capability. I am considering getting these. They can also be used in conjuntion with the 105VR - see some of the shots by blacknstormy - Rel uses this set up.

There are many options from Sigma. There is also the Tamron 90 of which I have heard many good reports.

On the nikon side consider the 60 and then there is the 105VR.

Budget may drive your choices here also.

Cheers, Mick

Thank you
I dont want to spend a fortune on a macro lense, but dont really want to go extension tubes

Ive heard as well that Tamron 90 is good. Anyone else hear this ?

Neil,
How close do YOU want to get to the subject (physically) ?

Using a 60mm macro lens will require you to get pretty close to the flower....which is great...except if you then decide to shoot macro shots of spiders or dangerous/scary creatures. Most people would then lean towards the longer focal length macro lenses, so they can be some distance away, but still get the macro shot they want.

Id be happy to get kinda close, but i mean if i can be further away and not sacrifce much light or quality on the shot, then id be even happier with that.

...and your budget ?

6 or 7 hundred id say

Neil,

There are a number of options available to you.

From Nikon, you have the 60, 105, and 200 macro lenses. Each of them provides you with the ability to shoot very good quality images, at increasingly greater distances from your subject. See Dave's comments about shooting some of our less pleasant insects and arachnids.

The Tamron 90 is a very nice lens: Manta uses one, and produces ecellent results with his.

Both the Nikon 60 and the Tamron 90 are less than $500, and represent excellent value purchases. The 105 is more than double that price.

As Mick has pointed out, you can also get extension tubes, and also reversing rings; neither of these options should be discounted too quickly, as they are inexpensive, and permit you to use your existing glass. If your existing glass is good glass, then you will retain the inherent quality in any images using these options.

Other options include close up filters (the Canon 500 has a good reputation) or buying some sort of zoom/macro lens.

Oh right. FANASTIC !

My current glass is the Nikon 18-135 kit lense that came with my D80. Suitable ?

Anyone heard anything about the Sigma Macro lenses

Neil, I would put the Tamron 90mm and Sigma 105 as right in your budget and a handy focal length. Longer focal lengths give you greater working distance.

As Gary said, a reversing ring or extension tube should not be discounted. I am not sure if a reversing ring would work well with your current setup, but a 50mm 1.8 is about $170 and a reversing ring is about $35. The 50mm is a handy low light lens compared to your existing setup.

Im in the process of purchasing a 50mm 1.4. So hopefully that will come soon.

Im leaning towards the Sigma at the moment, more focal length.

Unless anyone can suggest otherwise

Neil, I have the Sigma and it is an excellent lens. Have a look at sirhc55 images here if you want some great example images. If you have a 1.4 coming, get yourself a reversing ring off ebay in the meantime and you will be up and running for $35. The 50mm 1.4 is 52mm front element.

Some reviews:

Tamron 90mm f2.8

Sigma 105mm 2.8

Nikkor 105mm 2.8 (non-VR model)

Nikkor 60mm f2.8

If you use the search function in the forum, you're bound to find a heap of examples for most of these lenses.

They're all going to do what you want them to do...and are all great lenses in their own right.
I think it all comes down to what focal length you want to use/be restricted to.

Neil, I use the Sigma 105 as well.
I am happy with it. Although I haven't used any of the other mentioned lenses to be able to compare.

Virtually all the macro shots in my gallery (link in my sig) were taken with the Sigma.

neilk
Don't knock the extension tubes. They in no way give you an inferior image and many professionals use them. There are no glass elements in them so your taking lens maintains its original quality/sharpness. The only handicap with your digital camera is that you have to shoot a couple of test shots to determine the correct exposure. That takes but a moment.

Hey Neil

I use the old non vr 105 Nikon - and it is the lens that is usually on my camera Not only fantastic for macro shots, but takes a bloody mean portrait as well !!!! I've used it for animal shots too, and it pulls up a dream. But as has been said, the Tamron & Sigma are both great lenses - comes down to how much you are willing to spend, but the results from both of these lenses (from what I've seen) are excellent !!

As far as "not getting too close", I don't think I could take most of my shots with the 60mm .... may be good for flowers etc, but I don't think I'd pull off most of my insect shots.

Whichever way you go - you are going to have a ball

Another option is the Sigma 150mm 2.8. It's a couple hundred dollars more than the Sigma 105mm 2.8, but with the longer focal length you can get a bit further away from the nasty critters and it doubles as a half decent short telephoto lens as well. I'm very pleased with mine.

Cheers
John

If i get the Sigma 150mm, is it possible to get a 2x Teleconverter to make it 300mm, are are those teleconverter's kinda useless

neilk
Teleconvertors are the last resort! You use them only when you have to get an image. You will always get a better image by taking a long walk.

yeah figured as much
thanks for the help

Neil
I have the 105Vr Nikon and it is a great lens. It stayed on the camera all xmas eve and was used for candids at our family get together. Great results, will have to pp and post now the hangovers gone.
In the intended application for macros it is also great.
Big choice to make buit you will have fun no matter which way you go.
Craig