good macro lense

frosty111

i own a d80 and i'm looking for a really good macro lense
help?

i sussed out the Nikon 105mm 2.8, but i don think this is macro enough for me

anything else?

Lord Vetinari

frosty111 wrote:

i own a d80 and i'm looking for a really good macro lense
help?

i sussed out the Nikon 105mm 2.8, but i don think this is macro enough for me

anything else?

Not sure what you mean by not macro enough - all true prime macros will have a maximum magnification of 1 :1 no matter what the focal length is- longer focal length ones simply have a longer minimum focus distance.

All the macro lenses by major manufacturers around 100mm are extremely sharp - Tamron 90, Tokina 100, sigma 1095, Nikon 105.

The only more powerful macro lens around is a canon only fit MPE-65 which goes from 1:1 to 5:1 magnification.

brian V.

frosty111

sorry i just mean the 105mm wasnt a true macro? or so i've read

ill check out the other ones u mentioned
thanx

frosty111

Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR or Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di

i'm leaning towards Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di

can i get an opinion

Red J

I've got the:

Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR

And I like it very much. The performance of the lens is certainly exceeding my capability.

However, had I the option to go back and do it again, I'd consider finding a primo example of the version before mine, without AFS and VR. VR helps when you're at 1:2 or possibly more, but it doesn't do much for you at distances approaching 1:1. VR is not free, and I find myself not using mine for non-macro work, so I paid for the VR and am not really using it.

AFS is nice, but again, I find myself manually focussing this lens more than using AF for it. My tendency is to shoot flowers or other still objects, maybe if I were into insects more, I'd use the AF more. I don't know.

However, it is a fine lens, my first "pro" glass and I'm very satisfied with it.

One owner's opinion.

J.

puzzledpaul

Canon user here - never used a Tamron SP90 AF ... only the old FD (MF) version (with home-made adaptor) ... and was v.satisfied with the results.

Few months ago bought a Tamron 180 macro AF... and again, v. satisfied - for what I need it for (only use manual focus) ... and approx half the price of the equivalent Canon lens.

Plenty of reviews around for this sort of gear

Couple of pix with above gear

sp90 (lower pic)
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=403&highlight=

180
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5060&highlight=

pp