Is a tripod needed for macro photography using Nikon AF-S Micro 105 f/2.8 VR?

[Yapster]

Hi guys,
I am thinking of getting the 105mm VR. However, i have this question in mind.

I was wondering if i can shoot macro handheld by making use of the VR? I mean, if i still need a tripod for this lens, then maybe i should go for the non-VR one? The difference can be used to fund other lens i intend to get wor...

Please help and advise~

[Kit]

You have to get this clear. VR is not a substitute for tripod.

[ortega]

no a tripod is not Needed for macro photography
especially for moving subjects

i shoot my macro with no VR and no tripod

[sammy888]

Originally Posted by Yapster Hi guys, I am thinking of getting the 105mm VR. However, i have this question in mind. I was wondering if i can shoot macro handheld by making use of the VR? I mean, if i still need a tripod for this lens, then maybe i should go for the non-VR one? The difference can be used to fund other lens i intend to get wor... Please help and advise~

Check out this article review on the 105mm VR. I read this sometime ago when I was thinking of getting this lens too heheh...

http://www.bythom.com/105AFSlens.htm

The bottom line....VR decrease as you get down to micro phtography like 1:1. I like and know what Thom meant in that article when he said, micro shooting is precise and slow.

If you feel that the VR mean to save you time and the need to invest in a good tripod or a tripod at all just by holding it and shoot then you might need to rethinking the whole idea of buying that lens heh. For what you will need to shell out to get that expensive lens..it would be worth doing more homework to see if you really need that 105mm VR. Know exactly what kind of micro shooting you are going to do with it. Get that review a good read.

[Yapster]

Originally Posted by Kit You have to get this clear. VR is not a substitute for tripod.

Yup, this i know. I was just thinking if i want to shoot without tripod, will this VR helps? I understand that there are quite a number of people who shoot macro without tripods.

[frederickykfoo]

If you taking in bright day light, shutter speed above 1/125 second, sturdy hands and on any lenses or macro lenses with focal length less than 120mm, there will not be camera shake.

Tripod and VR will help when taking macro against camera shake but not subject shake/movement.

[Yapster]

Originally Posted by ortega no a tripod is not Needed for macro photography especially for moving subjects i shoot my macro with no VR and no tripod

Hmm, really? Even without VR? any tricks to share?

[sammy888]

Originally Posted by Yapster Yup, this i know. I was just thinking if i want to shoot without tripod, will this VR helps? I understand that there are quite a number of people who shoot macro without tripods.

I shoot micro quite abit previously too .....especially when I was playing with my old 60mm micro 2.8. If you have strong sunlight or a flash and you can have shutter speed of 125 or higher...it is not that hard to hand hold your camera heh...but wait till you get like strong wind blowing your flower about and you have the lens front like 1 feet or less from the subject and there is not enough lighting...that you see how much more challenges you will face even with a VR lens heheh...

[Yapster]

Originally Posted by sammy888 Check out this article review on the 105mm VR. I read this sometime ago when I was thinking of getting this lens too heheh... http://www.bythom.com/105AFSlens.htm The bottom line....VR decrease as you get down to micro phtography like 1:1. I like and know what Thom meant in that article when he said, micro shooting is precise and slow. If you feel that the VR mean to save you time and the need to invest in a good tripod or a tripod at all just by holding it and shoot then you might need to rethinking the whole idea of buying that lens heh. For what you will need to shell out to get that expensive lens..it would be worth doing more homework to see if you really need that 105mm VR. Know exactly what kind of micro shooting you are going to do with it. Get that review a good read.

Ya man, that's why i wanna make sure i get the right one. From what i have read, the 105mm is a good working distance for shooting macro. Not only that, i can double it as a face potrait lens so i can save up on getting the 85mm f1.8 (ya, i know the bokeh for 85mm f.18 should be nicer given the higher aperture).

Ok man, i shall take a look at the link you gave. Thanks man~

[Yapster]

Originally Posted by frederickykfoo If you taking in bright day light, shutter speed above 1/125 second, sturdy hands and on any lenses or macro lenses with focal length less than 120mm, there will not be camera shake. Tripod and VR will help when taking macro against camera shake but not subject shake/movement.

