Dedicated Macro- Need Suggestions

ShutterMuse

HI All, I'm a Nikon D50 user for less than a year, I'm also new to DG.

I'm on a really limited/fixed income, and I'm interested in macro photography. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for dedicated macro lenses, the cheaper the better, but just want to know what is considered good. Manual Focus is fine, and I really prefer true macro 1:1 with a minimun focusing distance of 12 inches or less.

TIA!:ivar

Hauer

Hi Christina - from price/quality perspective you would probably be best off with the Tamron SP AF 90mm/2,8 DI Macro which offers you 1:1 as required. A 90mm lens would give you just that extra flexibility in approaching those little critters. This lens has been well received by macro enthusiasts!

Cheers - Herman

pathfinder

ShutterMuse wrote:

HI All, I'm a Nikon D50 user for less than a year, I'm also new to DG.

I'm on a really limited/fixed income, and I'm interested in macro photography. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for dedicated macro lenses, the cheaper the better, but just want to know what is considered good. Manual Focus is fine, and I really prefer true macro 1:1 with a minimun focusing distance of 12 inches or less.

TIA!:ivar

Hi CHristina,

Welcome to dgrin.

The 90mm Tamron macro is an excellent lens that has been around for years. If manual focus, and manual aperture are acceptable, you might find some older Tamron 90mm macro lenses on a T mount adapter for Nikon. (I use a Tamron 180mm macro for my current camera. I rather like Tamron's macro lenses.)

I happen to still have a Tamron 90mm on a Nikon Tmount adapter that I used on an FM3a. I could be talked out of rather cheaply, if you promise to put it to good usewink.:D

Another alternative is Extension tubes used with your existing lenses. This is usually the cheapest way to get into macro shooting.

Nikon makes a lovely 60mm Nikkor macro that is superb optically.

ShutterMuse

Thanks Herman! I actually read about the Tamron 90 in shutterbug last weekend, unfortunately it is out of my price range. The joys of being disabled. Would love to be able to afford it.

Herman Auer wrote:

Hi Christina - from price/quality perspective you would probably be best off with the Tamron SP AF 90mm/2,8 DI Macro which offers you 1:1 as required. A 90mm lens would give you just that extra flexibility in approaching those little critters. This lens has been well received by macro enthusiasts!

Cheers - Herman

ShutterMuse

I would deffinately put it to good use, as well as take good care of it. I feel like sure a noob... and I'm not entirely sure what mounts work with the Nikon DSLRs. I'm actually away from my normal computer this weekend, but would lik eto look into it more next week.
Thanks so much for responding and for the welcome.

I should add that manual focous and aperture are fine with me.

pathfinder wrote:

Hi CHristina,

Welcome to dgrin.

The 90mm Tamron macro is an excellent lens that has been around for years. If manual focus, and manual aperture are acceptable, you might find some older Tamron 90mm macro lenses on a T mount adapter for Nikon. (I use a Tamron 180mm macro for my current camera. I rather like Tamron's macro lenses.)

I happen to still have a Tamron 90mm on a Nikon Tmount adapter that I used on an FM3a. I could be talked out of rather cheaply, if you promise to put it to good usewink.:D

Another alternative is Extension tubes used with your existing lenses. This is usually the cheapest way to get into macro shooting.

Nikon makes a lovely 60mm Nikkor macro that is superb optically.