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I've heard and read a lot of good stuff about this lens. I managed to pick one up, but don't have any info about the macro mode. Can anyone help? I will use my 105mm 2.8 macro VR for macro anyway, but it will be useful when going 'walk-about'. I would be happy to pay postage etc if anyone has original instructions they no longer want. Thanks in advance.

ewm3 wrote:ICan anyone help?

I'll try

the macro mode of this lens works only at 35mm. So pull the lens so that it is at 35mm. Press the little silver button and that should allow you to turn the main ring clockwise, go all the way. You should now be in macro mode. You will notice now that the push/pull is locked in place. In the macro mode, auto-focus does not work, just focus manually. To go back to "normal" mode, just turn the main ring counter clockwise.

That's about it for macro.

No postage required

HTH,

André

Thanks Andre. My problem relates to the closest distance for focusing. I know about manual focus and that's OK on my D200 The lens seems to focus only at about 3 - 4 inches (10 cm). Is that what you would expect? Thanks again.

The closest focusing distance for this lens in macro mode is 28cm (measured from the film plane). At that distance it'll give a reproduction ratio of 1:4.

Cheers
Steffen.

Thanks Steffen
It appears to NOT focus at any other distance than about 10cm. Could there be a fault?
Eric

ewm3
The macro mode of this lens does not focus. It is locked at one focal point and you have to move the camera back and forward to get a sharp image. Having said that...it works very well for what it is. Incidentally, these are excellent general purpose lenses and are capable of professional quality results. I use mine often.

Manual focus doesn't work either?

Cheers
Steffen.

no even with MF it wont matter. kinda like extension tubes where as Matt said you need to move the camera back and forth until you hit the correct focal plane. you've heard of zooming with your feet ? well in this case you gotta focus with your feet. lol

I've always found manual focus to work for me, within a limited range as stated above.

On the D200, the AF is very dodgy in macro mode and rarely for me would focus. I just had a play with the 51point 3D AF on the D3 - AF in macro mode is smooth. The macro mode focus range is very short, as you say. But even on the D200, AF-S will have a go (and usually fail), but it comes up trumps on the D3 (and probably the D300)

I got one after playing with one Matt.K. had on his D200. Awesome lens.

I am definitely talking about the 35-70 2.8D. Sitting here, AF in macro mode at 35mm with button down and slid around.

The focus distance is about 28cm from film plane, but with the thing extended the front of the lens ends up being 5-6cm from the subject.

Here is a shot I just took, most of the Exit (note bold - AF-S).

View NX also shows a field which Irfan doesn't which is Focus Area Mode: Auto-area AF

Make - NIKON CORPORATION
Model - NIKON D3
DateTime - 2008:04:19 23:13:06
ExposureTime - 1/80 seconds
FNumber - 2.80
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 6400
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
LightSource - Auto
FocalLength - 35 mm
ColorSpace - Uncalibrated (-1)
ExifImageWidth - 4256
ExifImageHeight - 2832
InteroperabilityOffset - 886
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - DSC - Digital still camera
SceneType - A directly photographed image
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 1 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 35 mm


Data version - 0120 (808530480)
ISO Setting - 6400
Image Quality - RAW
White Balance - AUTO
Focus Mode - AF-S
White Balance Adjustment - 0
White Balance RB - 620
Exposure Adjustment - 786688
Thumbnail IFD offset - 10156
ISO 2 - 6400
Lens type - AF-D or AF-S
Lens - 762
Flash Used - Not fired
Bracketing - 0
Contrast Curve - I0
Noise Reduction - OFF
Total pictures - 2210
Editor version - ViewNX 1.0 W

is there a larger sample of your picture?

haha.. i want to pixel peak to see the quality of the macro mode...

Oooops.... Justin is right. In manual focus you have a little leeway. It just won't do anything in autofocus when in macro mode.

Ah, that was my point matt - it will auto focus in macro mode, that was what the above shot was about.

Link to larger version http://picasaweb.google.com/JustinPhoto ... 9433673298

Note the shot was at iso6400, so anything that isn't in focus is going to be pretty blurry / noisy

OK; it IS possible to use autofocus? Is that with the D200 or the D3?
My lens will NOT autofocus on my D200. I have no problem with the lens; it is sharp, has good contrast and has a reasonable range for my interests - plants and landscapes. I am not to worried about the macro function; I have othere lenses.
I know this is but does anyone have experience with the 12-24 AF f4 nikkor. I am thinking about getting one. Would be interested in comments about the lens.
Thanks everyone for your replies. I will be posting some pics as soon as I build my website. Be kind!
Eric

ewm i have the sigma 10-20mm. if i had my time over i would get the tokina 12-24. the nikkor and is only fractionally better optically but costs double the dosh.

It appears it will, in macro mode, AF on the D3, and not on the D200 (I have both, so my experience confirms this)