Thanks, understood~

[Yapster]

Originally Posted by sammy888 I shoot micro quite abit previously too .....esepcially when I was playing with my old 60mm micro 2.8. If you have strong sunlight or a flash and you can have shutter speed of 125 or higher...it is not that hard to hand hold your camera heh...but wait till you get like strong wind blowing your flower about and you have the lens front like 1 feet or less from the subject and there is not enough lighting...that you see how much more challenges you will face even with a VR lens heheh...

Oh.....

[ortega]

Originally Posted by Yapster Hmm, really? Even without VR? any tricks to share?

practice and experience
no amount of technology will correct bad holding technique

[Yapster]

Originally Posted by ortega practice and experience no amount of technology will correct bad holding technique

Got it~ Thanks for the guidance~

[Leong23]

VR might help a bit as D80 didn't MLU.

In most cases, it's the subject is moving (mostly by wind) rather than you setup is moving.

IMHO, the 105VR is heavy and don't give you good balance in term of weight distribution.

[hacknet]

imo, most of the time you need a flash more than then need for a tripod. ask many have said, the tripod only solves half your problem as the object/subject often moves uncontrolably.

[giantcanopy]

AF and VR do not work well at macro level.
Auto focus hunts quite often even with AF-S.
VR burns my batt and fails to be useful as well

Tripod is not too useful. I have tried to shoot with available light with a tripod
but the lightest breeze makes it all too difficult

You can try to use flash(es) to create a
natural or creative lighting environment

Peace
Ryan

[Yapster]

Originally Posted by Leong23 VR might help a bit as D80 didn't MLU. In most cases, it's the subject is moving (mostly by wind) rather than you setup is moving. IMHO, the 105VR is heavy and don't give you good balance in term of weight distribution.

Originally Posted by hacknet imo, most of the time you need a flash more than then need for a tripod. ask many have said, the tripod only solves half your problem as the object/subject often moves uncontrolably.

Originally Posted by giantcanopy AF and VR do not work well at macro level. Auto focus hunts quite often even with AF-S. VR burns my batt and fails to be useful as well Tripod is not too useful. I have tried to shoot with available light with a tripod but the lightest breeze makes it all too difficult You can try to use flash(es) to create a natural or creative lighting environment Peace Ryan

Thanks guys~ So am i right to say that if i use my flash, i can shoot handheld?

Please pardon me for my emphasize on handheld. This is because, i am quite a street shooter for some time. Thus actually, i would like to take some macro shots along my walks instead of pre-planned macro shooting. And thus, i would like to minimize the need to bring a tripod for my walk. However, i would also like to do some product shoot as well. The 60mm micro did come into my mind but i was thinking the 105mm macro is more appropriate for both still life and moving objects.

So right now, in fact, i am not only considering the 105mm VR macro but also 18-200VR and 12-24. Reason for 18-200VR is because it covers a wider range than my 18-135. However, to pay more for the 65mm and the VR, i am quite reluctant at this moment of time. As for 12-24, i think it is good for landscape and it somehow cover more range for my hobby.

So.. haha, kinda lost as to which lens to get first.
cos i am planning to get 1 lens from these 3 per year to cover the range.

[giantcanopy]

The 60mm can do still life as well as moving objects. The VR in 105mm does not confer any abilities to reduce motion blur from moving objects. Unless you are talking about a longer working distance for macro.

In macro many a times u need a smaller aperture to have more depth of field.
But the reduced aperture also means underexposure unless you decrease the shutter speed accordingly , but can lead to motion blur ( wind, moving insects, handshake.. ).

To go around the problem you try to have flash to shoot at smaller apertures and yet fast enough shutter speed to handhold / freeze motion ( whatever settings appropriate )

Ryan

[IONSOON]

Originally Posted by Leong23 VR might help a bit as D80 didn't MLU. In most cases, it's the subject is moving (mostly by wind) rather than you setup is moving. IMHO, the 105VR is heavy and don't give you good balance in term of weight distribution.

ya, i agree the 105vr is heavy, so maybe for the TS, ur batt grip may come into use.
For me, i add 2 batteries to the grip just to balance the weight out. ( when using this lens)

just my 2 cents

[hacknet]

well, if you are talking about street macros, you might actually be pretty happy with either the 18-200 or a 28-105mm which is cheaper and sharper.

i'd go for the 28-105 that covers enough range and does 1:2 macro. good aperture range and it isnt exactly expensive.