Nikon 60mm vs 105mm micro(macro) lens

jrmyrnsm

Ok well I've decided that for my birthday I'm using all my money to take a go at macro photography. I'm planing on using it to do floral macro, some bugs, and details for weddings. So I've been looking for a while and can't make up my mind between the 105mm AF-D(older one) and the 60mm AF-D(also older). I have the opportunity to get the 105mm for $400 or the 60mm for $300 and am wondering if it will be worth the money difference. My first instinct was the 105mm but the only real reason I'm hesitant about the 105 is I'm wondering if it will be harder to hand-hold at receptions and the like and force me to have to carry around my tripod. I'll be using either on a D200 and a D80 and just wanted someone else's opinion on my choices before I bought one of them tonight. Thanks in advance!

PS - All my current equipment is listed in my signature.

Cygnus Studios

Personally I like the longer macro lenses, as they allow the same 1 to 1 ratio with a farther focusing distance. The largest problem with macro work is light.
If you can get the same magnification at a further distance the light manipulation is easy to work around.

ziggy53

Cygnus Studios wrote:

Personally I like the longer macro lenses, as they allow the same 1 to 1 ratio with a farther focusing distance. The largest problem with macro work is light.
If you can get the same magnification at a further distance the light manipulation is easy to work around.

I absolutely agree. thumb

Qarik

I use a sigma 105mm and it is not difficult to hand hold at all main becasue I am using flash for the macro shots and the flash freezes any motion blur.

Blufox

jrmyrnsm wrote:

So I've been looking for a while and can't make up my mind between the 105mm AF-D(older one) and the 60mm AF-D(also older).

I joined the macro stage last summer with the Sigma 150 f/2.8, which is an excellent macro lens and provides extra added working distance so as not to scare away the skittish bugs. I am a Nikon guy, but wouldn't trade this Sigma for anything! Except maybe $1000 ...

My advice would be to include the Sigma in your lenses being considered. Well worth the price!